South Glengarry Deputy Mayor Martin Lang did not break the township’s code of conduct when he supported a development proposed by a developer with whom his niece had a contract, the township’s integrity commissioner has ruled.
Last year, Lang joined other council members in approving a zoning change to pave the way for the construction of an eight-unit apartment building at 20378 Old Montreal Rd. in South Lancaster. Lang’s niece is a financial consultant and was under contract with the developer to provide financial services, reads the report submitted to council by integrity commissioner Meaghan Barrett, of the legal firm of Aird & Berlis.
However, after investigating the anonymous complaint, the commissioner concluded that the family connection would not influence Lang’s decision on the proposed development.
Lang “is deemed to have a direct pecuniary interest in the proposed development,” but the interest is “sufficiently remote and insignificant that it does not give rise to a contravention of section 10 of the Code,” the commissioner writes.
The report notes that June 23, 2025, the township held a public meeting where numerous members of the public spoke in opposition to the development. The one member of the public who spoke in favour was Lang’s niece.
At a July 28 meeting, Lang seconded the motion to give the building the go-ahead.
September 25, 2025, Lang advised that he learned that his niece had a contract with the developer prior to the council meeting, and in response, reviewed the code of conduct confirm whether their familial relationship gave rise to a conflict of interest.
A niece is not one of the family members giving rise to a deemed interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Lang said he was transparent with his fellow councillors and township staff about his niece’s relationship with the developer.
After the meeting he was accused of having a conflict of interest.
Lang asserts that his niece received no financial gain from council’s approval of the development. On this basis, he therefore takes the position that there was no conflict of interest.
The commissioner’s report added, “Going forward, we recommend that the Respondent (Lang) and all members of Council exercise caution as to their conflict of interest obligations under the Code as well as their statutory obligations under the MCIA (Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.) These obligations arise anew any time a matter comes before Council, a committee of Council or municipal staff for decisions or recommendations.”
The report, presented at the February 9 council meeting, notes that the initial complaint contained an array of alleged contraventions. One allegation was that Lang at one point said the approval was a “done deal,” which the complainant took to mean that the council member had a closed mind on the issue. The commissioner found there was insufficient evidence that Lang had a closed mind on the matter.
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