Ontario Land Tribunal member Ken Hewitt has resigned from the Tribunal to run for Mayor of Norfolk, leaving an ongoing ethics review unresolved after it emerged he had attended a Toronto steakhouse dinner paid for by a developer’s agent.
As reported by The Haldimand Press, two Haldimand councillors were initially reprimanded and penalized 30 days’ compensation for attending the same dinner. The initial vote was overturned the following week after the two guilty councillors each voted against the reprimand of the other. [Please see correction note at end of story]
In an 18-page investigative report, Haldimand County Integrity Commissioner David G. Boghosian confirmed that Hewitt was the fourth attendee at the January 18, 2026, dinner at Hy’s Steakhouse in Toronto. Steven Armstrong, a Registered Professional Planner and principal of Armstrong Planning, hosted and paid for the meal. Armstrong routinely appears before the Tribunal as an expert witness.
The dinner occurred during the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference at the nearby downtown Toronto Sheraton Hotel.
In April, following inquiries from this publication, OLT Chair Michael Kraljevic authorized a statement that respectfully declined to comment, noting that Kraljevic, as Chair of the Ontario Land Tribunal, was “currently reviewing the matter in his capacity as the Tribunal’s Ethics Executive.”
Kraljevic has not provided further updates regarding the review. Hewitt remained sitting on the Tribunal throughout.
Hewitt’s appointment in December 2023 was criticized by Haldimand–Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady (Independent). Brady expressed concerns that the OLT has been “hijacked” by development interests.
Following the latest revelations involving Hewitt, former full-time Ontario Municipal Board adjudicator Paula Boutis publicly criticized Hewitt’s ethical lapse.
Hewitt’s resignation was posted by Tribunals Ontario last week.
Production Details
v. 2.0.0
Published: June 9, 2026
Last updated: June 10, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
v. 2.0.0Â CORRECTION: the initial vote to sanction the two councillors was overturned. (June 10, 1:00 p.m.)
Correction, June 9, 2026 13:03: The original version of this story did not include the follow-up information that the sanctions vote was later overturned.