Coun. Rick Chiarelli 'expects' to run for re-election, says office

Ottawa city councillorRickChiarelli, whose pay wassuspended for 450 daysover behaviour the city's then-integrity commissioner deemed to be harassment and who is facing new, similar allegations"expects"to seek re-election in October,his office says.

"Councillor Chiarelli has not yet made any official announcements regarding his intent to run but he expects to," wrote his director of strategic affairs and communicationsChantal Lebel in an email Tuesday.Shedid not respond to followup questions.

Chiarelliwas the subject of two damning integrity commissioner reports in 2020 that followed a year-long investigation into allegations of inappropriate and sexually charged behaviour in the workplace.

CBC first detailed in 2019 the allegations of inappropriate behaviour,includingpressuring employees and job applicants to go bralessto certain work events.

Then-integrity commissioner Robert Marleaufound the College ward representative's behaviour qualified as harassment under the city's policies and recommendeda 90-day salary suspension for each of five complainantsthe most severe penalty available under provincial law. Council approved that suspension.

• Chiarelli committed 'incomprehensible incidents of harassment' against staff:report

Chiarelliis currently the subject of another commissioner's investigation after asixth complainant came forward to CBC with new allegations.

Chiarelli has denied all the allegations and rebuffed calls for him to resign.He isnot onthe city's list of nominatees for the ward as of Wednesday morning.

News retraumatizing, former staffers say

Three women who spoke out about their time asstaffers in the councillor's office told CBCTuesday they are not surprisedto hear hemay run again.

"He has no ability to read the room," said Stephanie Dobbs, one of the formal complainants. "The man has more audacity than anyone I've ever met."

"Nothing surprises me anymore with the audacity of that man," said Victoria Laaber,a former staffer who had described a toxic work environment in Chiarelli's office.

Both Laaber and Dobbs said it was retraumatizing to hearChiarelli may seek re-election.

Nancy O'Brien, who also worked for the councillor, said she sees him as the "perfect example" of why the Ontario Municipal Act needs to change.

"I would be so incredibly disappointed if he won again," she said.

'No business' trying to get re-elected, says MPP

Currently, having afinancial conflict of interest or committing election fraud are the only reasons a person can be barred from running for election for several years in Ontario.

A private members bill from Orlans MPPStephen Blaissought to create a process to remove councillors or mayors for failing to comply with workplace violence or harassment policies, but it had only passed its second reading whenthe provincial legislaturewas dissolved ahead of the election.

• Bra protestdemands law to remove councillors for misconduct

Blais, who served on Ottawa city council from 2010 to2020, said Chiarellishould have "done the honourable thing and resigned."

Seeking re-election is "insulting" to the community and thewomen who worked for him,Blais added.

"Mr. Chiarelli has no business remaining on city council and he certainly has no business trying to get himself elected to council."

Stephane mard-Chabot, a municipal lawyer who teaches at the University of Ottawa, said Chiarelli running again would make sense based on his "logic" so far.

"His behaviour has been consistent,"mard-Chabot,said. "He denies the allegations, denies any wrongdoing and feels very strongly that he is still apt at fulfilling this public role."

There's also a chance thatif the vote in College ward is split on Oct.24he could get in, said the lawyer, adding it's "not rare" for candidates with anywhere from 25 to 29 per cent of the vote to win if it'sspread thin enough. Two candidates have filed papers so far.

"The odds of him winning are certainly not nil."