City councillors lawsuit violated Regina's code of ethics bylaw, integrity commissioner says

Regina’s Integrity Commissioner said that Coun. Dan LeBlanc and Coun. Andrew Stevens violated the city’s code of ethics bylaw during their lawsuit against city manager Niki Anderson.

In 2022, the two councillors took legal action in an effort to get funding for homelessness in the city’s budget.

Integrity commissioner Angela Kruk said that both LeBlanc and Stevens violated two sections of the code, saying they failed to serve their constituents in a diligent manner and also failed to inspire public confidence in council.

“I think the integrity commissioner’s report was actually very clear there was no disrespect, no harassment [and] there was no improper conduct to the city manager,” LeBlanc said.

“I think that does a lot to undermine baseless claims made against councilor Stevens and I.”

Stevens along with Regina resident Florence Stratton were applicants in the lawsuit, while LeBlanc acted as their legal counsel.

“Not to minimize his involvement, I find that Councillor LeBlanc was really the driving mind behind all of the strategy and analysis that went into the lawsuit,” Kruk said in her report.

A judge dismissed the lawsuit in December after ruling council could have sought other effective remedies rather than legal action.

“Not only was the lawsuit novel, it was unorthodox and unnecessary,” Kruk said in her report.

“The lawsuit makes city governance look dysfunctional. How will the public have confidence in council to make decisions that impact the lives of residents and property owners, if it appears as though council members are seeking the assistance of the courts to make decisions that are entirely within the authority of council?”

LeBlanc said it was too bad a complaint was filed and called it “strange” to be disciplined for a “political disagreement.” He worries the integrity commissioner’s conclusion could open up the floodgates for future complaints regarding councillors’ political stances.

A recommendation has been made to council that both LeBlanc and Stevens make a written apology to city manager Niki Anderson for the “considerable negative impact” the lawsuit had on her professionally and personally.

Stevens said he would follow council’s order.

“If there was any personal hardship to anyone’s personal experience, I’m sorry that happened,” Stevens said.

“This is all about respecting a vote of council and so if council directs me to write an apology, I’ll write an apology. Or I’ll write a letter that I think is sincere in my beliefs and makes clear what I’m actually sympathetic for.”

LeBlanc held a similar stance. He said he would only write an apology if his colleagues drafted it for him to sign.

“I think an apology that’s not meant and not heartfelt isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” LeBlanc said.

Kruk also recommends council reprimand LeBlanc and Stevens for their actions. However, in December, council passed a motion that expressed disappointment over the negative impact council’s operational integrity due to the lawsuit. Kruk suggested that is a sufficient reprimand.

CTV News reached out to Anderson for comment. However, a spokesperson said city representatives would not be discussing the investigation before it goes to council on Wednesday.

Both Stevens and LeBlanc said they took legal action against the office of the city manager, not Anderson herself.

“We did this for one reason, and as the court decision and integrity commissioner made clear, homelessness is a vital issue that council, municipalities and the community are actually concerned with,” Stevens said.

LeBlanc said he would not change anything substantial if he had the chance to do it again. He said he would still choose to push for his election promises of addressing homelessness in the city over the “personal feelings of an incumbent … even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Stevens said he would oblige with any other reprimand that council deems necessary.

According to the integrity commissioner, eight residents concerned with the two councillors’ conduct filed complaints. Two of the three formal complaints were investigated, and the third was withdrawn by the complainant. Five others were informal complaints that do not warrant investigations.

Council is scheduled to discuss the integrity commissioners’ report on Wednesday.

Mayor Sandra Masters told reporters on Monday she would not be commenting on the report until it is discussed at the council meeting.