Common Councilor John Ferguson says once the city's pension board started initiated a defamation lawsuit against him, he found it extremely difficult tackle his issues with pension plan.
He said he felt handcuffed as a councillor once legal proceedings began and any questions he had about the pension plan got tied up in legal issues.
He says he was shocked that the board was suing him for defamation.
Ferguson also told the court that his criticisms towards the pension plan and early retirement packages were aimed at council and not the pension board as it is council that approves policy.