Campbell breached code of conduct, report says
Integrity commissioner says councillor showed remorse over incident
An integrity commissioner has concluded Niagara Falls Coun. Wayne Campbell breached council’s code of conduct during text and telephone call exchanges with a citizen.
In a report scheduled to go before council Tuesday, integrity commissioner Janet Leiper concluded Campbell “became angry and berated the complainant.”
“Councillor Campbell was co-operative with the complaint process; acknowledged that he should not have spoken as he did to the complainant; is undertaking remedial efforts; and plans to make a public apology at the time this report comes before council. Once the councillor has delivered an appropriate apology, I recommend that no further action be imposed by council.”
The five-page report, dated June 12, does not disclose the complainant’s name “to respect the privacy of the complainant.”
But on April 27, Niagara Falls resident Chad Morris posted to Facebook that an integrity commissioner was investigating a complaint he made against Campbell.
In an interview with The Review around that time, Morris said he filed a complaint against Campbell in late 2017.
Morris said he suffers from mental-health issues and alleged Campbell harassed him in telephone and text messages in late 2017. In an interview at the time with The Review, Campbell denied he harassed or bullied Morris.
Leiper said the complaint concerned an incident in November 2017.
Leiper said the complaint arose after some initial online communication between Campbell and the complainant about advocacy in the communit.
Leiper said Campbell and the complainant did not meet in person, but communicated during October and November 2017 via online messaging, text and later by telephone.
The complainant said he believed Campbell could be a mentor to him and help him advocate for the cause he wished to support.
The complainant alleged after some initially supportive communication, Campbell left a voicemail about a unrelated issue late in the evening of Nov. 7, 2017.
“After a brief text enquiry by the complainant, a telephone conversation ensued in which the councillor became aggressive and confrontational,” said Leiper.
“The tone of the conversation and the insults used, led the complainant to hang up the telephone. Councillor Campbell called back, and left a message stating, ‘(Complainant) don’t you ever hang up on me again. I am here to help you and you are playing me, you need help my friend. But don’t you ever, ever hang up on me again. Good night.’”
Leiper said an exchange of texts followed in which Campbell expressed himself in “an angry manner,” which included “inappropriate language and troubling content.”
She said the complainant wrote back to state he was “saddened and now stressed beyond belief.”
Leiper said Campbell responded with a lengthy text, which was upsetting to the complainant.
She said the complainant ultimately requested Campbell not contact him anymore.
Leiper said copies of these texts and telephone recording were provided with the complaint.
“During the investigation, the councillor sent a further unsolicited text to the complainant which was unwelcome by the complainant. The councillor acknowledged that this was ‘poor” (behaviour) on his part,” said Leiper.
She said the tone and content of the texts and telephone calls by Campbell “fell below the standard” required by the code.
“The words and tone demonstrated a lack of respect on the part of the councillor toward the complainant. It was reasonable for the complainant to perceive these communications as ridiculing and/or demeaning him. The words and conduct of the councillor amounted to bullying. The communications were intensely upsetting to the complainant and his reaction was conveyed to the councillor.”
Leiper said Campbell has accepted these findings.
“He was co-operative with the investigation and provided a timely response to the complaint. Further, he has taken steps to examine the reason for his becoming upset and angry with the complainant. He is working with a counsellor to address these matters. He said that he was ‘appalled’ in having become angry with the complainant. Finally, he acknowledged that sending a text to the complainant after the complaint was laid, was inappropriate. I conclude that in taking these steps, Councillor Campbell demonstrated remorse for his conduct.”
Leiper said although Campbell initially took the position his conduct occurred in his private capacity, he accepted the finding that as an elected member of council, the code applies to him at all times.
Leiper said Campbell plans to make a “full and unconditional” apology at the time the complaint goes to council.
In an interview with the Review Friday, Morris said he feels “vindicated” the integrity commissioner found Campbell breached the code of conduct.
“I was very happy with the integrity commissioner, with how they conducted everything and how thorough they were.”
Campbell said he would “rather not make any comments until Tuesday night at which time I will satisfy the conditions of the integrity commissioner.”