CITY COUNCIL – FOI inquiry dropped but Middleton criticizes mayor’s actions
(Image Mel Rothenburger)
The cancellation of an inquiry by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner doesn’t mean Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson didn’t breach his statutory obligations, according to Coun. Margot Middleton.
She confirmed at Tuesday’s (March 25, 2026) City council meeting that the OIPC has abandoned its inquiry due to withdrawal of a freedom of information application by iNFOnews.ca. Middleton was appointed as an intervenor by the council after the online publication filed a complaint saying the City had failed to provide records of the mayor’s communications last June and July.
Hamer-Jackson insists he texted the records to Middleton last August but she said she didn’t receive them. After council approved her motion at the last meeting to sanction him if he didn’t provide the records within 24 hours, he again texted her but she said they were not the right records.
Furthermore, she said, the mayor had revealed personal information about a former staff member along with records he texted directly to inFOnews in response to the FOI application.
“The mayor’s conduct has repeatedly fallen short,” she said.
Hamer-Jackson wanted to know the name of the City’s IT department employee who Middleton says confirmed she didn’t receive the texted records on her cellphone last year. When corporate officer Maria Mazzotta said revealing the identify of the employee wouldn’t be appropriate, the mayor asked Middleton to email him the name.
“I will email you nothing,” Middleton said, adding that the mayor had texted her 145 times.
“That’s a hundred and 45 you didn’t answer,” said Hamer-Jackson.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Dear Mr. Armchair,
I am writing to point out a potential serious issue raised at the last council meeting. councillor Bass stated that she blocks constituent emails because she “doesn’t want to deal with their crap”.
This appears to violate constituents’ Charter rights. Legal experts argue that when politicians use their social media as an extension of their public office, blocking citizens violates Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I believe there have been legal cases in Canada that have found blocking constituents on electronic platforms like social media and mail is a violation because it limits individuals from obtaining information and speaking with elected officials.
I was surprised councillor Bass stated this openly in a council meeting, and that the corporate officer said nothing after being so concerned about legal risk to the corporation and was admonishing the mayor. It sounds like councillor Bass is blocking individuals she finds unreasonable and/or sending “nasty” emails. But I am wondering about the legality of an elected official blocking emails of individual constituents. She also appeared to hint heavily at the identity of at least one individual who she has blocked.
Any thoughts on this?
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“I will email you nothing,” may I suggest this is an example of conduct that has repeatedly fallen short. Margot, are you familiar with the proverb two wrongs don’t make a right?
If the old adage of “you get what you deserve” is true then can someone please explain to me what the F… did we do to deserve this dog’s breakfast?
No Incumbents 2026!
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Please move on, Coun. Middleton. This is a dead issue. Trying to keep it alive when you should and could be spending your time on actual, serious issues currently facing the city doesn’t reflect well on you.
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Thus ends the reading of the gospel according to Margot and Mother Maria.
Apparently Reid does not have an Executive Assistant or anyone assigned to help him with the “nuts and bolts” of trying to deal with emails and text messages. If he is deluged with emails every day, how is he supposed to respond to all of them?
Indeed, “No Fault Margot” has definitely shown why she is one who should receive NO VOTES if she decides to run as a candidate for Council this fall.
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I’m still wondering how she got away with making an election promise to donate her stipend to charity, which likely got her some votes, and then refusing to prove she did what she promised. So much for transparency I guess.
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“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”
You and I shall meet in person some day.
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