In a recent turn of events, the Mayor of Pickering, Kevin Ashe, has responded to a social media post made by Councillor Lisa Robinson. Robinson, in a Facebook post, referred to herself as a “modern-day slave” after her pay was temporarily docked following allegations of bullying.
The controversy began when Robinson identified three citizens by name in another social media post where she announced the cancellation of her annual Halloween charity event. The city’s integrity commissioner deemed this action as a “bully tactic,” leading to the city council’s decision to suspend her pay for 30 days.
Robinson’s initial post on her personal Facebook page expressed gratitude to three individuals for their “neighbourly kindness.” However, it was later revealed that this post came after the Committee of Adjustment rejected Robinson’s request to store a large shipping container in her yard for Halloween decorations. The citizens named in her post had expressed opposition to the container during a virtual meeting on the matter.
Mayor Kevin Ashe strongly condemned Robinson’s use of the term “modern-day slave” in her Facebook post. He described it as “wildly offensive and deeply harmful,” emphasizing that such a comparison to slavery was inappropriate and insensitive. Ashe pointed out the historical significance of slavery and its devastating impact on Black communities, stating that using such a comparison was fundamentally wrong and disrespectful.
Members of the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Task Force were also reportedly shocked and upset by Robinson’s remarks. Ashe underscored the importance of upholding the integrity of the council and ethical standards. He urged Robinson to take responsibility for her actions, refrain from making false and harmful comparisons, and offer a sincere apology to the Black community for the distress and offense she caused.
In response to Mayor Ashe’s statement, Robinson defended her use of the term “modern-day slavery,” arguing that she intended to shed light on various forms of modern-day exploitation affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds. She cited her current situation of working without compensation for the government for 30 days as an example of her challenges. While she acknowledged that the term might not have been the most appropriate, she stopped short of apologizing for her remark.
Robinson did appear on Newstalk 1010, where she explained her perspective, stating that she felt like a “slave to the government” due to working without pay. The controversy surrounding her comments continues to be a topic of discussion in Pickering’s political landscape.
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