Councillor has idea to expose people behind information leaks
George Darte says he has a plan to stop information discussed by regional councillors during in-camera meetings from being leaked to the press, but he’ll only discuss it behind closed doors.
The St. Catharines councillor would only say he “has an idea” about how to expose The St. Catharines Standard’s sources within the regional government.
“I want to know who is leaking,” said Darte in an interview Wednesday afternoon, hours after he sent an email — obtained by The Standard — to councillors asking for a closed-doors meeting to discuss leaks. “I want to ensure councillors are told that confidentiality is No. 1. Because it is No. 1.”
In his email, Darte said he is “really bothered” by a Feb. 18 story in the newspaper that laid out details about a Jan. 23 decision by regional council to file a lawsuit against key actors in the 2016 chief administrative officer hiring scandal. Darte wrote that he is particularly disappointed that the newspaper was able to report the vote to sue former regional chair Alan Caslin and his top aides was a unanimous one.
“The media did not make this stuff up,” wrote Darte. “How did they know it was unanimous?”
Through multiple regional sources, The Standard learned councillors met in-camera on Jan. 23 to craft a motion directing lawyers to launch the lawsuit. Then in a recorded public vote, they unanimously passed that motion.
Darte is now suspicious of his council colleagues and regional staff, his email said.
“I have full faith in you because you are as honest as the day is long,” wrote Darte, addressing Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley. “I used to feel that way about all of you my colleagues but there is one amongst us who gave information that should not have been given out. Or, was it someone on staff who also attended the meeting?”
He then called for a closed-door meeting during Thursday’s committee-of-the-whole session.
The item has not been added to the committee’s agenda. Moreover, council can only move into a closed session for legal, property or human re
sources issues. Darte said he believes leaks to the press can be moved in-camera because the paper disclosed information on a legal issue.
Darte told The Standard he wants the importance of confidentiality to be reinforced in the minds of councillors and that he wants to expose the newspaper’s sources.
“But I want to have that conversation in a confidential session,” said Darte, who does believe the public has the right to know “most things” the government does.
His call for a closed meeting to discuss leaks follows St. Catharines Coun. Brian Heit and Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop decrying last week the leaks to the press.
Regional councillors have repeatedly complained about the newspaper reporting on closed-session information that revealed key details about the CAO hiring scandal. Redekop has often complained about leaks to the press but in December, while arguing for a Region whistleblower policy, he acknowledged that those people who provided information to the newspaper “did a tremendous public service.” The policy is necessary, he said, to protect whistleblowers from attempts to expose them.
In September 2018, then-Port Colborne councillor David Barrick — himself a player in the hiring scandal — asked council to request the Ontario Ombudsman investigate leaks to the news media, claiming they were “hurting the taxpayer.”
Barrick’s request was rejected by council, but they did hire Western University professor Andrew Sancton to investigate leaks.
He later said he had nothing particularly useful to say to council on the topic.