Ontario's Progressive Conservative government has no timeline for introducing legislation to hold municipally elected politicians accountable for harassment and violence.
"We should not need to be here. The premise is simple: you should go to work, and you should not be subjected to abuse," said Emily McIntosh, an advocate with the group The Women of Ontario Say No, at Queen's Park Wednesday.
She made her pitch standing alongside all three opposition leaders.
"We are asking the government to prioritize this issue," McIntosh said. "We know it's not easy, there are a lot of complex pieces happening, but this issue is not new.... We should not have to work this hard to ensure that our basic human rights are protected."
She said they'd like to see municipally elected representatives held to the same standards as other working Ontarians.
"Elected representatives are not above the people; they are of the people," McIntosh said. "We are talking about a very basic standard of professionalism that would ensure that municipalities ... can do their job."
Farah Grozelle, another advocate, said she was surprised to learn that "if egregious acts were committed, and substantiated, there could be a loss of pay of up to 90 days, but that there was no process for removal, and that there were no restrictions on re-election."
They called on the government to pass legislation to address this before the summer break.
Opposition leaders all voiced their support for such a move.
"It is not insignificant to have three party leaders here standing on the stage together, it really speaks to how important this issue is," said NDP Leader Marit Stiles.
Stiles called it "outrageous" that "in 2024, women are still getting harassed at work with little to no consequence for perpetrators."
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra indicated at the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association last month that the government is "working on something" to address the issue.
Stiles called on the government to move quickly.
"We need accountability, and we need it now," she said, adding that the government's legislation would have the NDP's support.
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said a bill introduced by Liberal MPP Stephen Blais, but defeated by the government last year, would have allowed local integrity commissioners to remove from office a mayor or councillor who violated workplace harassment policies.
"We know politics can be a nasty business, but it doesn't have to be," said Crombie, promising to act on the issue if she were elected premier. "We can make politics at the school boards, at the council tables, and in our legislature, and in parliaments safe, inclusive environments."
Green Leader Mike Schreiner said taking action against violence and harassment shouldn't be a partisan issue.
"Ethical behaviour is fundamental to trust in democracy, in the institutions of local government, and the current lack of accountability is completely unacceptable," Schreiner said. "It sends a poor message to the public, and especially women, when staff are mistreated, bullied and harassed, and there are no penalties or repercussions for perpetrators. When those in power can carry out acts of harassment without consequence, each and every one of us in this province loses."
Asked about the province's intentions on Wednesday, Calandra reiterated his comments from January.
"My position hasn't changed at all," Calandra, also the government house leader, told reporters, adding that he's working with municipal leaders and the attorney general.
"I'm going to do something about it. I want to make sure that what we do bring forward is constitutional. It is a very important piece of legislation. it has to be constitutional (and it) has to actually achieve the results that I think that everybody's asking for," he said.
