HALDIMAND—A reprimand and apology recommended by Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian for Councillor Debera McKeen devolved into a stand-off between the two at a Council meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Boghosian completed an investigation and report following a complaint about McKeen’s behaviour in a series of emails sent between March 4 and 7.
McKeen’s first email in the chain was addressed to Boghosian, but copied all of Council, CAO Michael Di Lullo, and Clerk Chad Curtis. Noting an item discussed at a public meeting by Councillor Rob Shirton – the topic redacted in Boghosian’s report – McKeen asked for a written reply confirming the issue is open for public discussion and questioning if Shirton’s comments were a breach of conduct.
Boghosian advised McKeen the item remains confidential unless expressly waived, asking her to provide details on specific statements of concern if he is to comment further.
Boghosian noted the following comments in McKeen’s next reply:
“As expected, you did not answer my question.”
“I will try and explain (Shirton’s) theatrics more clearly and simply so that you understand.”
“Councillor Shirton ranted on about…”
Councillor Patrick O’Neill then joined the exchange, in what Boghosian called a “professional, matter-of-fact fashion,” wherein he attempted to answer McKeen’s questions about the item and Shirton’s public comments on it.
In her response, McKeen called O’Neill’s reply, “rambling and unsolicited advice,” adding, “I always find tactics in your letters. However, unless you are a closet integrity commissioner in addition to being an inexperienced councillor, I will take your threat with a shaker of salt.”
Boghosian disclosed he was unaware all of Council was included in the exchange until O’Neill responded, calling McKeen’s email an “impermissible initiation of a closed meeting” under the Municipal Act.
He also warned that McKeen’s comments were “surly and disrespectful,” and a violation of the municipal code of conduct.
Following the exchange, legal counsel representing McKeen sent a letter to Haldimand County demanding Boghosian recuse himself should a complaint be filed about the emails, alleging his replies showed bias.
Boghosian’s report was reviewed at a Council meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Boghosian reiterated McKeen’s choice of wording, including the use of “theatrics” and “ranted on” regarding Shirton, and “rambling and unsolicited advice” from O’Neill.
“She made mocking comments about (O’Neill),” Boghosian continued. “She also referred to him having issued or uttered a threat against her in that email.”
He said those terms mischaracterized the councillors’ behaviour.
“Theatrics is a term that means artificial or highly emotional behaviour designed to attract attention or produce dramatic effect. I find that to be an insulting and pejorative term to use about a councillor speaking at a Council meeting,” said Boghosian, noting similar concerns for other word choices.
He called the statements against O’Neill abusive and unnecessary.
“I found no threat whatsoever in Councillor O’Neill’s email,” said Boghosian.
He raised a concern that McKeen’s response to the report focused on his alleged bias rather than on her own actions.
“The fact of the matter is, Councillor McKeen did not offer a single substantive argument to refute the allegation … that these statements breached decorum,” said Boghosian. “There’s absolutely no defence of the statements, so there’s really nothing for me to have a closed mind (or bias) about.”
In her response, McKeen said that as a new councillor, she thought she was following proper procedure when contacting Boghosian.
“This guilty finding resulted from my frustration in not getting a definitive response,” said McKeen.
McKeen alleged she repeatedly asked to “meet the complainant face-to-face to work out our concerns, thus lessening the burden on the taxpayer.”
“I can’t control the complainant,” replied Boghosian. “The rules are the rules and in order to have an informal settlement process, both sides have to agree.”
McKeen again alleged Boghosian had shown bias in the emails and should have recused himself on the matter.
Boghosian replied, “I wouldn’t be doing my job as an integrity commissioner if I wasn’t attempting to educate you, Councillor McKeen, on proper etiquette and behaviour – and that’s what I tried to do in that email.”
He continued, “I’m sorry that even to this moment you don’t seem to get that, and you just think this is a big joke or a procedural game to be played, instead of owning up to the fact that your discourse fell far below a reasonable standard to be expected, not just in a council chamber, but on the street…. I stand by the comments I made.”
McKeen then criticized Boghosian for failing to realize from the initial email that all Council members were included.
“Was it not your job at the end of the very first email to correct that? … Had you done that this entire process would not have occurred,” said McKeen.
Boghosian replied, “Again, why don’t you take responsibility for your own actions, Councillor McKeen. You’re the one that used those highly inappropriate words. Instead, you’re trying to shift blame.”
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley said there is poor education for incoming councillors. She said better communication was needed to de-escalate the situation, backing McKeen’s assertion that Boghosian could have “nipped it in the bud” if he noticed the email’s recipients sooner.
“There is a clear need for more effective and respectful communication protocol between councillors and the integrity commissioner,” said Bentley. “We need to recognize that this is a cost to the taxpayers and to Council members. Every time a Council member gets hit with an IC, they have to hire a lawyer. We’re paying lawyers tens of thousands of dollars to fight these reports. We need to do better.”
Councillor Brad Adams spoke against the IC process as a whole, calling the complaint against McKeen frivolous and unnecessary.
“Never in my wildest dreams running for this position did I think I’d see the display of childish games I’ve witnessed,” he said, agreeing with McKeen that Boghosian should have recused himself.
“I’ve grown weary of all of it, to be honest. Frankly, I don’t even want to participate in the vote,” Adams continued, noting while he would have chosen different wording, he believes McKeen hadn’t “told any lies…. When I weigh the antics I’ve seen around this table, I’ve seen much, much worse…. This should never have been an IC complaint or on this agenda.”
Shirton noted the marked increase in IC reports during this Council term, and said to Adams, “Your comments about this being frivolous – I’m going to quote what you said against me, ‘I was elected to hold my fellow councillors responsible to a level of integrity.’ And we’ll leave it at that.”
McKeen agreed with Adams on there being issues around the Council table, stating, “I’ve learned my behaviours from around this horseshoe. I am just basically reflecting back my year in the seat.”
O’Neill stated, “We’ve spent this entire conversation putting the IC on trial and now making us seem like your bad behaviour is learned from us. I don’t know why that seems to be an excuse or a reasoning. I think taking responsibility is probably the best way now. It’s up to you.”
As Bentley read Boghosian’s recommendation for a formal reprimand and apologies to Shirton and O’Neill, a spectator in the crowd audibly yelled “Don’t do it.”
After a 4-2 vote in favour of accepting the recommendation, McKeen gave her required apology.
“To the Chair, sorry Councillor O’Neill. As for Councillor Shirton, are you interested in exchanging apologies for the incident last week on June 16? You said you’d take the high road…. I’m asking for the same.”
Shirton did not reply, so McKeen concluded, “I take that to be a no. So be it. Sorry Councillor Shirton.”
