A Chatham-Kent councillor is once again facing a potential pay suspension for reportedly violating council’s code of conduct.
Mary Ellen Bench, the municipality’s former Integrity Commissioner, has resubmitted a report regarding her investigation into several complaints about Ward 4 Councillor Rhonda Jubenville.
Bench first filed a report on Jubenville’s conduct on July 17, 2023, which found the councillor breached Sections 10 and 15 of council’s code of conduct through posts on social media and other communications that allegedly targeted, bullied, and abused members of municipal staff and the public.
As a result, CK Council voted in favour of Bench’s recommendation in August 2023 to suspend Jubenville’s pay for 90 days, the maximum penalty allowed under Ontario’s Municipal Act.
The Ward 4 councillor successfully appealed the decision in Divisional Court, which determined in July 2025 that Bench’s interpretation of Section 10 of the code of conduct was “unreasonable”. Because one part of the integrity commissioner report was ruled against, the entire report was “quashed,” along with the penalties enacted by council. The court also ordered that the municipality award Jubenville $20,000.
However, in the same ruling, the court upheld the report’s finding that Jubenville did breach Section 15, and directed Bench to resubmit the report with a new recommended penalty.
“This decision was not appealed by either party and is therefore final,” Bench said in the new report. “I consider the breach of Section 15 to be the most significant breach of the code, as the bullying and abuse significantly impacted members of the public, staff and members of council.”
Bench is now recommending a two-month pay suspension for Jubenville. Council will be asked to vote on the potential sanction at its next meeting on December 1.
Should council vote in favour of the recommended sanction, Jubenville told Bench that she will consider filing another judicial review in Divisional Court.
“I said I would consider it. I made it clear that I wasn’t posing that as a threat, I was just being transparent because I firmly believe I did not breach the code of conduct in any of my actions or my social media posts,” said Jubenville. “For me, it’s a matter of principle.”
Jubenville said she’s “disappointed” in the integrity commissioner’s recommendation, and believes the decision comes down to a difference in “ideologies.”
“[The integrity commissioner] is being very subjective in her reasoning and not looking at this from an objective lens,” said Jubenville. “There could be other factors into why she has chosen to carry this out, I don’t know. She is no longer our integrity commissioner. She did apply and was not hired. I’m not saying that could be a factor, I’m just saying that is a fact.”
Jubenville also noted that the municipality has not reimbursed her for the initial three-month suspension, and she has not yet been awarded the court-ordered $20,000.
“I’m hopeful that council will not support the integrity commissioner’s suggestions, and we can move forward and close the chapter on this, and get back to what we were elected to do,” said Jubenville.