A court has dismissed an Orillia councillor’s request for a judicial review and has ordered him to pay the city’s legal costs.
Ward 3 Coun. Jay Fallis requested the judicial review after an integrity commissioner determined he violated the council code of conduct in October 2021.
After Fallis shared confidential information with his lawyer regarding the downtown waterfront redevelopment project, Principles Integrity stated he had “demonstrated a zealousness in his belief that staff advice was unreliable or incorrect and held an arrogant disregard for his obligation to maintain confidentiality as a member of council.”
As a result, council unanimously voted to suspend Fallis’s pay for 45 days, prompting the councillor to call for a judicial review.
On Wednesday, the city issued a news release stating the Superior Court of Justice’s division court, in a decision dated Oct. 12, had dismissed Fallis’s request and ordered him to pay the city’s legal bill to the tune of $7,500.
The release noted the cost to the city to defend against Fallis’s application was about $120,000.
“The city defended against the application for judicial review filed by Coun. Fallis as it undermines fundamental principles of law (Section 223.2 of the Municipal Act) and governance (council code of conduct and council’s legal privilege),” the release stated.
Fallis, when asked to comment on today's decision, issued a statement to OrilliaMatters.
"I sought legal advice at my own expense on the waterfront development in the best interest of Orillians," said Fallis.
"As a councillor, my role is to act in your best interests. This is true of everything I do, and I take this responsibility seriously. Serving our community will always be my top priority," he said.
Fallis is seeking re-election in Ward 3 in the Oct. 24 municipal election.
-- With files from Nathan Taylor
