Bruce County Council is putting its support behind a bill that aims to put an end to workplace harassment and violence from elected officials.
Bill 5 was a private member’s Bill tabled in the provincial legislature by Orleans MPP Stephen Blais in August 2022.
Emily McIntosh, who is the lead advocate of the organization “The Women of Ontario Say No” gave a presentation explaining the background of Bill 5 and why it should be supported in Bruce County.
McIntosh explained that Bill 5 had been voted down in the provincial legislature on May 31st, but said that municipalities should band together to make the government create and pass a bill like it because it would hold municipally-elected officials accountable in the event of physical, verbal, and sexual harassment and assault of fellow staff members.
“We’re asking for legislation to stop harassment and abuse by local leaders. Unfortunately, it is needed.”
When Bill 5 was tabled, it would also have had the ability to permit the municipality to engage with the Integrity Commissioner to appeal to the courts to have someone found accused of such acts to be removed from office, and barred from running for re-election or appointment.
McIntosh also mentioned that with current legislation, there is a stiffer penalty for a candidate to not disclose financial information during elections than there is for an official who is found to have acted inappropriately toward staff.
“As elected leaders of your community, you are responsible for ensuring basic human rights are respected and protected.
County Council had also previously received correspondence from other municipalities over the past several months and unanimously voted to give their support.
Now that support for legislation like Bill 5 has been given, the county will be sending letters to members of the legislature, including Premier Doug Ford, Orleans MPP Stephen Blais, and local MPPs Rick Byers and Lisa Thompson.