Integrity Commissioner clears Gibb and Crain of conflict allegations

Amherstburg Municipal Building.

A ruling has been made regarding conflict of interest allegations regarding Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb and Councillor Linden Crain and it clears both of them.

A three-page letter from Principles Integrity stated that the complaint alleged that Gibb and Crain were in a conflict of interest in relation to Item 18.2 of the Feb. 9, 2026 and did not declare those respective conflicts of interest.

The item in question was correspondence from the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce (ACOC) and sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Business Excellence Awards.

Principles Integrity’s letter said there was no conflict of interest for Gibb or Crain relating to their participation in the matter. According to the integrity commissioner, the town is a member of the ACOC as is Gibb’s business and Crain’s employer. The letter added neither Gibb nor Crain are members of the ACOC as members of council nor are they members of the board of directors. The letter states they were previously members but resigned from the board of directors of the ACOC as of Nov. 18, 2022, after being elected to town council.

“Neither Deputy Mayor Gibb or Councillor Crain are on the nomination subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors or the final selection committee,” the letter continues. “Item 18.2 was correspondence to inform Council, as a member of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce, of sponsorship opportunities for the Annual Business Excellence Awards. Similar correspondence was sent to all members of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce. The same information was publicly available as well. The correspondence was not a request for donation, charitable or otherwise.”

Principles Integrity added any eligible business or individual in Amherstburg, whether they be an ACOC member or not, may nominate a business, be nominated or be awarded a Business Excellence Award. The letter said that the Town of Amherstburg is not eligible to receive an award and has sponsored an award “for many years.” 

The letter also cites a “robust and rigorous nomination, selection and sponsorship process” for the Business Excellence Awards.

“As a member of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Amherstburg is eligible to sponsor an Annual Business Excellence Award,” Principles Integrity said in its letter. ”The Annual Business Excellence Awards are an opportunity to showcase Amherstburg businesses, and the sponsorship opportunities are to support Amherstburg businesses and are not for the benefit of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce as an organization.”

The letter added sponsorship of an award is available to the whole business community and since the town itself is not eligible for an award, there would be no interest outside of the application of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act arising from council’s participation in the matter.

“With respect to the existence of an indirect pecuniary interest, (generally, the attribution of an entity’s pecuniary interest to an elected official through employment, shareholding, partnership and the like), neither of Deputy Mayor Gibb or Councillor Crain is in their personal capacity a member of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce or its Board of Directors. Though their employers may be involved with the Chamber, that relationship is determined to be too remote, or insignificant in its nature, as to be of likely influence,” the letter said. “Further neither of the councillors are involved with the annual Business Excellence Awards and as such neither of them has any influence on the process involved in the selection of the recipients of the awards.”

“Though they participated in the discussion and vote at Council to contribute $500 to the Annual Business Excellence Awards, there is nothing to indicate that Deputy Mayor Gibb or Councillor Crain had competing interests or loyalties in the matter. It is our finding that they did not have a pecuniary interest in the matter, directly or indirectly. It was therefore of no consequence that they participated in the discussion and voting on the resolution,” Principles Integrity stated. “Having concluded this matter with our disposition letter, we will not be submitting a public report to Council, and will be closing our file.”

Integrity Commissioner clears Gibb and Crain of conflict allegations

By Ron Giofu