City/County Councillor Bill Dennis was noticeably reserved during Sarnia council's last regular meeting in 2024.
Mayor Mike Bradley said Dennis would have to apologize in order to be welcomed into future meetings after he was expelled from budget deliberations as a result of an angry profanity-laced tirade -- that included insults to his colleagues.
While a verbal apology was not given, Dennis provided a written one, which was included at the bottom of Monday's agenda.
"I sincerely apologize and express regret for any disappointment or distress my recent actions may have caused," Dennis wrote. "It was not my intention to make my profound frustration personal. I am grateful to those who offered unwavering support and want to extend a heartfelt apology to the citizens who elected me. Thank you."
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley addressed the statement before moving into the closed portion of the meeting to discuss legal issues.
"There's been a lot of questions raised by the public about the behaviour of a councillor at the last meeting and subsequent posts," Bradley said. "My own view is that the apology received by council was not an apology. It did not withdraw the comments, or apologize to the people who were slandered and libeled."
Bradley said he considered delaying the meeting.
"When I looked at the agenda, and I did look at postponing the meeting -- which we've had to do several times in the last couple of years because of the behaviour of a councillor -- I decided there was too much positive city business on the agenda including the development of new housing and a number of other issues that will bring value to the city," he added.
As a result, Bradley said he decided to allow Dennis into the virtual session.
"We're now moving into a zero tolerance world," Bradley warned. "There will be zero tolerance for any comments about other individuals that are not appropriate, and that is part of what our code of conduct says. That's what our rules of order say and I've not had to enforce them in 36 years. I'm disappointed I have to do that, but that's the reality of what we're dealing with."
Councillor Dennis' unhinged rant went viral after the November 26 meeting.
His outburst was covered by news organizations across Ontario and mocked by announcers on a syndicated Detroit radio show that's broadcast to six other cities in the United States.