Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy, beset with issues with some council members, has spoken out on how toxic behaviour is impacting local government, and voiced her support for Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act.
“Across Ontario, municipal leaders are being tested — not just by the growing demands of our communities, but by toxic political behaviour that is becoming far too common around local council tables,” she said in a recent column.
“I’m experiencing it firsthand in Whitby – and it’s some of the worst I’ve seen in my 30 years in municipal politics,” she pointed out.
“Despite real progress on long-overdue priorities — from securing a commitment for a much-needed new hospital to advancing our first community strategic plan in two decades — our work in Whitby is often disrupted by troubling conduct on council,” said Mayor Roy.
“We’ve had to navigate breaches of council’s code of conduct, harmful misinformation, and personal attacks — not just directed at myself and members of council, but town staff as well,” she said.
Threat to Function of Local Democracy
Mayor Roy said toxic behaviour and repeated ethics violations are threatening the function of local democracy, deterring new voices from seeking office and, in some cases, driving dedicated public servants out of government altogether.
“I expect this will only intensify as we enter the final year of this council term, a time known not so affectionately as ‘silly season’,” she said.
Support For Bill 9
“It’s why I support the Ontario government’s reintroduction of Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability and Integrity Act, 2025, which would – for the first time — allow municipal council members to be removed from office for serious violations of codes of conduct,” said said.
Right now, the tools available to municipalities are inadequate. Even in the most egregious instances, councils can only suspend pay, she pointed out
Bill 9 would allow removal of a council member with a recommendation by Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner followed by a unanimous vote from council members.
“This is a welcome step forward however I support the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in calling for two key changes:
- First, replacing the requirement for a unanimous vote with a two-thirds supermajority—a more realistic threshold that still ensures due process.
- Second, expanding the range of disciplinary tools available, such as censure, suspension from committees, or removal from leadership roles, similar to those introduced under the Education Act in 2023.
Voter Apathy
In 2022, an average of 32.9 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the municipal election, down from 38.3 per cent in 2018.
This downward trend reflects more than voter apathy; it signals growing disillusionment with local government, said Roy.
“When poor behaviour is left unchecked, it erodes public trust and discourages civic engagement. If we want residents to participate — whether by voting, running for council, or staying informed — we must demonstrate that respectful, accountable leadership is the standard, not the exception,” she added.
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