Guelph’s mayor will not face any penalties after three complaints were filed against him about his conduct on social media just before Christmas.
According to a report heading to council on Apr. 16, the city’s interim integrity commissioner Laura Dean says while online criticism is a “fact of life” for those in public office, and Cam Guthrie chose to engage, he didn’t do anything against the council code of conduct.
Guthrie was accused of breaking several codes of conduct for a series of messages posted to X in December.
“The complaints allege that the mayor, who has approximately 23.8k followers, breached a number of provisions of the code when he engaged in an online exchange with a local, non-binary queer person and small business owner with under 400 online followers,” the report states.
It goes on to say that some of the mayor’s messages “targeted a disabled, non-binary person in the community.”
Three formal complaints were filed to the integrity commissioner’s office.
It all began with a post on Dec. 16. Guthrie posted photos of he and his wife visiting a local retirement home and performing Christmas carols.
Today @BoringOldRach and I went to @SchlegelVillage and played/sang some Christmas carols for the residents! We had a wonderful time and I’m sure you’ll want Rachel back soon, me on the other hand…..iffy! 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZvjLa1oia3
— Mayor Cam Guthrie (@CamGuthrie) December 16, 2023
Guthrie ended up getting into a back-and-forth with someone being critical of being unmasked “at a time of heightened levels of COVID-19 and despite public health warnings.”
The user states Guthrie and his wife were “only causing harm” by being in a long-term care home with high-risk people.
There were multiple exchanges in the days after.
Well, there you have it folks, I’m apparently “causing harm” by singing & playing Christmas carols with my wife to cheer people up this season. 🤷♂️ https://t.co/haF2wn8jxB
— Mayor Cam Guthrie (@CamGuthrie) December 17, 2023
Our thin-skinned mayor @CamGuthrie is trying to sic his 23k followers on a small account for pointing out that ppl should wear a mask in a seniors' facility full of vulnerable elderly folks.
— Aerin Milley Smith (@aerin_smith) December 17, 2023
Punching down for the holidays! https://t.co/gcn89BNqpU
The mayor of #Guelph is actively bullying the disabled community online for asking him to wear a mask in a seniors' facility. @CamGuthrie is using his large following to punch down on his own constituents in @cityofguelph
— Aerin Milley Smith (@aerin_smith) December 21, 2023
What does the city's code of conduct say? 1/? https://t.co/fRz10QkycP
again: THIS IS MY MAYOR, TALKING ABOUT HAPPILY VISITING AN LTC HOME WITHOUT A MASK ON, AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS & THE FACT THAT 1 IN 13 ONTARIANS HAS COVID RIGHT NOW. IN 2023 SAYING NO TO WEARING A MASK AROUND OLD DISABLED VULNERABLE PEOPLE https://t.co/hMjAdiJ6ZW
— 🌈themperor mel wants a ceasefire🥄🌿💛🤍💜🖤🌈 (@redfresds) December 21, 2023
The first of three formal complaints were that Guthrie was “responding derisively to the X users’ criticisms of his unmasked volunteer activities.”
The complaint continues that with Guthrie dismissing concerns those users felt were valid, the user “contributed to, and invited, mockery of them on social media.”
The second formal complaint is “extremely similar” to the first one.
The report states Guthrie contravened four different sections of the code of conduct by dismissing critiques over him not wearing a mask during volunteer appearances.
“This complainant claims the mayor ‘cyberbullied’ a vulnerable resident of the city who expressed reasonable criticism of the mayor’s actions,” said the report.
The complaint goes on to allege Guthrie “demonstrated a disregard for public health measures and disrespect for his constituents.“
The third complaint filed states Guthrie “improperly uses the influence of his office on X by maintaining an account that is deliberately styled and used as an official city-managed social media account.”
It states the account provides Guthrie credibility, social standing and a large outreach.
From that, the complaint continues that “his use of the account to mock and retweet the X users was not fair and amounted to bullying.
“This complaint alleges that the mayor belittled and targeted constituents who expressed valid public health concerns, exposing them to unwelcome abuse over social media.”
Guthrie responded to these complaints, stating he only responded to critiques from his private account, one he has used and paid for for over 16 years.
He says “he did not influence anyone nor accrue any gain from his use of social media during the relevant period” and has only used corporate resources in accordance with the code.
In terms of the complaint suggesting he belittled constituents, Guthrie states he was “truly upset” by the “vile attacks” suggesting he and his wife were causing harm. He said he felt the need to defend himself and his wife from what he felt were “unfounded allegations” and “unclear truths” expressed via vulgar language and intentional insults.
Guthrie admitted his humour and sarcasm didn’t help, and later made the decision to disengage.
Guthrie also states he wasn’t asked to put on a mask at the long term care home on that December afternoon, and he would’ve put one on if he was asked to. He says he wasn’t feeling ill and had no symptoms, and wasn’t aware of any public health orders to mask during this time.
“The mayor noted that he would be pleased to meet with the complainants in person in order to have ‘an authentic conversation,’” the report said.
In the end, the report says Guthrie didn’t contravene the code.
“Online criticism is a fact of life for members of public office,” the report said. “While politicians who choose to engage in social media should not be expected to endure unending cyberbullying or harassment, they must expect, and even welcome, a certain level of vocal dissent without playing the victim.”
