It’s been a long time coming, but Timmins city councillor Rick Dubeau formally issued an apology to city clerk Steph Palmateer.

Back in September 2016, Dubeau raised accusations of “deception” regarding a typo on last year’s by-law to re-construct a part of the Connecting Link.

In case you forget, the original by-law stated they were constructing 2.2km and it was passed. However, the by-law was supposed to state the city was only touching 1.4km due to budget constraints.

Dubeau was asked to apologize at a subsequent meeting that month, but he refused and was voted off all boards and committees as a result.

It has since been revealed Dubeau wasn’t able to apologize publicly because the issue was then-under investigation by the Ontario Ombudsman (more on that below).

(CLICK HERE to take a look back at our timeline of September meetings.)

On Monday night, Mayor Steve Black revealed council held an in-camera meeting to discuss that very same by-law.

Dubeau chimed in and issued his apology:

“I would like to apologize to City Clerk Steph Palmateer for comments that I made on September 12th of last year that were perceived by some that I blamed Steph for the connecting link funding that was passed on July 25th.

The day after the meeting, Steph wrote an email to Council stating that he was appalled that any member of council would think that he had deceived council in any way.

I immediately responded to Steph, stating that I did not blame him for the issue.

I did not apologize to Steph publicly when requested in September because the Omdusman’s office was looking into the matter.

The Ombudsman’s Office recently contacted me to advise that whereas all policies may not have been totally adhered to on July 25th and in the following days, the issue has since been corrected and a new bylaw was passed. Therefore, there will be no further investigation into the matter. It is time to move forward on this issue.

Steph, I would like to apologize for the misunderstanding, I should have chosen my words more carefully so that there was no misunderstanding. Steph, you have always been helpful and forthright when I sought your counsel and I know that you would never deceive council. Steph, I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and hardship that you incurred because of this issue.

I would like to make one more thing very clear, this apology was not precipitated by a recent news article about the committee system.

I told Steph and CAO Landers several weeks ago that I would be apologizing to Steph soon.

Councillor Campbell can also attest that I told him many months ago that I would apologize to Steph once the Ombudsman’s investigation was completed.”

Rogers Radio asked Dubeau if he planned to retract his statements, and he said “no.”

Filed under: Local News