Brockville, Ont. mayor resigns after buying 'dream house' outside of the city
Jason Baker has resigned as mayor of Brockville, Ont. after the purchase of his dream home outside of the eastern Ontario city disqualified him from office.
The city of Brockville announced Baker's resignation at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement, the city says Baker is "no longer qualified to hold office due to his non-residency status within the city of Brockville" under the Municipal Act and the Ontario Municipal Elections Act.
Baker was first elected to Brockville City Council in December 1997. He was elected mayor in the 2018 municipal election.
"It has been an absolute honour to represent this beautiful city," said a statement from Baker released by the city announcing he had stepped down as mayor.
"I regret that the purchase of my dream home has unknowingly caused this issue and will keep me from finishing some of the work that we all started together. I wish all of you the best of luck in our shared goal of keeping the City of Brockville thriving into the future."
In an interview with Bruce Wylie on Move 104.9 Thursday morning, Baker said he thought because he owned a business in Brockville he would still be able to finish the term as mayor.
"I was under the same impression, but I guess it’s a bit of a technicality in that most accountants would advise their clients to set up a numbered company to buy a business," said Baker.
"It just simply protects your business assets from your family assets and vice versa."
Baker says he always thought he was eligible to serve as mayor after buying his dream house.
"When I learned I wasn't I offered my resignation and council was reluctant to accept it. They found a way around the Municipal Act clause that the Integrity Commissioner suggested, but it didn't seem to uphold the spirit of that act and I felt it wasn't the right thing to do."
Baker did not plan to seek reelection in the 2022 municipal election.
Coun. Jane Fullerton will serve as Acting Mayor for October.
Brockville City Council will declare the mayor's seat vacant at an upcoming meeting and announce their decisions on how to proceed. The Municipal Act permits Brockville City Council 90 days to make their decision on how they intend to fill the vacancy.
The next municipal election is scheduled for October 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.