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A city councillor in Dryden, Ont., who has been ordered by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to pay the city $17,000 says he is “absolutely still running” in the upcoming municipal election.
The City of Dryden says it received “a number of complaints involving Coun. Ritch Noel” in late December 2024 and early January 2025.
This prompted an external investigation, which determined that Noel “had bullied and harassed city staff.”
The city directed Noel not to attend any council meetings or city-planned functions in person until he completed a workplace civility training program.
Noel filed a Divisional Court application for a judicial review of that decision in response. He argued that the city “had acted outside of its authority, unreasonably relied on the investigator’s findings, denied him procedural fairness, and violated his constitutional rights,” the city said in a news release issued Wednesday.
The matter, which was heard via video conference on June 16, was officially dismissed on Monday.
About 7,400 people live in Dryden, Ont., located about 350 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. (Sarah Law/CBC)
“Council possessed the authority to impose the corrective measures it adopted. The applicant (Noel) was afforded procedural fairness throughout the process,” Justice Karen Jensen wrote in her decision.
“Council acted reasonably in relying upon the investigator’s findings. Finally, the temporary attendance restriction reflected a proportionate balancing of the applicant’s expressive interests and the city’s statutory responsibilities.”
About 7,400 people live in Dryden, located about 350 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay.
Noel, who works as a paralegal, has been the subject of eight investigations by the city’s integrity commissioner since he was first elected in 2022. He was found guilty of wrongdoing in two of these cases:
Noel and his lawyer respond to court decision
CBC News reached out to Noel for comment on the court decision and confirmation that he is continuing to run in the Oct. 26 election.
“I am absolutely still running. The safety and security of our workers is of utmost concern to me,” Noel wrote in an email on Wednesday.
His lawyer, Robert Sinding, provided a more detailed response on Noel’s behalf. Sinding is based in Emo, Ont.
“Mr. Noel intends to appeal the decision, and continues to deny the politically-motivated allegations of harassment against him. Standing up for Dryden taxpayers and expecting accountability from senior staff is not harassment,” Sinding wrote in an email on Wednesday.
“Mr. Noel will not be intimidated by this unelected official into silence. The same staff person has continued a relentless legal attack against Coun. Noel for years, making numerous Code of Conduct complaints, almost all of which have been dismissed and rejected by the integrity commissioner.
“Mr. Noel will continue with his respectful but strong leadership, and will disagree with council and senior staff when in the public interest to do so.”