Ward 4 Councillor Faces Pay Cut After Breaching Closed Session Confidentiality

A bold move to push transparency backfires. Now, Stolte’s push for reform—and her own opinion piece—hangs in the balance as tensions with city hall escalate.

, and Administrator

2025 November 24 . 9:27 PM

1 min read

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Ward 4 Councillor Faces Pay Cut After Breaching Closed Session Confidentiality

Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte has faced disciplinary action after disclosing details from a closed council session. The Integrity Commissioner reprimanded her and docked five days’ pay, which is equivalent to 30 days from today. This latest incident adds to a series of challenges during her time on city council.

Stolte began her first term with a steep learning curve. Early on, she clashed with Mayor Meed Ward, who demanded a public apology after an undisclosed dispute. She also revealed information from a private meeting, which led to further scrutiny.

During her second term, Stolte proposed the Permit to Pipeline committee to speed up building permit approvals. Though she initially intended to chair the meetings, Mayor Meed Ward took on the role instead.

Recently, Stolte approached a local journalist about writing an opinion piece titled Put Up or Shut Up. The article aimed to encourage more residents to run for public office. Before drafting it, she wanted feedback from her fellow councillors. However, concerns over group dynamics and low public engagement may prevent its publication.

The Integrity Commissioner’s ruling means Stolte will lose five days’ pay. Her proposal for the Permit to Pipeline committee remains active, but her opinion piece now faces uncertainty. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between individual councillors and council procedures.