Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart has taken legal action against Metro Vancouver and its chief administrative officer, claiming that the regional district tarnished his reputation during an investigation into a confidentiality breach linked to the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant. The lawsuit, filed in B.C. Supreme Court, alleges that Metro Vancouver and Jerry Dobrovolny, its chief administrative officer, insinuated Stewart’s involvement in the breach in 2022 despite knowing it to be untrue.
Stewart, who was implicated in a lawsuit against the initial contractor of the wastewater treatment plant, Acciona, in December 2022, contests that Dobrovolny asserted Stewart’s login credentials were inappropriately accessed by the daughter of Coquitlam’s chief administrative officer, leading to the sharing of confidential Metro Vancouver documents with Acciona.
The mayor asserts that Metro Vancouver’s internal probe into the confidentiality breach was biased against him, resulting in him not being reappointed to the regional district’s board of directors and causing harm to his standing. Seeking damages for a loss of income and reputation, Stewart, who is not seeking re-election in the upcoming municipal polls, claims that Metro and its affiliates engaged in conduct that was dishonorable, unreasonable, and defamatory towards him.
Metro Vancouver declined to comment on the lawsuit as it is under judicial review. The series of legal battles in 2022 stemmed from escalating budget concerns surrounding the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, which led to Acciona’s termination as the main contractor and subsequent lawsuits between the company and the regional district. The lawsuits were eventually settled, with Acciona agreeing to pay Metro Vancouver $235 million.
Stewart alleges unfair treatment in the handling of the investigation report, claiming that the focus was unfairly directed at him without his knowledge. The mayor contends that the procedural flaws in the investigation undermine its conclusions and that he was never given a chance to compile a comprehensive list of employees with access to his login information.
Although the investigation report cleared Stewart of blame for his chief administrative officer using his login credentials, it purportedly accused him of breaching his oath of office for not identifying who accessed his login credentials. Subsequently, a letter from staff recommended that Stewart not be considered for reappointment to the board of directors, a decision that was later ratified by Metro Vancouver’s board without affording the mayor an opportunity to respond.
Stewart also claims to have suffered physical and emotional distress due to the alleged defamation. It is essential to note that the claims made by Stewart have not yet been substantiated in court.