(North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas)
Mayor Douglas: councillor Manhas apologized for posting personal comments that ‘crossed the line’
Matter resolved without a costly code-of-conduct complaint
North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas says councillor Tek Manhas has apologized for a social-media comment that crossed the line into personal matters.
“As elected officials we accept a reduced level of personal privacy in this role,” Douglas told council.
“However, that expectation does not extend the same way to our family members,” he said, adding that commentary on “personal matters is not relevant to our council decision making and only distracts from substantive issues."
He said Manhas recently made a public statement referencing personal matters that "did cross the line."
Douglas said he addressed the issue directly with Manhas and "to his credit he apologized and removed the statement.”
Specifics of Manhas' post were not revealed, but Douglas says the information was incorrect.
(North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas; another apology)
Douglas had the option of launching a formal complaint under council’s Code of Conduct Bylaw, but chose to settle the matter informally with Manhas.
“I would stress to council and members of the public that as we approach the municipal election in October, we can expect there’s going to be an increase in political rhetoric.
“I hope that the way councillor Manhas and I resolved this matter helps set a positive tone…so we can remain focused on the issues at hand.”
Manhas did not address council.
Douglas mentioned the Manhas apology during his 'Mayor’s Report' at council’s April 1 meeting, but it has gone virtually unnoticed.
Six Mountains only learned of it Thursday.
This isn't Manhas' first apology.
He had his knuckles rapped by the municipality in 2021 after an investigation into a post on his Facebook page.
The meme depicted an elderly man holding a cigarette and can of beer and commenting: “When your woman is acting up just tell her ‘less bitchen’ more kitchen.’ Women love it when you rhyme.”
The Municipality concluded in that case: “Councillor Manhas has apologized and removed the post from his Facebook page and recognizes that a post of this nature does not meet the standard Council is aspiring to, related to its workplace.”
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(Note: on June 13, 2026, Larry Pynn won a Canadian Association of Journalists gold award for best community-based investigative journalism for his series on an unauthorized landfill on Cowichan Tribes reserve land in North Cowichan. https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/fa79807e-83f7-49a9-89ae-996360e06248 )
— Larry Pynn, June 19, 2026
