Tomlinson has a habit of violating the Conflict of Interest Act

Mayor Paul Tomlinson is one of the founders of the Grass and Loon Lakes Residents Group (GLLRG), which was formed in 2003 to deal with a townhouse development to be built across the street from Tomlinson's cottage. The Town of Kearney had approved rezoning, which was then appealed by the Ministry of Housing after a complaint was filed by the GLLRG. According to the Ontario Municipal Board, the developers, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Town of Kearney entered into new discussions on March 26th, 2012.

In the July 26th, 2012 edition of the Almaguin News, Mayor Paul Tomlinson says, “I filed the appeal as president of the Grass and Loon Lake Residents’ Group,” and acknowledges that if the issue comes to council it would put him in an "awkward position". The awkward position is that Tomlinson (and Dingwall and Sainsbury) would have to declare a pecuniary interest in that they all belong to an association created specifically to stop the development. But, despite the obvious conflict of interest, Tomlinson, speaking as the mayor of Kearney, makes a public statement on the issue:

“Duck Lake is right across the road from my house and a number of the residents on the street became very alarmed, the Ministry of Natural Resources became very alarmed as well because Duck Lake flows into Grass and Loon Lake. Grass and Loon lakes are considered lakes at capacity, which means the development would have to have a tile bed set back 300 meters. Duck Lake was also considered a lake at capacity although there was no development around the lake, but it flowed directly into Grass Lake. You can imagine how septics from 43 townhouses could affect the quality of the water.”

All of this may be true, but Tomlinson violated the Conflict of Interest Act by making very subjective and biased statements to the media. As we mentioned before:

Where a member, either on his or her own behalf or while acting for, by, with or through another, has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any matter and is present at a meeting of the council or local board at which the matter is the subject of consideration, the member shall not attempt in any way whether before, during or after the meeting to influence the voting on any such question.

The issue isn't currently before Council, but Tomlinson obviously expects it will be and the moment it does, he will have broken the law. Again.