Despite the scandal surrounding Vaughan city hall, there was muted reaction and little condemnation from many of the councillors Tuesday as the city’s ethics commissioner presented them with the outcome of an investigation that found deputy mayor Michael Di Biase repeatedly sexually harassed a city employee last year.Also missing was outrage, at the fact that even though the veteran politician resigned last week in the wake of the damning report, he will still be entitled to at least two years’ severance pay from the city, and another $30,440 in severance from the Region of York, where he served as regional councillor.In her report, integrity commissioner Suzanne Craig found that Di Biase, a seasoned politician with more than three decades in office, broke the city’s code of conduct when he repeatedly sexually harassed a city employee over a period of five months, including allegedly kissing her on the lips and touching her breasts, and contributed to creating “an intimidating and offensive work environment for the complainant.”The complainant also made allegations of sexual assault and reprisals. Craig said the assault complaint was a criminal matter and not in her jurisdiction. The complainant’s lawyers, with the firm Pinto Wray James LLP, said they have advised their client of her options, but she had not yet filed a sexual assault complaint with police. None of the allegations have been proven in court.Previously, Di Biase said he took “great exception to the allegations put forward by the complainant.”On Tuesday, Craig said Di Biase’s actions “seriously undermined the trust placed in elected officials.”“I find ample evidence, to show on a balance of probabilities, that the respondent did engage in conduct that constituted sexual harassment,” she said, adding “there is no pleasure received in submitting this report.” She commended the complainant for show ...
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