Thorold councillor loses pay, takes leave of absence after anti-Semitic Facebook post

A Thorold city councillor is taking a leave of absence after he was found to be in breach of the city’s code of conduct following an anti-Semitic post he shared on Facebook.

Coun. Jim Handley made the announcement last week after council members voted to suspend his pay for 90 days.

An image entitled “WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE?” featured the Star of David and listed 22 individuals, with the word ‘JEWISH’ following each name.

Handley posted the image with the caption: “Hmmmmmm! Make me wonder. What’s really going on!”

The entire council including the Mayor voted in favour of the 90-day pay suspension, apart from Coun. Carmen DeRose, who suggested a one-month suspension.

Coun. Mike De Divitiis said, “I hope we didn’t offend anyone. These views do not represent me. I want everybody to know that.”

This is not the first time that Coun. Handley has been in hot water at Thorold City Hall, he has been the subject of three integrity commissioner reports since 2020.

In 2017, then-Thorold mayor Ted Luciani called Handley “aggressive and loud” and said that his behaviour was “disrespectful of city staff.” That year Handley’s actions had him escorted from city hall by police for his behaviour.

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