Integrity commissioner slams Bylsma
Regional council will decide what, if any, penalties are appropriate
Regional council’s integrity commissioner has found remarks made by West Lincoln Mayor David Bylsma contravened Niagara Region’s code of conduct and recommends council issue a reprimand.
Integrity commissioner Edward Mcdermott investigated statements made by
Bylsma on radio station 610 CKTB on June
10, 2020, after a complaint was lodged by St. Catharines activist Ed Smith.
Mcdermott found Bylsma’s comments on the Black Lives Matter movement and the land claims dispute at Six Nations on the Grand displayed “dismissiveness of the challenges of equity seeking people” and were “discriminatory” in nature.
With Mcdermott’s 36-page report in regional council must now decide on what, if anything, is an appropriate penalty. The Municipal Act precludes council from suspending or removing councillors, which would leave constituents unrepresented.
Council can, however, reprimand members or suspend their pay for up to 90 days. Members can also be removed from “discretionary appointments” as Region representatives on outside boards, committees and commissions
such as the police services board or Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.
In the radio interview, Bylsma said, “Recently I drove past the reservation in Brant. And every entrance to the reservation, there are two armed guards. They have their guns out, they’re Indigenous people, and they’re protecting their reservation from any outsiders. And I think to myself, that’s fire.
“That’s what securing and acknowledging Indigenous rights has produced. This militarystyle opposition, when they feel that they have been wronged, they take up arms. The Pride community, those who have been aggrieved in many ways, aren’t taking up arms like that. I’m saying identity politics has had its run.
“It’s had a fair trial in our societies. It’s done good, but it’s not the final analysis either. And we can see all the tensions, and we can draw a thousand lines through our society, and none of that’s helpful unless we start uniting under the Canadian flag.”
In another part of the radio interview, Bylsma challenged the Black Lives Matter movement.
“They are upset at society,” Bylsma said on radio. “There’s no shortage of people being violated. There were Black store owners who were being vandalized and victimized by Black Lives Matter banner-waving. There’s no shortage of that inconsistency. Why banner-waving? Now there’s a new grievance, so who do they peg that blame on? Well, I blame identity politics.”
Mcdermott wrote Bylsma couched his view “in the language of direct opposition to the whole Black Lives Matter movement, even employing imagery of engaging in a counterprotest by holding a sign that said ‘All Lives Matter.’ ”
Mcdermott wrote that he agreed with Bylsma’s response that he should be free to express his opinions.
“However, debating the merits or demerits of the Black Lives Matter organization or movement is quite different from employing the slogan ‘All Lives Matter’ in direct opposition,” Mcdermott wrote.
Mcdermott added the phrase has taken on a specific meaning in broader society and is commonly understood as racially insensitive — if not actually racist — when considered in the context of eliminating antiblack racism and violence against the Black community.
Mcdermott wrote Bylsma “knew or ought to have known this.”
Mcdermott noted the statements are problematic because they are dismissive of the harm caused by racism.
“They are seen by many as disrespectful to those who have faced — and continue to face — forms of racial oppression,” he wrote.
The Region’s code of conduct outlines a councillor’s responsibilities. It asks members to maintain the highest standard of ethical conduct and treat all residents with respect, honesty and integrity.
“This was a lengthy investigation, and I imagine it cost in the $20,000 range,” Smith said. “(St. Catharines) Coun. (Kelly) Edgar brought it forward twice, and they punted. They refused to condemn a fellow councillor without an integrity commissioner report telling them that the words are offensive and outlining that they can act on it.
“That’s alarming. Any public body needs a moral foundation. They have to have the courage to say this is wrong — and make a public statement about it. If council had been strong right from the start, I would not have filed the complaint.”
Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Bylsma said he will wait until Thursday night’s council meeting to respond to the report.