Uxbridge Councillor Faces Integrity Commissioner Findings on Harassment

BRANDEN CLARK The Standard

UXBRIDGE: The Township of Uxbridge recently received a report from its Integrity Commissioner outlining findings that Ward 5 Councillor Todd Snooks violated the Council Code of Conduct by engaging in unwelcome physical contact with township staff.

The report, prepared by Principles Integrity, found that Councillor Snooks engaged in three separate incidents of unsolicited touching involving female township employees. According to the Commissioner, the conduct constituted harassment and demonstrated a lack of respect toward staff in the workplace.

The findings indicate one incident involved an unwanted hug, another involved touching a staff member’s arm, and a third incident occurred at a township event, where the Councillor made inappropriate physical contact with staff using a pickleball paddle. The Commissioner concluded that the pattern of behaviour breached the municipality’s standards.

The Integrity Commissioner recommended Councillor Snooks participate in workplace-harassment education and training and that any future one-on-one meetings with staff be conducted with additional oversight. Council has received the report and has opted to table it to allow the Councillor time to review and respond to the findings.

Further details and the full Integrity Commissioner’s report are available through the Township of Uxbridge’s official meeting records.