Council reprimands Bylsma for racially insensitive remarks
West Lincoln mayor removed from agencies, boards and commissions
Regional council is removing West Lincoln Mayor David Bylsma from all agencies, boards and commissions on which he has represented Niagara Region until 2022.
Through a vote held Thursday, council was responding to an integrity commissioner’s code-of-conduct investigation that found Bylsma’s radio remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement, Indigenous people and the LGBTQ community were offensive and discriminatory and reinforced harmful stereotypes.
The statements made by Bylsma included talking about holding an All Lives Matter sign, in counterprotest against people of colour seeking equity.
“I don’t want to get into a discussion of the history of the semantics of the statement, but All Lives Matter is
very much a dog whistle for white supremacy,” said St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, who moved the amendment that removed Bylsma from agencies, boards and commissions.
“You can’t take that out of the context of how we feel today and what is happening around us. For someone to say All Lives Matter is something they can stand behind is a challenge to me.
“We need to show some leadership here.”
The decision to remove Bylsma from agencies, boards and commissions was in addition to the Region issuing a public reprimand.
“He has clearly demonstrated that he is out of step with the values that the Region wishes to espouse,” said Ed Smith, who is Bylsma’s colleague on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority board, and who filed a complaint with Edward Mcdermott, the Region’s integrity commissioner.
“I put to you that this unrepentant nature in this matter makes him no longer fit to represent this Region in the appointments controlled by you, the council of the Niagara Region.
“The attitudes demonstrated by his public comments. His refusal to withdraw them, and his doubling down on them by reinforcing his perceived rights to express them, and seemingly rallying like-minded people to his defence, cannot be tolerated.”
Some councillors implored Bylsma to apologize for his remarks, including Niagara Falls’ Bob Gale.
“Dave, push your button and apologize,” Gale said. “If not, I’m going to have to vote for Walter Sendzik’s motion on this. I’m really upset about this. We all make mistakes. Dave, push the button and apologize.”
Bylsma said he couldn’t go against his convictions and conscience, and said he disagreed with the integrity commissioner’s findings.
“I cannot go against my conviction,” Bylsma said.
“I know you are looking for an apology, and it would make things so easy for you, but I want you to understand that it would wound me in my very soul.”
Bylsma also said he often felt marginalized because of his firmly held Christian beliefs.
“I feel marginalized because I have nine children that I homeschool,” Bylsma said. “I have lived a very quaint and conservative life. I feel marginalized about that as well.”
St. Catharines Coun. Laura Ip said council needed to be cognizant that the mayor’s statements make members of the West Lincoln community hesitant to reach out to councillors with their concerns.
“The kind of statements made in that radio interview must be widely condemned,” she said.
“Not doing so calls into question this council’s concern for equity-seeking communities and its ability to represent those communities.”
The Municipal Act precluded council from suspending or removing Bylsma from his seat at the Region horseshoe, which would leave his constituents unrepresented.
“I know Dave Bylsma doesn’t think there is anything wrong with his comments, but there is,” Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop said.
“They are terribly insensitive, they are discriminatory, but they are a symptom of systemic racism in our society. I can’t think of a better example of that than what we are here dealing with this evening.”
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, though, said council was going too far by removing Bylsma from agencies, boards and commissions.
“I see what happened as strike one,” Diodati said. “I’m very hopeful that Coun. Bylsma will continue to grow and open his beliefs.
“I’m not interested in a goose pile on someone for doing something we all believe is wrong. I don’t see that’s a way to make change. It just creates more polarization. I’m willing to accept the integrity commissioner’s finding, but that’s all I’m willing to accept.”