Citing escalating threats from far-right figures rallying around a contentious city politician, Pickering council will stop holding public in-person meetings.
In a 13-minute video released Monday, Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe said the move was to address disturbing incidents caused by supporters of Councillor Lisa Robinson, whose actions have earned her a number of sanctions levied by fellow councillors.
“In light of these escalating incidents and growing concerns for the safety and well-being of our council, staff and residents, the City of Pickering has made the decision to move all official meetings to a virtual format starting in January of 2025,” Ashe said in the video posted to YouTube.
“This decision was not made lightly, but the increasing threats to our safety demand action.”
Robinson was criticized over the summer for appearing on podcasts hosted by far-right gadfly and convicted hate peddler Kevin J. Johnston — a podcast where Johnston published hours upon hours of content blasting Pickering council, including publishing the names, photos and contact information of councillors, describing them as pedophiles, fascists and Nazis.
“Over the past two years, the City of Pickering has witnessed a growing infiltration of alt-right individuals, ideologies and influences that have created an atmosphere of uncertainty, fear and intimidation over our council, our staff, our residents and indeed the broader community,” Ashe said in the video.
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The video lays out council’s case against Robinson, including 2023 social media posts celebrating a meeting with far-right European Parliament member Christine Anderson.
Despite apologizing, Robinson appeared as a speaker at an Ottawa event later that year featuring Anderson.
“Since then, Councillor Lisa Robinson has been making baseless and increasingly erratic claims about the City of Pickering, mayor, council and staff,” the video alleges, noting the city’s integrity commissioner ruled she violated council’s code of conduct on multiple occasions, and recommended she be hit with a 90-day pay suspension.
This, the video alleges, spurned her supporters to unleash a campaign of intimidation and threats against Ashe and council, consisting of emails, social media posts and voicemails.
Robinson did not respond to The Toronto Sun’s request for comment.