OttawaOttawa city council chose to reprimand but not suspend the pay of Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante after an integrity commissioner report found she harassed and intimidated residents through the use of memes and emojis during contentious online debate last year over a city plan to house asylum seekers.Integrity commissioner report recommended Plante’s pay be docked for 3 daysBen Andrews · CBC News · Posted: Aug 27, 2025 11:08 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoRideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante calls the recommended punishment in the integrity commissioner’s report ‘punitive’ not ‘proportionate.’ (Jean Delisle/CBC)Ottawa city council chose to reprimand but not suspend the pay of Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante after an integrity commissioner report found she harassed and intimidated residents through the use of memes and emojis during contentious online debate last year over a city plan to house asylum seekers.The report by the city’s integrity commissioner Karen Shepherd investigated complaints into the councillor’s conduct levelled by four unnamed complainants. It found Plante had contravened Section 7 of the city’s code of conduct through “bullying and intimidation” of residents in a series of social media posts made from July to November 2024.It recommended council dock Plante’s pay for three days.The complaints arose from animated online discussions during debate over whether the city should build newcomer reception centres in tent-like facilities known as Sprung structures, named after a leading company that manufactures them.Plante was in favour of the plan, arguing the structures would alleviate the strain on Ottawa’s existing and overloaded shelters. Councillors voted 16-8 Wednesday to receive the report but not impose the recommended penalties.More to come.ABOUT THE AUTHORBen Andrews is a reporter with CBC News in Ottawa. He can be reached at benjamin.andrews@cbc.ca or @bendandrews.
Council won’t dock Plante’s pay after report finding she harassed residents with emojis, memes
