Pickering’s Democracy Is Under Siege

Pickering’s Democracy Is Under Siege By Lisa Robinson Pickering’s Democracy Is Under Siege—and I’m the Last Line of Defense By Councillor Lisa Robinson Pickering, Ontario, is no longer a democracy. Let’s stop pretending it is. Under Mayor Kevin Ashe’s iron grip, our city has slid into full-blown authoritarian rule, and I’ve been fighting tooth and nail to stop it. For nine months, I’ve stood alone against a 6-to-1 council majority hell-bent on silencing dissent, punishing the truth, and dismantling the very principles that hold a free society together. They’re trying to destroy my name, my livelihood, and my resolve—but I’m not backing down. This isn’t about me. It’s about you, the people of Pickering, and the democracy they’re stealing from us. What’s happening here isn’t just political mismanagement, it’s a calculated, communist-style power grab. Mayor Ashe isn’t acting like a leader; he’s acting like a dictator. He’s seized control of city government, sidelined the public, and turned City Hall into his personal kingdom. His latest move? Under Strong Mayor Power’s declared himself Chair of the Executive Committee—the most powerful decision-making body in the city. That gives him absolute control over which issues are discussed, how they’re framed, and how decisions are made. Translation? He controls everything. If by chance Ashe can’t be present, the powers to be have been assigned to Councillor Brenner as Vice Chair. He didn’t stop there. Ashe has appointed his loyal Deputy Mayor to chair the Planning Committee, and assigned Vice Chair to Councillor Butt, which means all major development decisions will now be rubber-stamped without meaningful debate or oversight. Statutory public meetings—your chance to be heard—have been shoved to separate evenings where only the Chair is required to show up. The rest of council can skip it, leaving your concerns ignored and your voice silenced. Don’t buy the “efficiency” or “burden” excuse – because I was never asked if I felt like chairing or attending meetings was ever a burden. In fact, I think the opposite, I would chair every meeting if I could and give every Pickering resident the chance to participate and have their voices heard. This is about cutting you out of the process. Fewer eyes, less pushback. That’s control, plain and simple. It gets worse. Ashe has also moved council meetings online—supposedly for “public safety”—yet Ashe’s wife, kids, and even his 8-year-old grandkids were allowed to attend in person. If it’s not safe for you, why is it safe for them? This isn’t about safety; it’s about silencing you. It’s easier to manipulate the narrative when you’re not in the room. Meanwhile, City Hall’s council chambers are being remodeled into a courtroom, with Ashe, the CAO, and the City Clerk front and center—while your elected Councillors are pushed to the sidelines. When you speak, you’ll face a wall of power, not the people you voted for. That’s not democracy—it’s intimidation. The public’s voice is being choked out. Delegation times have been slashed from 10 minutes to 5. No direct questions allowed. No recording meetings without a two-thirds council vote—good luck getting that. Residents can’t even discuss Integrity Commissioner reports meant to hold officials accountable. The CAO picks the media outlets for city ads, turning transparency into propaganda. Questions? Ask them behind closed doors—or not at all. This is a systematic shutdown of scrutiny, and it’s happening right in front of us. But Ashe’s authoritarian reach doesn’t stop at City Hall. He and his allies on council have also lobbied the provincial government to amend the Municipal Act—giving them the power to remove elected officials from office and ban them from running in future elections. Let’s be very clear: That’s not democracy. In a democracy, the voters decide who stays and who goes at the ballot box—not a handful of politicians behind closed doors. If Ashe and his council get their way, this would be nothing short of election interference. It would mean politicians—not the people—deciding who gets to participate in the democratic process. Challenge the establishment, and you’re gone—not by the will of the people, but by the whim of a political majority. That’s how authoritarian regimes operate—not democracies. This isn’t just about local control—it’s about fundamentally altering how democracy works in this province. Politicians are supposed to be accountable to the voters, not each other. If an elected official crosses the line, the voters decide their fate at the next election—that’s the foundation of democracy. But Ashe wants to rewrite that rulebook, giving politicians the power to remove their opponents and eliminate