Ontario's premier is hopeful that London's recent sex scandal involving Mayor Matt Brown won't affect city council's ability to function.
However, Premier Kathleen Wynne tells BlackburnNews.com that Brown's extra-marital affair with former Deputy Mayor Maureen Cassidy is something council will have to "come to grips with."
"Apart from it being a personal issue for the mayor... I really think this is something that council, working with the integrity commissioner, are going to have to work out," she says. "I think that London council can get on with its work, and that's certainly what I know the people of London would expect."
Brown resumed his duties as mayor on Thursday, following a short, week-long leave of absence that began on June 14 when the affair was made public.
Following the initial public announcement, Cassidy resigned as deputy mayor, but said she will remain the councillor for Ward 5. She currently remains on a leave from her council duties.
Integrity Commissioner Greg Stewart determined in a report that Brown and Cassidy violated three sections of council’s code of conduct. However, in his role as integrity commissioner, Stewart has no authority to punish anyone for breaches of council’s code of conduct. He can only recommend a reprimand or a loss of pay for 90 days.
"I think that it's really important that all of us in elected life understand that our constituents expect us to get the work of our constituents done, and that we act in a professional way, and we make good decisions based on our constituents," says Wynne. "Whether it's at a local council level, or whether it's provincial, or whether it's federal... that's the expectation that I think people should have of all of their elected representatives."
Wynne was in London on Thursday at The London Roundhouse to announce a final report of recommendations has been released from the premier's Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel. The report will aid in developing a strategy with the goal of preparing people of all ages for an ever changing work environment.
