Matt Harris handed in resignation March 17, by-election expected in JunePublished Apr 15, 2025 • 4 minute readMatthew Harris in his Lens Flare Studio in the town of Pictou in this file photo from 2024. He resigned from town council in March. Photo by Angela Capobianco /Angela CapobiancoA Pictou town councillor said he resigned because of a toxic relationship with the town’s head administrator.His resignation letter arrived days after a formal investigation was launched into his alleged violations of the Code of Conduct for municipal officials.Five months after being elected, town of Pictou councillor Matt Harris handed in his resignation on March 17. He says it was because of conflicts with Kyle Slaunwhite, the town’s chief administrative officer.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“I just can’t work in an environment that restricts me,” Harris said in a recent interview.Harris, who moved with his family to Pictou two years ago, said he now wants to recharge and put his energy into something more meaningful. A by-election is expected to be held in June and will cost about $20,000.CODE OF CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONIn October 2024, the province instituted a new code of conduct for municipal officials to “help ensure they follow procedural standards and behave professionally and respectfully.”Harris said the CAO launched a complaint under this new code.A letter from the Truro law firm Burchell MacDougall (provided to Truro News by Harris) dated March 12 informed Harris that he was being investigated. The date of the complaint from Slaunwhite is dated March 3.According to the complaint, Slaunwhite said Harris violated the code by:Claiming to speak on behalf of council.Bypassing the CAO to speak directly to public works staff.Making disrespectful comments.Interrupting/influencing and directing staff.Threatening reprisal: Slaunwhite wrote that when he told Harris of code violations, Harris responded that Slaunwhite “should start updating my resume.”Article contentSlaunwhite and councilors did not return requests from Truro News for an interview. Mayor Jim Ryan responded however, but wouldn’t go into details of the investigation.“I believe the circumstances surrounding the resignation are entirely Mr. Harris’s to share if he wishes to do so. We were not provided with his reasoning (in the resignation letter). We certainly wish him all the best in the future,” Ryan wrote in an email.“In response to your references to an investigation, I can only speak in general terms and tell you that if a complaint is filed against any elected official pursuant to the Code of Conduct which clearly outlines roles and responsibilities of council members, a formal process has been established through provincial legislation to protect the confidentiality of all involved.”In an interview, Harris said he didn’t violate the code.CONFLICTSAn email exchange from November, also provided by Harris, showed an interaction between Harris, the CAO and the mayor. In this case, Harris was requesting confidential documents about a funding proposal. Harris wrote to Slaunwhite demanding the documents.Article content“Can you send a report of what you have seen? I can’t take your word on this without information,” Harris wrote in an email dated Nov. 29, 2024.Ryan responded to Harris’ requests: “The CAO has shared all relevant information that he is at liberty do so at this point. I strongly question your implying that anything but proper and professional communication has occurred.”And then Slaunwhite, after another demand by Harris to see the documents with the subject line “Code of Conduct – Warning”: “I am sending you a note that I believe your email exchange today is offside the code of conduct regulations. By stating that you cannot take my word, implies that you cannot trust me. I have done nothing, that I am aware, to make you mistrust me. Any future insinuations that I am untrustworthy will result in a filing with our investigators.”Harris said it really escalated when council debated proposed changes to a trucking route in December 2024, he was talking about the issue to Slaunwhite and Ryan after a council meeting.Article content Town of Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan asks council if there are any further comments prior to the vote on alternative trucking routes during the meeting Dec. 23, 2024. Pictured at the front of the room are (left to right) Coun. Matt Harris, Coun. Robert Fry, Mayor Ryan, town CAO Kyle Slaunwhite, deputy clerk Nicole MacDonald, Deputy Mayor Nadine LeBlanc, and Coun. Krista Fulton. Photo by Richard MacKenzie /The News“The CAO became very aggressive with me and was basically blaming us (councillors) for shutting down the route,” Harris said in a recent phone interview. ”That’s when the mayor had to interject.”I QUITA Code of Conduct investigation would have cost taxpayers thousands of dollars, Harris said. And if he was found guilty, he could have been released from council and fined. And even if the verdict went the other way, there would be no change to how the town is being run, Harris said. “I was the first councillor under the Code of Conduct to have an investigation since it was adapted in October,” he said. “The way the code was written and adopted really ties the hands of all councillors, they can’t speak up, they can’t ask the questions.”That’s really why he resigned, he said, to avoid spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on an investigation that wouldn’t solve anything.The by-election process will start on April 22nd at the next council meeting where council is expected to appoint a returning officer and set the appropriate dates for nominations, advance polling and the election day. Ryan said in an email to the Truro News that at this time, it appears as though election day will be Saturday, June 21.Article content
Pictou councillor says he quit because of conflicts with CAO
