Rideau Lakes mayor calls allegations ‘inappropriate and bizarre’ during council discussion on veto powers

Confidential legal opinion sheds light on mayor’s use of strong powers

RIDEAU LAKES — A confidential legal opinion on the mayor’s use of strong mayor veto powers was aired publicly at Rideau Lakes committee of the whole Jan. 12, prompting a brief but pointed exchange among three members.

The discussion centred on a Dec. 16, 2025 legal opinion from Aird and Berlis LLP lawyer John Mascarin, which states there is “a strong likelihood” a court would not conclude Mayor Arie Hoogenboom exercised his veto powers in bad faith.

Coun. Jeff Banks said the township sought the legal opinion to determine whether any recourse existed in response to the mayor’s use of strong mayor powers. While acknowledging the cost, he said the issue needed to be examined and noted the opinion concludes the matter is ultimately political, with any remedy resting at the ballot box.

Coun. Paula Banks disputed the mayor’s conduct and the broader impact of strong mayor powers during the discussion, as Hoogenboom relinquished the chair to enter the debate, with Deputy Mayor Sue Dunfield assumed the chair.

Hoogenboom said the opinion confirmed his position.

“So, let me be clear. Multiple lawyers, including my own, have told me that there’s been no bad faith involved in my exercise of my veto powers,” he said. “It is completely within the legislation.”

Hoogenboom said the township incurred legal costs pursuing an issue that could not succeed.

“The municipality has been asked and is being asked at considerable total legal cost to try to prove a point that some of the members of council feel spurned by the fact that I’ve used those veto powers,” he said.

He also addressed remarks made by Paula Banks.

“I’ve listened to Paula Banks make all kinds of inappropriate and bizarre allegations against myself and my supporters and the media,” he said, adding that she was repeating “false allegations.”

Hoogenboom said those comments were the reason he intends to pursue legal action.

“That is precisely why I’ve determined that I need to move forward in a bad faith case against other members of council and misfeasance of public office,” he said.

Paula Banks responded that the mayor was mischaracterizing the legal opinion.

“You’re saying that the lawyer has proven that you didn’t act in bad faith. That is not what he said,” she said. “He said it is almost impossible to prove bad faith no matter how badly you act.”

She said the opinion does not conclude the mayor acted appropriately, only that the legal threshold for proving bad faith is high.

There was no motion arising from the discussion. Dunfield returned the chair to Hoogenboom and council moved on with the agenda.

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