Brockville Mayor Facing Reprimand/Suspension of Remuneration at Tonight’s Council Meeting After Recommendation from City’s Integrity Commissioner

Brockville – Brockville Mayor, Matt Wren, is facing a recommendation of a reprimand/suspension of remuneration by the city’s integrity commissioner after an investigation report released on October 20th and to be presented at tonight’s city council meeting, which said the Mayor was found in violation of the Council’s Code of Conduct.

The investigation was brought about by William McKinnon after a dispute with the Mayor over the 20205 Santa Claus Parade.

McKinnon made 8 allegations that Mayor Wren violated the Code of Conduct and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act in connection with the decisions concerning this year’s Santa Claus parade in a written complaint to the Integrity Commissioner on September 1st.

In a media release sent to Hometown TV12, McKinnon stated, “Brockville resident Bill McKinnon is urging City Council to uphold the Integrity Commissioner’s findings regarding the Mayor’s conduct and to impose the maximum available sanction under Ontario law — suspension of remuneration for up to 90 days.”

The city’s Integrity Commissioner, Ellen Fry, did the investigation and, after talking to Mr. McKinnon, the Mayor and the City’s Manager, stated that, “I determined that 4 of the 8 allegations did not, on their face, indicate non-compliance with the Code of Conduct or Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Accordingly, I have not investigated these 4 allegations.”

He went on to say, “This isn’t about a single comment. When a Mayor uses his office to reach into the employment relationship of a resident who disagrees with him — especially a Realtor whose broker of record controls their ability to trade — that crosses a bright ethical line.” “No one in Brockville should fear that speaking up means the Mayor might try to threaten their livelihood,” continued McKinnon.

The four allegations investigated were:

1. That Mayor Wren allegedly improperly influenced City staff to prevent the participation of Mr. McKinnon’s organization in the parade;
   • The Integrity Commissioner concluded that Mayor Wren did not violate the Code of Conduct as alleged in this complaint.
2. That Mayor Wren allegedly treated members of the public improperly in a call on August 29, 2025, with Gina Rose Cristello of Solid Rock Realty and by referring to the “wackadoodles from Facebook” in a call with Mr. McKinnon on August 25, 2025;
   • The Integrity Commissioner found this disrespectful but recommended no sanction.
3. That Mayor Wren allegedly did not perform his responsibilities with impartiality and objectivity and in a way that did not create any appearance of possible bias, by improperly benefiting the Rotary Club and the role of his brother-in-law, Dave Paul, in the Rotary Club;
   • The Integrity Commissioner concluded that Mayor Wren did not play a part in the decision to manage the 2025 parade in-house. Consequently, she did not need to investigate this allegation.
4. That Mayor Wren allegedly made false statements in his posted Mayor’s Statement on the Santa Claus parade when he wrote:
   • “They now claim to face thousands of dollars in City fees….There were no such extra fees last year, and there would not have been this year either; and
   • “But the suggestion that I demanded public recognition if Council waived fees is a bald-faced lie”.
   • The Integrity Commissioner was unable to conclude that this allegation indicates a violation of the Code of Conduct.

The Integrity Commissioner concluded that Mayor Wren violated section 7.0 of the Code of Conduct on 2 counts:

• By trying to intimidate Mr. McKinnon’s wife by applying pressure at her place of work, and
• By failing to treat members of the public with respect by referring to them using the • term “wackadoodle”

In section 15.0 of the Code of Conduct, the Municipal Act, 2001 authorizes Council to impose either of the two following penalties on a member of Council following a report by the Integrity Commissioner that, in her or his opinion, there has been a violation of the Code of Conduct.

The Integrity Commissioner’s recommendation is a reprimand or suspension of the remuneration paid to the member in respect of his or her services as a member of Council or a local board, as the case may be, for a period of up to 90 days.

Tonight’s city council meeting begins at 5:30 pm and can be viewed live on the city’s website: https://brockville.civicweb.net/document/220092/?splitscreen=true&media=true