Amherstburg Town Council won't have to remove a member of its licensing committee for calling the town's Chief Administrative Officer a "f*****g b***h." Instead, the member has resigned.
Councillors received a report on Monday night about the Integrity Commissioner's investigation into the incident during a public open house last October. The report recommended the council remove Del Oxford.
Mayor Michael Prue, instead, read the letter of resignation aloud to councillors.
"It's a terse one-liner. 'As of February 16, 2026, I will remove myself as a member of the licensing committee," he read.
On the evening of October 9, Oxford became irate with a town staff member, alleging that CAO Valerie Critchley lacked transparency with information, and insisted the staff member speak before the Amherstburg Residents forum, of which he is a member. She declined.
Councillor Peter Courtney took issue with the Integrity Commissioner speaking with members of the citizens' group during the course of the investigation, but Janice Atwood explained that since Oxford insisted the staff member attend the group and made allegations, it was fair and appropriate to delve into those allegations.
Councillor Diane Pouget disagreed, saying the investigation and its public release unfairly cast the group in a poor light.
Atwood explained to the council that if Oxford were not a member of the licensing committee, and just a member of the public, the investigation wouldn't have been required. Since he was a member of the licensing committee, however, he is held to the same standard as a council member under the town's Code of Conduct.
"If the respondent had simply been a member of the public -- there would be no application of a Code of Conduct," she explained. "But when an individual is either elected to council or appointed to a municipal local board, they're held to a higher standard."
As an aside, the Integrity Commissioner noted Amherstburg does not have a transparency problem.
"We did look into these matters insofar as necessary," said Atwood. "We are quite satisfied there is no lack of transparency or public engagement at the Town of Amherstburg, and that its efforts in regard to transparency and public engagement are at par or better than similarly sized communities throughout Ontario."
The investigation cost the town less than $5,000.
