Former Brampton integrity commissioner offered job back after filing $20 million lawsuit

Published November 25, 2022 at 11:00 am

Brampton has offered former integrity commissioner Muneeza Sheikh her job back after threatening to sue the City and councillors for some $20 million.

Sheikh was let go from her position as Brampton’s integrity commissioner and lobbyist registrar in March by a majority vote of council following revelations she billed the City for more than $500,000 in less than three years on the job.

The firing led Sheikh to launch a lawsuit against the City and six councillors. But last Wednesday, Council offered Sheikh her old position after a closed-door session.

A motion from Coun. Micchael Palleschi and seconded by Coun. Rowena Santos called for council to “offer Muneeza Sheikh the position of integrity commissioner and lobbyist registrar for the 2022-2026 term of Council” and terminate an existing agreement with Principles Integrity, which took over duties as integrity commissioner after Sheikh’s contract was cancelled.

Sheikh did not immediately respond to questions about whether she has accepted the City’s offer, and if her lawsuit is still going forward.

Councillors Pat Fortini and Martin Mederios did not vote on the motion and declared conflicts because they were named in Sheikh’s lawsuit.

Councillors named in the suit were part of a so-called “Bloc of Six” who routinely voted together on council issues, and even boycotted council meetings last term saying democracy in the city was being “stripped away.”

Sheikh was let go around the same time as the city’s former Chief Administrative Officer David Barrick, and the City’s solicitor.

In a Tweet on Aug. 4, Sheikh said allegations she “over billed” the City were “a gross defamation” of her character as a lawyer.

“My work was reactionary, the city hired me on an hourly rate, and none of these members of council ever raised fees as an issue during my tenure,” Sheikh said. “Once the bloc was formed, I was ousted.”

Sometimes appearing as a commentator on TV news stations, Sheikh is a lawyer with Levitt Sheikh Employment & Labour Law.

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