‘Don’t be such a snowflake’: Integrity commissioner says Midland councillor disrespected, bullied colleagues

Coun. Bill Gordon is the subject of another investigation by the integrity commissioner.

In a by Principles Integrity, he was found to have disrespected, bullied and harassed fellow councillors and staff. He was also accused of allegedly exerting undue influence to pressure a local developer.

Councillors Jonathan Main and Jim Downer and Deputy Mayor Mike Ross all filed complaints with the integrity commissioner. 

“We saw a pattern of a lack of decorum in social-media postings, emails to senior staff and council communications,” said Main. “There were a series of incidents which were alarming, and that’s really why we put forward a complaint. Clearly, the code of conduct wasn’t being followed.”

In , Gordon was reprimanded for a pattern of rude, aggressive and bullying behaviour that included offensive language on social media.

The latest incident is addressed in a report that will be presented to council Dec. 9.

Several exchanges between Main and Gordon are highlighted in the document. In one instance, Gordon sent an email to Main that stated, “I have little to no personal respect for many of you or a couple of our senior team. I come by that honestly and have the bills to prove it. I have to work with you and have managed to keep most of my contempt for many of you at bay.”

According to the report, Gordon also sent Main a direct message over Facebook in which he stated: “Don’t be such a snowflake.”

Principles Integrity found these comments and behaviour constitute harassment, stating “no workplace could condone such explicit disrespectful treatment among co-workers.”

In mid-July, council was made aware of complaints by residents on Taylor Drive. Staff notified council they were working on a remedy. A month later, the developer advised the town that, after having a discussion with Gordon, it would address the complaints “to avoid a motion at the next council meeting.”

The integrity commissioner did not find Gordon guilty of pressuring the developer, but called the incident “inappropriate interference” and a violation of the code of conduct.

In , Gordon said he doesn’t dispute the facts. However, he feels his fellow councillors should have approached him first. 

“(It) is both offensive and abusive to weaponize the Code of Conduct to advance personal grievances against one another,” he wrote. “We are adults and communications, even when disagreeing, is how we should solve our differences — rather than turning to legal process.”

Gordon has committed to continuing to learn from his “mistakes, missteps and errors” while “acting in good faith” as an elected representative.

“I cannot commit to never offending someone,” he wrote. “(If) someone is determined to look for ways to be offended by someone, they are almost certain to find them.”

Main stressed the complaints were not personal. 

“At the end of the day, what council really wants is for everyone to adhere to the code of conduct — to keep a respectful, professional workplace,” he said.

Principles Integrity has recommended that Gordon be formally reprimanded.