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Emo Township Office

Emo township returning to court over Human Right Tribunal case

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Another court hearing has been set related to the Human Rights Tribunal Decision regarding the township of Emo and Mayor Harold McQuaker.

The case is returning to a Divisional Court in November.

Lawyers for the township and mayor want a judicial review of the Tribunal’s ruling that declared the township discriminated against Borderland Pride by rejecting a Pride declaration in 2020.

The court heard the matter earlier this year, but indicated the township had not first sought a request for reconsideration from the Tribunal.

The Tribunal normally requires such requests to be made within 30 days from the release of its decision.

The court had requested the Tribunal to take the delay into account.

However, the Tribunal rejected this summer, stating that even “if the request had been made in a timely manner, the grounds for seeking reconsideration do not meet the reconsideration criteria.”

The case now goes back to the Divisional Court with a hearing date set for November 30th.

Emo township office - adjusted

Emo responds to questions about crowdsharing funds

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The township of Emo is responding to allegations that donated funds may have been mishandled.

Lawyers representing Borderland Pride asked Ontario Provincial Police to investigate after it was revealed that Mayor Harold McQuaker received $5,300 from a campaign that was started in response to Emo’s human rights case with Borderland Pride.

The organization’s legal representatives suggest that several thousand dollars more was raised and has not been accounted for.

In a release posted to its social media page, the township says it is only aware of the funds given to the mayor and a $5,000 donation, also raised through crowdfunding, provided to the Emo Library.

It says no other funding has been received.

The release notes that any donation received is documented, with a receipt provided to the donor unless they wish to be anonymous.

Emo Township Office

Emo township council takes action on Integrity Commissioner’s report

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Emo township council has suspended the pay of their mayor for 60 days.

The decision against Harold McQuaker, which was unanimous, came at a special meeting last week.

McQuaker was earlier cited by the township’s Integrity Commissioner for violating council’s Code of Conduct when he failed to disclose that he received over $5,300, raised by online fundraising campaigns to assist in a human rights case involving Borderland Pride.

An Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the township council was wrong in failing to support a Pride Proclamation in 2020 and ordered the township to pay $10,000 and McQuaker $5,000.

The tribunal recently denied the township’s request to reconsider its 2024 ruling.

The money McQuaker received came from one of several crowdsourcing campaigns that started up because of the case.

Minutes from the August 19th meeting indicate that $5,350.65 held by the mayor has since been forwarded to the township.

The minutes also state that McQuaker left the meeting following council’s decision.

Council instructed that the money be held until the legal proceedings concluded.

The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal recently denied the township’s request to reconsider its earlier ruling against the mayor and the township.

Provincial Police are also looking into the crowdsourcing campaigns to determine if there was any criminal wrongdoing.

The law firm of Judson/Howie, whose principal partners are co-founders of Borderland Pride, has suggested nearly $35,000 was raised by those campaigns, but only a portion has been accounted for.

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OPP looking into concerns with crowdsourcing campaigns intended for Emo mayor

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Questions surrounding crowdsourcing campaigns for the mayor of Emo are now a police matter.

Ontario Provincial Police confirm they are looking into a request from the law firm of Judson/Howie regarding monies raised for Harold McQuaker in a Human Rights dispute with Borderland Pride.

An Integrity Commissioner’s report determined that McQuaker contravened Code of Conduct rules by accepting $5,300 and failing to disclose it.

McQuaker had told the Commissioner that he intended to hand over the money to the township when legal proceedings concluded.

The law firm claims nearly $35,000 was raised by the campaigns and is questioning the whereabouts of the outstanding funds.

It has asked the OPP to determine if any criminal wrongdoing has taken place.

In an email to Acadia News, an OPP spokesperson confirms they have received the request and are looking into concerns raised.

No timeframe for the probe or when it may be concluded was provided.