A council-directed review of Mayor Arie Hoogenboom’s remarks at the Upper Rideau Lake Association annual general meeting ended with a reminder that the municipal returning officer’s authority is limited under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, but not before council revisited the political controversy that prompted the review.
Rideau Lakes council received a report from Clerk and Returning Officer Mary Ellen Truelove after directing her to review comments made by Hoogenboom during the lake association’s annual general meeting on July 4.
Council ordered the review during its July 6 committee of the whole meeting after concerns were raised about the mayor’s remarks while speaking in his official capacity at the association’s AGM. Truelove presented her findings on July 13.
The report notes the meeting was recorded and that the video is publicly available through the Upper Rideau Lake Association’s website and Facebook page.
As directed by council, Truelove reviewed the portion of the recording in which the mayor addressed attendees.
According to the report, Hoogenboom acknowledged councillors Marcia Maxwell, Dustin Bulloch and Ron Pollard, along with former councillor Joan Delaney, “who was on council for a number of years.” Delaney has since filed nomination papers to run for mayor in the 2026 municipal election.
The report also notes Hoogenboom later advised council he had not seen Coun. Linda Carr in attendance and apologized to her following the meeting.
The mayor’s remarks covered Canada Day and Independence Day, the work of lake associations, shoreline protection, the township’s 2026 budget, the strong mayor budget process, the Crosby roundabout, asset management funding, grants to lake and road associations, campground licensing and the upcoming municipal election.
The report reproduces the portion of the mayor’s remarks that prompted the review.
“2026 is an election year and we need your help to increase voter turnout,” Hoogenboom told the audience.
He went on to say voter turnout in recent municipal elections had been low, described council as “deeply divided,” referenced more than 30 integrity commissioner investigations and approximately 400 recorded votes, and urged residents to encourage their neighbours and local candidates to become involved.
Rather than making a finding on the mayor’s comments, Truelove outlined the statutory responsibilities of the municipal returning officer, including receiving nominations, administering voting procedures, certifying election results and overseeing compliance audit processes prescribed by the Municipal Elections Act.
“The Municipal Elections Act does not provide authority for the Returning Officer to investigate the conduct of members of council at meetings of external organizations unless the matter relates directly to an alleged contravention of the Act,” the report states.
Truelove also recommended that future concerns involving current members of council or candidates in the upcoming municipal election be directed to the clerk and returning officer so they can be reviewed and the appropriate process followed.
During discussion of the report, Hoogenboom said council’s July 6 decision to request the review was “clearly an attempt by some members of this council to discredit me” based on hearsay.
Coun. Paula Banks immediately raised a point of privilege, saying she was simply relaying concerns brought forward by an attendee at the Upper Rideau Lake Association meeting.
“I was not there,” Banks said. “The attendee said it was inappropriate for the mayor to introduce an ex-councillor when discussing an election and not a current councillor. That was my only comment to this issue.”
Deputy Mayor Jeff Banks, who chaired this portion of the meeting while Hoogenboom addressed council, upheld the point of privilege and cautioned the mayor against making personal attacks on members of council before allowing him to continue.
Hoogenboom said he believed the report supported his position.
“Clearly, the clerk has found that I said nothing inappropriate, and as such, I felt that an apology would be in order,” he said.
Coun. Debbie Hutchings urged members to focus on the public concern rather than personal disagreements.
“Let’s make our personal stuff out of this and just deal with what the public concerns are,” Hutchings said.
Council voted to receive the report for information, with no further action.
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OMG ,,, here we go again , when is enough ,enough ! There are individuals that need to stay to public concerns and maybe grow up . Hopefully election day will see a new working council in this municipality.