competition. That’s not democracy—that’s tyranny. I’ve been on the front lines of this fight since day one, exposing corruption and demanding transparency. How did Ashe respond? By hitting me where it hurts. For nine months, I haven’t received a single paycheck—not one cent—because I refused to stay quiet about the backroom deals and abuses of power I’ve witnessed. They’ve frozen my council budget, blocking me from holding town halls or keeping you informed. They’ve weaponized city resources to cut me out of key decisions. This isn’t just retaliation—it’s a desperate attempt to break me. But here’s the thing: I didn’t run for office for a paycheck. I ran to fight for you. And I’m not going anywhere. Then there’s Ashe’s wife. This isn’t just about him—it’s about a political dynasty. Her influence has turned city decisions into a family affair, protecting their inner circle at Pickering’s expense. This isn’t government; it’s a business—and we’re not the customers. Decisions are no longer being made for the good of Pickering—they’re being made to protect and benefit the Ashe political family and their friends. They want you to think this is over. They want you to believe Ashe will get away with it. But I’m still here, the lone voice against a stacked council, taking the hits so you don’t have to. They’ve tried to destroy my name, calling me a troublemaker, a radical—anything to discredit the truth. But I wear their attacks as a badge of honour. Every unpaid month, every blocked town hall, every 6-to-1 vote against me proves I’m striking a nerve. I’m fighting for free speech, for your right to be heard, for a Pickering where power answers to the people—not the other way around. This is our last stand. If Ashe gets his way, democracy in Pickering—and maybe beyond—dies. But I believe in us. I believe in the grit of this community. They can’t silence me, and they won’t silence you. It’s time to rise up, demand accountability, and take back our city. Because if we don’t stop this now, there may be no turning back. Here’s a list of the authoritarian measures Ashe, council, and the CAO have implemented to silence the public — though this may not be exhaustive: · Delegation times slashed — Reduced from 10 minutes to 5 minutes, making it almost impossible for residents to present their case. · No more Q&A — The public is no longer allowed to ask direct questions to council during meetings. · Recording meetings forbidden — The public can no longer record meetings · Media forbidden from recording meetings— Unless two-thirds of council votes in favour. · Restricted agenda control — Residents can’t speak about anything not already on the agenda unless two-thirds of council approves of topic. · Propaganda control — Council can now only advertise in media outlets hand-picked by the CAO. · Closed-door dealings — All questions must be asked behind closed doors, out of public view or they will cut off your mic. · Integrity Commissioner reports off-limits — Residents are forbidden from speaking about these reports at council meetings. · Banning public speakers — Residents from outside Pickering are banned from speaking at council meetings, unless approved by Mayor or City Clerk. · Virtual meetings — Moved under the guise of public safety. · Council chambers remodeled into a courtroom — You’ll now face Ashe, the CAO, and the City Clerk directly while councillors (Elected Officials) sit off to the side, stripping them of their authority. · Threatening political punishment — I’ve been denied my paycheck for nine months as retaliation for speaking up for constituents. · Weaponizing the budget — My council budget has been frozen, preventing me from holding town halls on City property. “Thoughtcrime” · Threats of loss of office — “Thoughtcrime” If I record any videos from my office — They don’t approve of the content or truth. · Notices of Motions — All notices of motions “shall” go through staff first before being presented · CAO Authority – I can no longer speak directly to Directors or Staff – all correspondence must go through the CAO · Staff Attendance – For the month of March, staff will not attend meetings in order to send a “strong message” because I called a staff member out for lying, and want to bring a notice of motion for strict penalties up to and including termination if employees are caught lying to public or council. · Trespass Orders — For speaking the truth, voicing your opinions, whether in person or over social media that the City feels threatening. They’re systematically silencing you. They’ve tried to crush me for exposing the truth. But I’m still here — and I’m not backing down. Pickering belongs to the people — and it’s time we take it back. I am Councillor Lisa Robinson “The People’s Councillor”