Cobourg’s mayor has issued a strong response after Northumberland County released a statement defending social services staff and warning against stigma amid ongoing homelessness pressures.
The county release, previously reported by NorthumberlandDaily.ca, did not name Mayor Lucas Cleveland directly, but he says he believes it was issued in response to his recent comments to media regarding county-run warming room and shelter operations.
In a statement released Friday, Cleveland disputes how his remarks were characterized and denies suggesting that social service workers are criminal enablers or that people accessing supports are criminals. He says his comments have referred only to criminal activity as defined under federal and provincial law.
Cleveland calls the implications false and libelous and says he is exploring options for redress. He is also asking the county warden, acting CAO, and communications staff to stop what he describes as inaccurate and damaging claims.
The earlier county statement defended frontline social services employees and cautioned against language that could stigmatize workers and vulnerable residents during a period of increased demand and winter shelter pressures.
In his response, Cleveland links the disagreement to broader tensions around encampments, drug activity, and the former 310 Division Street operations in Cobourg, and suggests political motivations may be behind the criticism. He also thanked unnamed county councillors who he says reached out to express concern about the situation.
Northumberland County has not yet issued an updated public response following the mayor’s statement.
Below is the mayor’s full, unedited statement:
Statement from the Office of the Mayor
I have never directly said or inferred ever the sentiments attributed to me by Northumberland County Warden Bob Crate and Acting CAO Glenn Dees. My remarks have always been in regard to actual criminal activities as defined under both Federal and Provincial legislation. The patently ridiculous conflagration to say I have called all social service workers as “criminal enablers” or to say I have “inferred” ever in a single public instance that those “people accessing social services are all criminals” is not only wholly false and an outright lie, but is libelous. Never have I, at any point in my life, called for, to use the term in their statement “widespread investigations.” Again, not only is this not true, but hyperbolic fantasy. I challenge County communications staff who presumably drafted this so-called statement to show proof that I have said these things. I will immediately be exploring all means of redress.
I will ask the Warden and Acting CAO Dees and County Communication Staff to immediately cease and desist from making any further such egregiously false and misappropriate statements.
Unfortunately, this personal attack against my character, in my humble opinion, is more about my refusal to accept what has happened to Cobourg around encampments, also criminal drug activity, and the previous operations of 310 Division St. All of which I have fought against frankly at times at great personal cost. Aside from the obvious personal antipathies against me by certain members of County Council and certain department staff I will not be bowed by bullying or any childish intimidation ploys.
I personally believe this “statement” is more about a subversive electioneering tactic wrapped in false self-righteous indignation to try to create an outcome of the election of a Mayor of Cobourg some at Northumberland County would prefer. To those County Councillors who reached out to me to express dismay and sympathy at this disturbing “statement”; I thank them.
Lucas Cleveland
Mayor of Cobourg
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
