Integrity Commissioner Investigation Report Decision

Summary

• Mayor Ken Sim filed a Code of Conduct complaint against Councillor Christine Boyle, alleging she published comments via email and on X (formerly Twitter) that denigrated newly hired mayoral staffer Harrison Fleming, accusing him of past bullying and implying involvement in anti-LGBTQ+ policies and an RCMP corruption investigation tied to Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
• The City's Integrity Commissioner, Lisa Southern, investigated the complaint and found that Councillor Boyle breached section 3.4(c) of the Code of Conduct By-law, which relates to communications and confidentiality standards expected of Council members.
• Despite finding a breach, the Integrity Commissioner recommended that no formal sanction be imposed, as Councillor Boyle had already taken the remedial actions the Commissioner would have required — making sanctions redundant.
• Council had the authority to either accept the Integrity Commissioner's recommendation of no sanction, or reject it and impose one of several available sanctions, including a letter of reprimand, a public apology, removal from committees, or public censure.
• Legal Services recommended that public speakers not be heard on the matter, as Council was acting in a quasi-judicial capacity when deciding on sanctions.
• This was the first investigation report brought to Vancouver City Council in which the Integrity Commissioner found a Councillor in breach of the Code of Conduct By-law.

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Documents

• Staff Report