Timmins City Clerk Under Fire for Spreading Health Misinformation on Social Media
Timmins, Ontario – City Clerk Steph Palmateer is facing scrutiny for using his personal social media account to disseminate health misinformation, including false claims about vaccines, masks, and COVID-19. Palmateer’s X (formerly Twitter) account features posts dating back to September 2023 that allege vaccines cause cancer, strokes, and cardiac arrests, masks impair children’s learning, and fasting eliminates the COVID-19 vaccine spike protein. These posts remain prominently displayed on his profile. The controversy arises as Palmateer’s role as city clerk involves approving delegation requests to address the Timmins City Council, including organizations whose views directly contradict the misinformation he spreads.
Palmateer’s approval of delegations from the Timmins and District Hospital and the Porcupine Health Unit (now the Northeastern Public Health Unit) highlights the conflict between his personal views and his professional responsibilities. The hospital, which requested city funding for emergency department renovations, maintains a pro-vaccine stance and implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for its staff during the pandemic. The hospital also promotes a "mask-friendly" environment, providing masks at all entrances. Similarly, the health unit actively encourages vaccination and mask-wearing as protective measures against COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. These organizations’ public health stances stand in stark contrast to the misinformation Palmateer shares on social media.
The City of Timmins has declined to comment on the matter, citing Palmateer’s social media account as personal. City spokesperson Amanda Dyer refused to disclose the city’s social media policy for staff or whether Palmateer’s online activity aligns with it. Dyer simply stated that the concerns have been forwarded to the appropriate department and declined further comment. This lack of transparency raises questions about the city’s accountability regarding its employees’ public pronouncements, particularly when those pronouncements contradict official city positions and the advice of health authorities.
While the City of Timmins has remained silent on its social media policy for staff, the Code of Conduct for city council members explicitly prohibits the use of social media to publish "anything that is dishonest, untrue, offensive, disrespectful, constitutes harassment or is defamatory or misleading in any way." This discrepancy between the expectations for elected officials and city staff further fuels the controversy surrounding Palmateer’s actions. The public is left to wonder whether the city condones the spread of health misinformation by its employees, even as it expects a higher standard of conduct from its elected officials.
Palmateer’s former role as president of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) adds another layer to the situation. The AMCTO has distanced itself from Palmateer’s views, emphasizing that the opinions expressed by individual members do not reflect the organization’s position. The AMCTO highlighted its Code of Ethics and Values and a process for addressing complaints against members, suggesting a potential avenue for addressing Palmateer’s conduct. However, the AMCTO’s statement does not clarify whether any action will be taken in this specific case.
The ongoing controversy surrounding Palmateer’s social media activity underscores the challenges faced by municipalities in navigating the increasingly blurred lines between personal expression and professional conduct in the digital age. The lack of clear communication from the City of Timmins regarding its social media policies for staff, coupled with the stark contrast between Palmateer’s pronouncements and the city’s official positions, leaves a void of accountability. As the situation unfolds, the public awaits a more decisive response from the city and a clearer articulation of its expectations for employee conduct on social media, particularly when it comes to matters of public health. The incident also raises broader questions about the responsibility of public officials to ensure the accuracy and integrity of information shared online, especially when it pertains to critical issues like public health.