> West Lincoln approves 1.98% budget increase for 2022 /Pg 4 > Grimsby council rejects $70 million Woolverton build Pg 3 > “Coldest Night” clears fundraising goal Pg 5 > Better Niagara calls for Grimsby council resignations Pg 9 Thursday, March 3, 2022 Vol. 10 Issue 42
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Zula – here with owner Will Belancic – will be fighting crime on the popular TV show Hudson & Rex. See Page 11 for full details. McDonald - Photo
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Ritchie recycles old assault claim with new spin By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Coun. Kevin Ritchie - reading from a prepared statement - levelled a new spin on an old accusation against Coun. Lianne Vardy at last Tuesday’s Grimsby council meeting. Under the last item on the meeting agenda, “Announcements”, normally a spot where councillors note upcoming events and other community updates, Ritchie launched into a series of sexual assault allegations. Ritchie cited a Jan. 27 article but did not clarify where the article was published, going on to say, “harassment of any kind, especially sexual harassment is unacceptable.” Ritchie brought up an incident which was dealt with in submissions for an Integrity Commissioner complaint by Vardy, against Ritchie, Coun. Dave Sharpe and Coun. Randy Vaine which alleged bullying, among
other infractions of the Town’s Code of Conduct. Ritchie referenced an incident stemming from a social outing members of council attended while at an Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa in August 2019. Sharpe did not file a complaint of any kind and, the next evening, invited Vardy to his room for a private conversation where there was no mention of the event Ritchie alleged on Tuesday. First, noting he was was offended by comments made by Vardy on Jan. 19, Ritchie said, “This is not the first time I have seen Coun. Vardy behave this way. It was in this term of council when I witnessed her gently place her hand on another male councillor’s lap and proceed to rub his lap while winking at him.” “This councillor asked her to remove her hand very firmly and had to See INTEGRITY, Page 2