Holding Leadership Accountable Requires More Than Words
Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno’s conclusion that Mayor Jeff Leal’s use of the N-word during a Trent University lecture did not violate Peterborough’s Code of Conduct is deeply troubling. From a lens of dismantling anti-Black racism, the decision fails to reckon with the real harm caused.

The commissioner himself acknowledged that the N-word is “a virulent and egregious racial slur aimed at dehumanizing Black people.” Rooted in slavery, the word continues to cause deep pain and trauma. This context matters — especially in a city where hate crimes are nearly double the national average and Black people experience the highest rates of targeting nationally.

Despite this reality, the report minimized the harm by accepting the mayor’s explanation that the word was used in a “historical” context and that his age mitigated responsibility. This framing excuses racial harm rather than confronting it. A racial slur does not need to be directed at a specific person to harm an entire community.

True accountability requires more than an apology without consequence. Attempts to justify the use of the slur through historical references are deflection, not responsibility. Trent University confirmed that students were impacted, and Black residents have since reported increased racial harassment online — clear ripple effects of leadership failure.

When a mayor uses an anti-Black racial slur, it sends a dangerous message about what is tolerated. This report fails to interrupt that message. Peterborough deserves leadership — and oversight — that meaningfully confronts anti-Black racism.

Read the full article here-
https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/peterborough-mayor-racism/article_4eb7b46d-7e96-51a0-9573-7a8c09d2cc13.html