Advocates and opposition parties are calling on the Ontario government to pass legislation that would hold municipal councillors accountable for violence and harassment.Advocates, including David Arbuckle of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario , Emily McIntosh with Women of Ontario Say No , and Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles , are pushing for legislation aimed at holding municipally elected officials accountable if found to be harassing staff.
Municipalities, advocates and opposition politicians have been calling for action on the issue for years. Currently, councillors can only lose their seats when they break election spending rules and certain conflict of interest policies. The most severe penalty is suspension of pay — something McIntosh says deters victims, particularly women, from coming forward. Many leave their jobs instead, she said.
David Arbuckle, executive director of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario, said most staff and councillor relationships are positive and respectful, but members are reporting the overall relationship between elected officials and city staff is becoming "increasingly confrontational.""But for us, this isn't about politics. This is about calling for change that will improve the ways in which local governments work.
Liberal MPP Stephen Blais introduced several private members bills in the provincial legislature that would allow council members found guilty of harassing staff to be ousted from their seat, but they did not pass.