Sparks flew in the council chambers of Shire Hall over a recent newspaper opinion piece.
During Tuesday’s meeting of Prince Edward County Council, Councillor Phil St-Jean took offence to an opinion piece recently published in the Wellington Times that took aim at himself and four other councillors who are on the board of the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation.
Addressing council, Councillor St-Jean took issue with the claims made in the published story, which had accused members of council and municipal staff of dishonesty.
He said that the piece was a direct attack on the professional reputations of the councillors affected and had no basis in reality.
“What I find totally unacceptable and quite frankly reprehensible is the fact that a member of this council is a party to these kinds of malicious, slanderous and libellous comments,” said Councillor St-Jean. “Comments claiming that the five council members who sit on the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation board are under the influence of drugs or are running a Ponzi scheme are beyond what is or should be considered acceptable.”
After speaking to council, Councillor St. Jean asked Councillor Corey Englesdorfer for comment on the issue, as he currently owns the Wellington Times, however, Councillor Englesdorfer refused to speak on the matter.
The full discussion can be heard below.
