Pickering council returns to renovated chambers after two years of online meetings

PICKERING · Pickering city council will hold its first in-person meeting on Nov. 16 after nearly two years of conducting business online. The move back to the council chambers follows a $3.3 million renovation project. Mayor Kevin Ashe said the shift to virtual meetings was necessary due to escalating security concerns, disruptions and graphic threats. "If there's one place [where] residents and staff and our colleagues on council should feel safe, it's in their place of government," Ashe said. He described the decision to move online as prudent.

The security issues were linked to conduct surrounding former councillor Lisa Robinson, who lost to Ashe in the recent mayoral race. Robinson faced nine investigations by the city’s integrity commissioner since 2023, resulting in several pay suspensions. In response, Pickering councillors petitioned the province for a standardized municipal code of conduct with stronger penalties. The Ford government passed that legislation earlier this year.

The chamber renovations, already planned before the move online, included comprehensive updates. Mayor Ashe said there had been no major structural or technological changes to the space since the civic building opened in 1989. Regional councillor Maurice Brenner said a major focus was bringing the chambers up to provincial accessibility standards. "It's new, improved and accessible," Brenner said.

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To improve accessibility, the floor was raised with concrete and more ramps were added. Safety features were also a priority in the redesign. City staff will now sit alongside council members behind a half-wall glass barricade, separating them from the public gallery. The renovated space includes a dedicated panic room and a secondary emergency exit.

Almost all members of the previous council are returning, except for Robinson's former ward seat. Ashe expressed hope that in-person meetings will restore decorum. "I feel comfortable that we're turning the page," Ashe said. "There's nothing wrong with disagreeing.... It's about how you disagree, how you articulate your position and how you treat your council members and the public." He added that respectful treatment is essential for municipal government. Brenner agreed, saying the return facilitates vital face-to-face interaction and public engagement. "For me, it's exciting to be back. I think it's democracy at its best," he said.

With files from CBC News