THUNDER BAY -- A city councillor interprets the municipal legal counsel's advice not to attend the 2016 coroner's inquest into the deaths of seven First Nations students as an invitation to let the city's case run its course.
Coun. Aldo Ruberto welcomed the opportunity on Monday to say he wished he could have attended the inquest on a personal level but on a professional level, he stands behind having watched from afar.
Ruberto said the city's legal department didn't directly give him a reason not to attend, but he respected a case was being made on the city's behalf and didn't want to compromise it.
"You didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize the city in any way, shape or form. I read between the lines, believe me," Ruberto said.
"If you're sitting there and one of the lawyers from the other side -- you just have to hit one word that's the wrong word, that guy or girl will take that and twist it like a kite in the wind to sound racist or whatever. That's their job."
Ruberto was among those who claimed to have been following the inquest by live stream, adding he had a number of update conversations with the legal team.
He believes "99 per cent" of city councillors would have attended the meetings if they had been able to do so.
"I have no problem attending anything or facing anyone but as a representative of the city, I understand I could put the city at risk with my actions and my words," Ruberto said.
The city's legal division has undergone turnover since the advice was dispensed.
City manager Norm Gale issued no comment in a written response to media inquiries.
City council unanimously approved the city's response to the municipally-relevant 31 of 145 recommendations arising from the inquest.
