Image

Petrolia mayor faces Integrity Commission investigation

April 14, 2022

Heather Wright/The Independent

The Independent has learned Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley is under investigation by the town’s Integrity Commissioner over comments he made about the fire chief.

The probe underway now, sources tell The Independent, is linked to the fall out from an investigation into Councillor Marty Souch.

In December, Investigator John Fleming probed an incident which saw police tail Souch after a staff member went to police concerned an unnamed councillor was watching staff at work. Fleming found no evidence of the claim and said the staff had gone above the chief administrative officer’s head in taking the matter to the OPP.

After Fleming’s investigation, CAO Rick Charlebois, in a news release, said the actions recommended by Fleming after the two-week investigation into the staff/ councillor relations problem would move forward. But the exact actions were not released, nor were the names of the staff members involved in the conflict with Souch. The Independent, which had talked to Souch long before the internal investigation, revealed he was the councillor involved in the conflict.

Three weeks after Fleming’s report, the town changed the job description of Fire Chief Jay Arns.

Loosley, in an interview with The Independent after the bylaw was approved by council without changes, linked the changes to Fleming’s investigation.
Loosley says the bylaw clarifies Arns position which had been termed Protective Services.
“There’s a difference on his responsibilities now basically to be related to fire and crossing guards and parking tickets, that type of thing,” Loosley is quoted as saying in the Dec. 16, 2021 edition. “And that’s where he will stop. So, it won’t be all the other things that … what he was involved with – you know, that part of the idea of somebody following somebody and him getting involved with that,” he said.
The Independent asked the mayor then if the fire chief “felt empowered” to go to the OPP because his duties included protective services. “That’s my understanding, yes,” says Loosley.

“It was as recommended by Fleming to do that. So, he was just empowered under certain areas and not everything,” said Loosley.

Petrolia’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rick Charlebois, would not say whether an investigation was underway into the comments by the Integrity Commissioner.

“All matters related to code of conduct complaints are managed independently by the Town’s Integrity Commissioner who must handle all matters pursuant to the statutory duty of confidentiality under the Municipal Act. This duty of confidentiality extends to every person acting under the instructions of the Integrity Commissioner. Neither council nor staff are at liberty to comment on any matters that the Integrity Commissioner may or may not be currently handling,” Charlebois wrote.

He directed The Independent to the town’s Integrity Commissioner for any further information.

In an email, Integrity Commissioner John Mascarin said he was not able to speak to the matter under the Municipal Act duty of confidentiality rules; “The Commissioner and every person acting under the instructions of the Commissioner shall preserve secrecy with respect to all matters that come to his or her knowledge in the course of his or her duties under this Part,” Mascarin quoted.

“There are statutory exceptions but none that would permit us to provide you with the information that you are seeking at this time.”

When contacted by The Independent’s Heather Wright, Loosley said “I can’t comment on that. My understanding is you were involved with that,” he said.

When Wright responded the newspaper did not file a complaint, Loosley said “I’m glad to hear that.”

It’s not clear how long the investigation will take or who is being interviewed. The Independent has not been contacted by the Integrity Commissioner to make a statement.

While Integrity Commissioners has to keep all matters they’re investigating, the Municipal Act states municipalities are required to ensure that reports received from the Integrity Commissioner are made available to the public.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Fair banner may not fly

June 14, 2025

The Independent The Moore Agricultural Society has some big plans for the 175th anniversary of the Brigden Fair. But not all of their plans may work out. The ag society has asked for and received several approvals from St. Clair Township council for special events at the landmark fair including allowing a low-level Canadian Armed Forces Flyby and helicopter landings

Read More

Image
Front Page

Remembering Newell Hastings

June 14, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Sunday, Newell Hasting’s service to King and Country over a century ago was remembered in a peaceful church cemetery near Watford. Hasting was born in Petrolia and his family moved to Watford around the turn of the century. He signed up to serve in the miltia with Watford’s 149th Battalion before being called up for service. He

Read More

Image
Front Page

Sidewalk projects around First Ave this summer

June 13, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Sidewalks along First Street in Petrolia will be getting an upgrade once school is out for the summer. It’s part of the latest large project to improve the town’s sidewalk system. In 2023, BM Ross and Associates completed a study on Petrolia’s sidewalk system and found it lacking. It suggested $1.5 million in sidewalk construction was needed

Read More

Image
Front Page

Aamjiwnaang evacuates parts of community as INEOS decommissioning increases benzene levels

June 13, 2025

Leaders of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation are evacuating residents between Churchill Road and Tashmoo Ave after high levels of benzene have been detected in the area. Just before noon Friday, INEOS Styrolutions issued a notice saying hourly benzene emissions have been detected about 0.021 parts per million. The company is decommissioning the plant which is within eyesight of Aamjiwnaang’s band

Read More