More transparency needed around P.E.I. code of conduct violations, federation says

Gwyneth Egan · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 16, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 16

The Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities says changes should beryllium made to equilibrium privateness and the public's close to cognize erstwhile it comes to radical violating municipal codification of behaviour regulations.

When a municipality oregon metropolis councillor violates the codification of conduct, accusation astir suspensions oregon fines whitethorn beryllium made public, but the details of what led to those consequences doesn't person to beryllium released. 

"I deliberation determination should beryllium much clarification and a wider treatment around… however those codification of behaviour violations instrumentality place," said Satya Sen, the enforcement manager of the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities. 

"You person to equilibrium betwixt transparency arsenic good arsenic extortion of privacy."

Municipal codes of behaviour acceptable retired a acceptable of guidelines for the actions of elected officials, Sen said.

"At the extremity of the day, arsenic an elected authoritative you person definite responsibilities," helium said. 

Privacy concerns cited

North Rustico Coun. Donna Coll was precocious suspended for 90 days, fined $500 and ordered to contented an apology — but precise fewer radical know why, and the ones who bash aren't talking. 

CBC News attempted to interaction the councillor but did not perceive back. 

An email from the municipality said lone definite accusation is released publicly. 

"The Municipal Government Act and Regulations requires the assembly determination connected a codification of behaviour breach and immoderate sanctions to beryllium public. All accusation astir the breach and immoderate probe are confidential," wrote Stephanie Moase, the main administrative serviceman of the Town of North Rustico. 

The Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities said not knowing details of investigations similar this 1 could marque it hard for voters to marque decisions erstwhile the adjacent predetermination comes around. 

"From a argumentation constituent of view, possibly we should look into… allowing immoderate of these investigations to beryllium much open," said Sen. "At the aforesaid time, you person to beryllium precise mindful astir extortion of privateness and besides mindful astir the quality of the [violation]."

Conduct, not criminality

A akin concern unfolded successful Charlottetown past June, erstwhile Coun. Trevor MacKinnon was fined $500, ordered to issue an apology and removed arsenic the seat of a committee. 

Those consequences followed a remark MacKinnon made to a subordinate of the public. It was ne'er made wide what that remark involved. 

Other situations play retired much publicly. 

Murray Harbour Coun. John Robertson was suspended from assembly successful November of 2023 aft placing a motion connected his spot that immoderate radical successful the assemblage and beyond deemed offensive. 

Robertson is pushing the Supreme Court of P.E.I. to bash a judicial reappraisal of the punishment handed down to him. 

He was expected to wage a $500 good and contented an apology, but ne'er did and is present backmost connected council. 

"None of this is astir criminality," Sen said. "This is astir conduct.... If thing is not violating privacy, it should ever beryllium unfastened to the public." 

The provincial authorities is successful the process of reviewing the Municipal Government Act, Sen said. 

CBC News contacted the state to inquire astir what changes to the enactment are pending. No 1 from the state was disposable for an interview.