Under the watchful eye of bylaw officers, a group of protesters gathered outside Langford City Hall to call for the resignation for Coun. Lillian Szpak.

B次元官网网址淭ime to go,B次元官网网址� cried one resident, waving a sign that read, B次元官网网址楾rust is gone, Szpak resign nowB次元官网网址�.

B次元官网网址淔ire Szpak,B次元官网网址� said another.

The protest was organized in response to the findings of an investigation by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for B.C. (OIPC), which found the council had breached privacy law when sharing a residentB次元官网网址檚 personal information.

The original complaint made in 2021 by Langford resident Ed Court, alleged Szpak had B次元官网网址渋llegally obtainedB次元官网网址� his personal information from the cityB次元官网网址檚 bylaw department, which she then shared with other city staff and councillors.

At that time, Court was involved in a parking dispute with his neighbour, the son of Szpak, which began in 2020. 

While the investigator did not name anyone in their letter to Court, they did confirm his personal information was shared internally with "those in the city" who had a "personal rather than work-based interest" in his bylaw enforcement complaint.

"Hopefully she [Szpak] will be accountable and will be strong enough to do the right thing for Langford and resign," said Sandy Sifert.

B次元官网网址淏y council supporting her it shows the rest of the community that they're supporting her and condoning this as well,B次元官网网址� she added.

Speaking to the modest crowd outside City Hall, before councillors were due to gather for a meeting on Monday (Jan. 13), Sifert and Beverley Sahlstrom said they would soon be launching a petition to support the campaign.

B次元官网网址淲e want to get the word out there and let everybody know what this council is doing,B次元官网网址� said Sahlstrom. 

B次元官网网址淲e're a city of almost 50,000 people and we get maybe just over 15 per cent people come out and actually vote, so we need to get the message out,B次元官网网址� she added.

The group said the petition will be presented to both Langford and the provincial government.

B次元官网网址淪o that [the province] is aware that they need to change the rules, because we don't have any recourse to get people like this out of office, so we need to change the rules,B次元官网网址� said Sahlstrom.

Around 10 to 15 people took part in the rally. More were expected said protesters, but they decided to stay home following the news the city had asked for West Shore RCMP officers to attend the Monday meeting in response to "unacceptable behaviour by some members of the public.B次元官网网址�

While bylaw officers watched protesters outside, inside the council chambers, two police officers were in attendance at the meeting, which passed without incident.

The city said the decision for RCMP to attend had been made "out of an abundance of cautionB次元官网网址�, following recent outbursts at meetings.

"Recent feedback from some members of staff indicates increasing concerns for their personal safety," said a city spokesperson in a news release.

B次元官网网址淚t is regrettable that some members of our community feel that disruptive behaviour is acceptable in this venue,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Scott Goodmanson, opening the Monday meeting.

B次元官网网址淭his is not who Langford is as a community, and I and council hope that everyone will remember that this is a workplace,B次元官网网址� he continued.

B次元官网网址淵ou're entitled to have your opinion, and that's contrary to others. You do not have the right though to make people feel unsafe in expressing their views.B次元官网网址