A bitter and escalating conflict has erupted in Pickering, pitting Mayor Kevin Ashe against City Councillor Lisa Robinson. The core of the dispute? Robinson’s publicly questioning of the initial findings surrounding the alleged discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Residential School.
Robinson released a video, titled “215 ‘Mass Graves’ at Kamloops: Zero Bodies Found After 5 Years — The Lie Exposed,” where she challenged the widely reported claims made in 2021. She argued that, despite years of investigation and significant financial investment, concrete evidence of mass graves remains elusive. Her central point: the original narrative lacked the supporting evidence it demanded.
The councillor’s statements ignited immediate backlash. Mayor Ashe issued a public apology to Indigenous communities, survivors, and affected families, condemning comments that “dismiss, distort, or cast doubt on the truths shared by survivors.” He swiftly filed a formal complaint with the city’s integrity commissioner, characterizing Robinson’s remarks as deeply hurtful and detrimental to reconciliation.
Robinson vehemently countered, accusing Ashe of deliberately misrepresenting her words and using the situation for political gain. She clarified that her intention wasn’t to deny the harms of residential schools or dismiss survivor experiences, but to highlight the lack of physical evidence supporting the initial claims of mass graves. She emphasized a need for factual accuracy, not denial.
She pointed to a recent update from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation, confirming that extensive surveys, costing millions, have yet to uncover confirmed human remains or graves. Robinson argued that building genuine reconciliation requires a foundation of truth, not preliminary findings presented as definitive proof.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Councillor Robinson has faced repeated sanctions in recent years, including significant pay suspensions. In 2024, she received a 90-day suspension for conduct violations, and in 2023, a 60-day suspension for comments she disputed as being unfairly labeled “homophobic and transphobic.”
The integrity commissioner will now investigate whether Robinson’s latest statements violate Pickering’s Code of Conduct. A finding of breach could result in her ninth suspension since 2022, further escalating the already fraught situation. Despite the potential consequences, Robinson has welcomed the review, asserting her commitment to factual accuracy and transparency.
Robinson maintains that asking questions and demanding evidence isn’t an act of denial, but a necessary step towards genuine understanding and reconciliation. She believes that silencing dissenting voices hinders the pursuit of truth and ultimately undermines the healing process. She insists, “Facts matter, and Canadians deserve them.”
