Claims of ‘criminal extortion’ by Caledon councillor to be filed with police, integrity commissioner says

Caledon’s integrity commissioner plans to file a police complaint, claiming “criminal extortion” and threats by a Town Councillor over a pair of rulings.

The accusations come in an email from Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, obtained by INsauga.com and added to Tuesday’s council meeting.

An email chain shows Boghosian found a pair of complaints filed by Caledon Ward 2 Coun. Dave Sheen against Mayor Annette Groves were “retaliatory and politically motivated.”

One complaint came from Groves’ comments published in a Caledon Enterprise article, with Sheen saying she broke the town’s code of conduct by publicly criticizing staff for “bundling” a proposed site alteration bylaw with four other bylaw items.

The second complaint involved the 2026 budget process, with Sheen challenging the mayor’s comments that she had “directed staff to prepare the budget for early approval,” when it was actually a Mayoral Directive under Ontario’s Strong Mayors rules.

In both cases, the integrity commissioner ruled Groves had made minor infractions and laid no penalties.

But the commissioner says Sheen has demanded “corrective action” on the reports, including removing “characterizations of my informal resolution request as ‘retaliatory’ or ‘weaponizing’ the process.”

Sheen said he plans to file complaints against Boghosian with the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Ombudsman, alleging “professional misconduct.”

Boghosian says he will be taking the matter to police.

“I will be advising Council at the October 28th meeting that I will be filing a formal complaint with Peel Regional Police regarding your threatening conduct as set out in your emails of October 14th and 16th,” the email from Boghosian reads.

In the emails, Sheen says that advising Boghosian “of my intent to pursue legitimate regulatory complaints does not constitute a criminal offense (sic),” calling it a “standard legal practice and my absolute right.”

Sheen was reached for comment, and said “the full documentation already available in the public record speaks for itself.”

“As this matter is before the Law Society of Ontario and will also be before the Ontario Ombudsman, I do not feel it is appropriate to comment further at this time,” he said.

The letter from Boghsian and an email chain with Sheen can be read on the Caledon council website.

Caledon Town Council is set to meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Editor’s Note: Caledon falls under OPP jurisdiction, not Peel police. INsauga.com has reached out to Boghosian for clarification, but no response was immediately received.