The Ontario Land Tribunal “respectfully declined” to comment regarding OLT Member Ken Hewitt’s attendance at a steakhouse dinner in January hosted by a planner representing a Haldimand developer with active planning applications before that local council.
Haldimand County Integrity Commissioner David G. Boghosian’s 18-page investigative report examined the circumstances surrounding the January 18, 2026, dinner at Hy’s Steakhouse in Toronto. Steven Armstrong, a Registered Professional Planner and principal of Armstrong Planning, hosted the meal during the same time as he was representing a developer with active applications before Haldimand Council.
Hewitt was the fourth person at the table, alongside council members Dan Lawrence and Rob Shirton. Boghosian’s jurisdiction is limited to the council members’ conduct; he did not investigate Hewitt’s attendance. Hewitt is a former Haldimand Mayor who now resides in Norfolk County.
Boghosian’s report confirms Armstrong paid for the council members’ meals. It does not explicitly state whether Armstrong paid for Hewitt’s meal
The dinner occurred during the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference at the nearby downtown Sheraton Hotel.
Boghosian’s investigation found the developer’s project was not discussed during the dinner. While finding the two council members breached the Haldimand code of conduct, Boghosian stressed they “had no improper motive in allowing Mr. Armstrong to pay for their meals” and recommended a reprimand.
As reported by The Haldimand Press, Haldimand Council voted Tuesday to issue sanctions against both councillors. Each faces a 30-day compensation deduction.
Boghosian’s report cautioned members “to be cognizant of appearances – namely, permitting a planner acting on behalf of an applicant with a pending zoning bylaw amendment to pay for dinner at a downtown Toronto steakhouse while that application is set to be considered by Council only days later.”
Earlier today, TPR submitted questions to OLT Chair Michael Kraljevic regarding OLT policies and whether Hewitt paid for his dinner, the Tribunal responded: “We respectfully decline your request to comment at this time, as the Chair of the Ontario Land Tribunal is currently reviewing the matter in his capacity as the Tribunal’s Ethics Executive.”
OLT Members are required to follow the conflict of interest rules of the Ontario Public Service as contained in Ontario Regulation 381/07, and the OLT Conflict of Interest Rules, approved and published by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
Under those rules, “An OLT staff person or Member shall not accept a gift resulting from or that could be seen to be connected to their position or duties to OLT and to the Crown.” The rules include an exception: “An OLT staff person or Member may accept a gift of nominal value ($50.00 or less) given as an expression of courtesy or hospitality if doing so is reasonable in the circumstances.”
Hewitt was first appointed to the OLT in December 2023.
At the time, Haldimand—Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady (Independent) publicly criticized the appointment, expressing concern that the OLT was being “hijacked” in favour of developers because of Hewitt’s previous statements.
More recently, Hewitt was the Hamilton Mountain Conservative candidate in the 2025 federal election. He took leave from the Tribunal during the campaign.
The Ontario Conservative government granted him re-appointment to the OLT in December 2025 for a one-year extension.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: April 9, 2026
Last updated: April 9, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version