‘I’m somewhat untouchable’: Sarnia councillor ousted from in-person meetings remains defiant

Third party investigation indicated that the councillor violated workplace harassment policies, CTV London's Bryan Bicknell has more.

For the first time ever, a Sarnia city councillor has been banned from attending council meetings in-person.

According to a news release from the city, the ruling against Coun. Bill Dennis follows an independent investigation by a neutral third party, “into allegations that Coun. Bill Dennis’s conduct had contravened the City’s Workplace Harassment and Violence Policy and Program and applicable legislation.”

The statement goes on to say that the investigation concluded that Dennis had breached the workplace harassment and discrimination provisions of the City of Sarnia’s Workplace Harassment and Violence Policy and Program and applicable laws with respect to his conduct toward City staff.

The investigation follows a public tirade and beratement of fellow councillors and city staff in a council budget deliberation session on Nov. 26, 2024.

“You have destroyed this city…it’s a disgrace. The people in Sarnia have put up with you in office for 40 years,” said Dennis, in an aggressive rant that went on for several minutes, and included several vulgarities and personal attacks against fellow councillors, the mayor, and city staff.

Once council returns to in-person meetings, expected later this year, Dennis will only be able to participate remotely. He has also been barred from city hall, except for limited circumstances. Mayor Mike Bradley told CTV News the unanimous decision came down at a closed-door meeting Monday.

“As mayor for 36 years, I never ejected anyone from a meeting until last year, because his behaviour, his vulgarities, his language, was so over the top, directed at citizens, at me, at other members of council, and at staff,” said Bradley.

Speaking to CTV News from a vacation cruise in the Caribbean, Dennis said his left-wing political opponents are trying to silence him.

“I’m not going to sit back and say, ‘Yes sir, I’ll take that punishment kindly sir,’” he exclaimed.

“People in Sarnia are looking for a fighter. People in every community are looking for a fighter. They’re tired of this woke nonsense. They’re wired. They’re tired of this woke nonsense. They’re tired of politicians that just show up for a paycheck,” said the embattled councillor.

Bradley said Dennis has created fear among his council colleagues and city staff.

“When you’re receiving threats and you have a councillor saying, ‘Oh,’ to a member of the public, ‘I know where you live,’ there’s concern. And I think the biggest frustration I hear from councillors is this – they know they’re doing their job. They know they’re passing budgets. They know they’re making good decisions for the community, but it gets obscured by this nonsense,” said Bradley.

Sarnia ditched in-person council meetings last winter after a similar tirade from Dennis.

The mayor said he’s working on a plan to re-instate them.

As for Dennis, he said he’s untouchable.

“I’ve saved money, I’ve invested it well. And so, I’m somewhat untouchable. I can say what the public is thinking. And that’s why I’m fairly popular. I have a large following,” Dennis explained.