A former Ontario Municipal Board adjudicator has publicly raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving Ontario Land Tribunal Member Ken Hewitt, who attended a developer-hosted dinner at Hy’s Steakhouse—an event that Haldimand’s Integrity Commissioner determined violated the code of conduct for two attending councillors.”
Paula Bontis, a lawyer who served as a full-time OMB member for more than two years between 2017 and 2019, commented on Facebook that Hewitt “should know better” than to attend such dinners with developers while “sitting on the most powerful adjudication body in the province making planning decisions.”
The OLT is the continuation of the OMB.
Hewitt’s actions undermine public trust and the OLT’s credibility, Bontis wrote:
“On another post Member Hewitt is commenting that he’d recuse himself from all Norfolk and Haldimand matters, and that he’s been a long time friend with the councillors and has a relationship with Empire. I don’t doubt he would do that. But if I am a person with another municipality or a resident providing a statement and a matter comes before Member Hewitt, I’m not going to care if he’s recusing himself from files in Haldimand and Norfolk. I’m going to remember he’s having dinner with developers – the perception is he’s developer friendly.”
She continued with a personal example of the ethical standards required of adjudicators: ” I severed my relationship with environmental orgs (donations, volunteering). You wouldn’t see me at fundraisers or at leadership tables. That is the issue. Of course I would have recused myself from any matters involving Sierra Club (who I volunteered with for around 2 decades and donated to heavily), but that is not the issue. The issue is I have to remove myself from that community entirely to be seen as someone neutral at hearings. At least as best as possible that is what we have to do when we sit as adjudicators.”
The comments were posted on the Facebook page of Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady.
On his own Facebook page, OLT Member Hewitt expresses concern about the dinner becoming publicly know, adding that Haldimand’s code of conduct should be reviewed with an eye to permitting council members to accept meals from lobbyists.
“We should always be concerned when there is clear and intentional breach of conduct such as posting confidential information in the public domain. I was at this dinner and if the councillors are in breach because the meal cost more than $300, then they should look at the threshold. Despite our feelings of these or other politicians, thinking they will sell their own principles for a steak dinner is just wrong.”
On Friday (yesterday), the OLT Chair issued a statement saying the matter is under review.
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Published: April 11, 2026
Last updated: April 11, 2026
Author: Joey ColemanUpdate Record
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