Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Dismisses Applications Against Town of Whitby and Other Respondents

On September 28, 2026, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario dismissed applications brought by Christopher Leahy and Stephen Yamada against the Corporation of the Town of Whitby, Principles Integrity, Elizabeth Roy, Rhonda Mulcahy and Niki Lundquist. 

In its decision, the Tribunal concluded that the applications "have no reasonable prospect of success" because "the events and allegations set out in the Applications did not occur within any of the social areas dealt with by the Code." The Tribunal therefore dismissed both applications. 

Prior to the Tribunal's decision, legal counsel for the respondents urged the applicants to drop their applications noting that previous independent investigations had found no evidence of discrimination and that established Human Rights Tribunal jurisprudence indicated the applications fell outside the Tribunal's jurisdiction. 

To date, the Town has incurred approximately $53,682 in external legal costs responding to these applications. Final costs will be determined once all related administrative and legal matters have been concluded.