Controversial Pickering City Councillor Lisa Robinson has announced she will appeal a judicial review decision by Ontario’s Divisional Court that denied her request for compensation and ordered her to pay $30,000 in legal costs to the City of Pickering. In a strongly worded statement, Robinson called the ruling “deeply concerning not just for me, but for all elected officials in Ontario and across Canada,” claiming she was sanctioned based on “misleading complaints and outright lies” without being given a fair opportunity to respond.
The court found the financial penalties Robinson received — including two separate 90-day pay suspensions for Code of Conduct violations — were reasonable and proportionate. The ruling upheld the findings of Pickering’s Integrity Commissioner and rejected Robinson’s allegations of bias and infringement on her freedom of expression. According to the court, the city’s Code of Conduct and the sanctions imposed represented a fair limit on her conduct and communications in office.
Despite the ruling, Robinson insists she’s preparing for an appeal, asserting that the Integrity Commissioner was influenced by “public pressure, political bias, and emotional reactions,” rather than facts. Her first term on council has been marked by repeated controversy, including multiple disciplinary actions, social media outbursts, and frequent clashes with staff and fellow councillors. She has consistently framed her role as a whistleblower, accusing city officials of misconduct and cover-ups.
Earlier this year, the Ontario Provincial Police launched an investigation into threats allegedly made by some of Robinson’s supporters toward city staff and councillors. In response, council moved to virtual meetings in January and later advised senior staff to avoid in-person public meetings altogether due to “escalating disrespectful behaviours” from the public — behaviour linked to Robinson’s most vocal backers. Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe, frequently targeted by Robinson, defended the move as necessary to protect staff and uphold workplace safety.
Robinson, however, maintains the staff pulled back not for safety, but to avoid accountability. She accused a senior director of lying to both council and the public and claimed the city was shielding wrongdoing rather than addressing it. “This isn’t about respect — it’s about control and the cover-up of misconduct,” she said. “And I won’t be silent about it.”
The councillor’s first term has been widely documented, including by council itself, which released a video compilation last December highlighting some of Robinson’s most contentious moments. Among them were her appearance on a podcast hosted by fugitive Kevin Johnston — during which the host labeled councillors “pedophiles, Nazis, and fascists” while Robinson nodded in agreement — her support for German far-right politician Christine Anderson, and cryptic social media posts referencing historical figures who used violence in response to government corruption.
She has also welcomed far-right groups to organize and run security for her town halls and was disinvited from the city’s Veterans Dinner last November. Flyers distributed in support of her have contained conspiracy theories and accusations, while council meetings have repeatedly been disrupted by her supporters, some of whom left threatening messages and emails for staff.
In light of the ongoing disruptions and challenges, new provincial legislation is being proposed to strengthen consequences for municipal politicians who violate Codes of Conduct. The proposed rules would give Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner greater authority — including the power to hold inquiries and recommend that a councillor be removed from office. Pickering, after grappling with Robinson’s term since 2022, is among the cities calling loudest for change.
Despite the legal defeat and mounting criticism, Robinson remains unrepentant. “I will continue to bring the truth to light and fight for honest, open governance in Pickering — because the people deserve nothing less,” she said.