The conduct of Guelph’s Diana Piccoli remains under review by the country’s judicial watchdog.
Piccoli, a former Guelph lawyer who is now a Ontario Superior Court judge, is accused of making donations to the Liberal Party of Canada on multiple occasions after being appointed to the bench.
A joint investigation by the National Post and Investigative Journalism Foundation first brought the issue to light in August.
On the Elections Canada website, at least three donations by a Diana Piccoli of Guelph are listed, including two $300 donations made during the 2019 and 2021 elections.
According to the Canadian Judicial Council, making political donations could be in conflict with the council’s ethical principles for judges.
“All partisan political activity must cease upon appointment,” the code states. “Judges should refrain from conduct that, in the mind of a reasonable, fair minded and informed person, could give rise to the appearance that the judge is engaged in political activity.”
Among the items judges should refrain from doing, it added, is “membership in political parties and political fundraising,” as well as “contributing to political parties or campaigns.”
Piccoli was appointed a justice in May 2019 to the Central South division, in the family court branch.
Johanna Laporte, the CJC’s director of communications, confirms the review is still ongoing.
“Under the new review procedures, the matter can either be dismissed by a reviewing member or may be referred to a review panel consisting of a member of council, a judge named from the roster of judges, and a person named in the roster of laypersons,” Laporte said in a statement.
“The main task before a review panel is to decide whether to recommend a hearing panel which could impose certain remedial measures or other reprimands.”
She added all decisions and reports from review panels are published on the CJC website, “barring any exceptional circumstances.”
Laporte did not specify what step of the review the Piccoli case is in.
But when asked if Piccoli is still able to complete her duties as a justice while the review is ongoing, Laporte answered “a judge remains in office unless removed by Parliament, or if they retire or resign.”
“Their case load or other duties relating to the court are matters decided between the judge and his or her Chief Justice,” Laporte said.
The Central South division covers Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo Region, St. Catharines, Welland, Brantford, Simcoe and Cayuga.
The senior judge for the region did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
