Donnie Hill (Town of Innisfail)

By Sheldon Spackman

Code Of Conduct breached

Innisfail councillor facing sanctions following investigation

Feb 11, 2021 | 2:49 PM

Sanctions have been imposed on an Innisfail town councillor facing sexual assault-related charges.

The sanctions follow the completion of an external, independent investigation of matters associated with councillor Donnie Hill’s upholding of council’s code of conduct.

The sanctions include suspending Hill’s appointment from all council committees until current legal proceedings involving his private affairs are concluded.

Hill currently faces counts of sexual assault, unlawful confinement, assault, and criminal harassment in relation to alleged offenses occurring between 2013 – 2015. Hill is scheduled for a jury trial on those matters from Jan. 17-21, 2022.

During the in-camera (non-public) portion of their regular meeting on Feb. 8, council heard a presentation from SAGE Analytics Inc. regarding council code of conduct matters.

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Council accepted the SAGE Investigation Report and related recommendations regarding code of conduct matters involving Councillor Hill.

Town officials say the report findings conclude that Councillor Donnie Hill breached section 4.1(d) of the Code of Conduct Bylaw 1612-2018, noting his private affairs involving recent and past criminal charges, though unproven, have had a negative impact on the reputation of council and the community.

Hill was previously charged with mischief – damage under $5,000 in relation to a separate alleged incident on June 28, 2020.

According to court documents, Hill did not plead guilty to the charge but did enroll in alternative measures, which he completed in December, 2020.

Additionally, the SAGE report findings conclude that Councillor Hill did not breach section 7.1 regarding upholding the law. Town officials point out that Hill has no criminal convictions, and current charges against him have not been proven in a court of law.

As a result, Hill remains qualified to serve as a municipal councillor in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, section 174(1)(e) and the code of conduct bylaw.

Town officials say the sanctions are not intended to imply any judgement or pre-judgement on current charges that Councillor Hill is facing.

Rather, they’re described as a temporary suspension from committee involvement in an effort to create some professional distance between the community and Councillor Hill in his capacity as an elected official for the Town of Innisfail.

Elsewhere, council received an update from SAGE Analytics Inc. on other council code of conduct matters.

SAGE President Shari-Anne Doolaege informed council that a SAGE Investigation Report was being prepared and that this report involved allegations made against former councillor Glen Carritt. SAGE anticipates that this investigation will be completed by the end of February.

SAGE began the council code of conduct investigation process after a Nov. 23, 2020 council appointment. According to Town officials, the total project budget is approximately $25,000, including both investigations.

SAGE commented on the high level of cooperation and input from officials and community members during the project.

“Council understands the heightened public interest in council code of conduct matters. Council remains committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership. The Town will receive advice from legal counsel prior to disclosing any part of the code of conduct investigation reports. These actions are demonstrating that council is actively upholding the requirements of Code of Conduct Bylaw 1612-2018.”

A copy of the council code of conduct bylaw may be viewed at www.innisfail.ca/codeofconduct.