Watch above: City council has voted to reprimand Coun. Pat Lorje for breaching city council’s code of conduct. Wendy Winiewski reports on how that will affect the Ward 2 councillor.
SASKATOON – A report in the Saskatoon city council agenda by a private investigator found that Pat Lorje breached city council’s code of conduct. On Monday, council voted on if and how she should be reprimanded.
Council voted unanimously that for one year, Ward 2 Coun. Lorje will have restricted access to private city documents after she leaked contents of a private document to a member of the public.
She will not receive electronic copies, will be required to read the printed reports in the city clerk’s office and must return the watermarked reports following meetings.
Lorje offered her side of the story on Monday.
“When I sought confidential advice on a document, I did not realize that I was in breach of Saskatoon City Council’s Code of Conduct,” said Lorje.
“I certainly did not intend to be in breach by seeking private, independent confidential advice from a trusted advisor. I did not consider such a person to be a ‘member of the public’ as defined in the city’s code of conduct.”
It is believed Lorje reached out to past MLA and colleague Eric Cline regarding a private report about the slumping riverbank along 11th Street.
She wouldn’t confirm or deny this. Lorje says her legal team has advised her to remain silent on the subject.
“If I purposely leaked a report with legally sensitive information, I would resign,” said Coun. Tiffany Paulsen.
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