Bortolin sorry for angrily swearing at Liberal members he says wrongly accused him of racism
Warning: This story contains language that some may find offensive
City Councillor and provincial Liberal Windsor West candidate Rino Bortolin is apologizing for losing his temper and swearing at members of his own party, aftera federal Liberal party meeting in March.
But Bortolin said he was acting in defence of claims against theWindsor West federal riding association forbeing racist a charge he vehemently denies.
The candidate and councillor is the subject of a complaint to the City of Windsor's integrity commissioner filed on May 4th by Edy Haddad.
Haddadhas provided CBC News with a copy of the complaint.
Haddad, the executive vice president of the provincial Liberal riding association, claims in his complaint to the commissioner that Bortolintold Haddad to "shut the f--- up" and "go f--- myself" afterthe March 8th event.
Allegations of bullying, harassment
Haddad was at the meeting running for president of the federal Liberal party's Windsor West riding association, which he lost that night.
He said that Bortolin, defending a spot on the board of directors that night,acted as a bullyusing tactics of intimidation while abusing and harassing people in attendance.
"I've never seen anything like this in my life when it comes to Liberal politics," said Haddad, who continues to support the Liberals and went door-knocking for the party in a separate Windsor riding this weekend.
"I did get angry and I did swear at them and I'm not denying that that did happen," said Bortolin, who said he heard about the allegations through the media.
"But their allegations are completely false. There was no bullying. There was no harassment," he continued.
"Provoked in a situation that escalates into an argument is not harassment."
On the same day Haddad filed the complaint, Bortolinheld a press conference to ask for a judicial review of a ruling on a separate complaint made to the integrity commissioner against the councillor which calls for him to be reprimanded.
Centred on a handshake
The shouting started when HelmiCharif, who unsuccessfully ran for a spot on the board of directors that night, approached Pat Papadeasafter she had been elected as executive vice president of the riding.
"[Charif]had shaken [Papadeas']hand and had begun a conversation that quickly had her yelling at him, telling him to 'go f---- [him] self,'" writes Haddad in his complaint to the commissioner.
Papadeas did not respond to requests for comment from CBCWindsor.
Charifsaid that iswhen Bortolinconfronted him.
"He was standing in front of me waving his hand above his head saying 'F--- you, you are a f-----, you are a f------ a-------,'" said Charif, who said the councillor had to be held back by his wife.
"This guy, he couldn't control himself. If I would have stayed in that spot I believe he would have probably hit me or something," said Charif.
Provoked byallegations of racism
Bortolinsaid he was looking for Papadeas to give her a ride home when he found her "surrounded by Edyand Helmi and they were accosting her."
He said he asked what was going on and that it escalated into an argument.
"Did I lose my temper? Yes. Did I swear? Yes. Do I apologize for that? I absolutely do, I shouldn't have lost my temper," said Bortolin.
"But I need to be clearthey were out there provoking an argument and making allegations of us being racist. I do not take that lightly and I was not going to let that stand."
I've never seen anything like this in my life when it comes to Liberal politics.- Edy Haddad
Bortolinsaid that his teamhad been fielding allegations from Haddad's team about being racist for weeks leading up to the board election.
"They said you don't want us on the board because you're racist," said Bortolin.
"We have a diverse board to show all kinds of ethnic diversity. There's absolutely no reason to believe any of those allegations."
Timing of complaint questioned
Bortolinalso called into question the timing of Haddad'scomplaint, which was filed nearly two months after the night of the argument.
Haddadsaid he was waiting for an apologyfrom Bortolinduring that periodbefore deciding to file the complaint on Friday.
"To be honest with you I don't think a man like that should even be a city councillor," said Haddad, who is calling for the city's integrity commissioner to suspend Bortolinfrom council.
Haddad said he filed the complaint now because heplans to go on vacation soon and wanted to ensure he submitted a full and complete complaintsotheyounger people in the party do not to feel threatened.
"He never asked me for an apology and quite frankly I think the people who deserve an apology here are both myself and MissPapadeas," saidBortolin.
Doug Sartori was elected riding association president that night and said he did not see the altercation.
Sartori and Bortolinboth questioned Haddad'shistory, with Bortolin specifically mentioning the multiple times Haddad has accused people in a position of power of bullying and harassment.
"[He's]been well known for both accusing previous Mayor Eddie Francis for harassment and bullying. He's also accused the Windsor Police Service of harassment and bullying," said Bortolin, adding that Haddadseems to "throw those allegations quite easily."
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