Crowd sourcing campaign lands controversial Pickering, Ontario councillor her 8th financial sanction

Make it eight sanctions for the always controversial Lisa Robinson as the Pickering councillor saw her pay slashed 90 days this week for another violation of the city’s code of conduct, this time for accepting more than $13,000 in donations from a GiftsSendGo crowd sourcing campaign.

Robinson was in the chambers a month ago receiving her seventh sanction for her participation in a podcast publicly posted to YouTube more than a year ago where the host “exhorted the public to commit acts of violence” against members of council.

This time the penalty was issued for her fundraising campaign aimed at recouping some of her salary penalties – with Monday’s 90-day pay cut she has lost nearly $80,000 in salary – with the money raised far exceeding the allowable limit.

It’s also the second time she has been sanctioned for fundraising in breach of the rules at the city.

Robinson repeatedly demanded evidence from Integrity Commissioner Jeff Abrams of Principles Integrity of her benefitting from the fund but refused to deny she kept the money.

“Show me the bank transfer,” she shouted at Abrams, prompting Mayor Kevin Ashe to ask if she denied receiving the money. “There is no evidence I received a single dollar of this money,” she responded.

Pickering Councillor Lisa Robinson

After it was pointed out the GiftSendGo account linked directly to Robinson’s website, the Ward 1 councillor went on the attack against Ashe and other members of council’s character in her debate time, calling Ashe “evil” and alleging unverified corruption against the mayor.

“I have proof, but I won’t submit it to you or the Integrity Commissioner,” she said, while accusing the two of “working together” against her. “While I am sanctioned for imaginary gifts real instances of ethics go unnoticed.”

Councillor Linda Cook took offense to Robinson’s accusations, noting her tirade was another breach of the code of conduct. Cook also said that he has responded “in the appropriate manner” to her colleague’s previous motions, “but I will never align myself with Councillor Robinson because that would signal I condone her behaviour and I am accepting of how she treats this council, the public and the community and I do not.”

The motion to sanction Robinson with a 90-day financial penalty carried unanimously.

LISA ROBINSON’s SANCTION HISTORY

• 25, 2023 – 30 days
• 23, 2023 – 60 days
• 23, 2024 – 90 days
• 16, 2024 – 90 days
• June 23, 2025 – 90 days
• 12, 2025 – 90 days
• 29, 2025 – 60 days
• 28, 2025 – 90 days