Sarnia city councillor Bill Dennis remains defiant following a warning from the mayor after launching a vulgar exchange during a November 26 budget meeting. Dennis made personal attacks against the mayor and city staff, leading to an advisory at the beginning of a Sarnia City Council meeting on Monday.

Later, Dennis expressed regret for his words in a CTV News interview, apologizing to the citizens of Sarnia. However, Mayor Mike Bradley stated that an apology to council was required for Dennis to attend future meetings. Dennis apologized in a letter for any distress caused but did not specifically apologize to any council members. Bradley deemed this insufficient but allowed Dennis to attend the virtual meeting with a warning.

Bradley emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate comments about individuals, stating, “There will be zero tolerance for any comments about other individuals that are not appropriate.” The rest of the three-hour meeting proceeded without incident.

In a telephone interview, Dennis explained that he stayed silent to avoid being provoked by the mayor and other councillors, saying he would still call things as he saw them. However, Bradley expressed concerns about Dennis’ ongoing behavior, calling his outbursts profane and damaging to the city’s reputation. He emphasized that he would enforce the city’s rules of order and address future reports on behavior at council.

Dennis, however, feels targeted, saying, “It’s not that I’m not a team player. It’s just I don’t buy their base. I don’t buy their view of the world.”