Lambton County council backs anti-harassment private member’s bill

A provincial private member’s bill aimed at removing municipal politicians guilty of harassment from office has been backed by Lambton County council but one councilor says the measure could be “weaponized” by political opponents.

County council voted Wednesday to support the Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act, a private member’s bill introduced by Stephen Blais, a Liberal MPP from the Ottawa area. Lambton councilors were asked by Tamara Batryn with the group, The Woman of Ontario Say No, to support the measure.

The legislation, if passed, would allow Ontario municipalities to direct their integrity commissioner to apply to the court to remove a member of council from office for failing to comply with the community’s workplace violence and harassment policies.

Private member’s bills introduced by opposition legislators do not often become law.

Batryn said the aim of the bill is to “deter municipal councilors and board members from engaging in harassment and abuse of co-workers by holding them accountable for their actions, including a process to remove them from office.”

“In the present, not only can an elected official perpetrate harassment, no matter how egregious,” and “retain their position” they can also run for re-election, she said. “This is not acceptable.”

More than 40 municipalities have endorsed the bill, Batryn said.

Following Batryn’s presentation, Sarnia Coun. Bill Dennis questioned why the measure doesn’t also cover federal and provincial politicians.

“Given the activity of our prime minister and some of the MPs and MPPs, and some of the others – those guys should have been turfed long ago because of some of the behavior they’ve exhibited,” he said.

“My concern, of course, is in politics today there’s a lot of people out to get you and I’m afraid this could be weaponized,” Dennis said

“We’re seeing a bit of a gong show in the United States right now. Maybe a lot of people don’t like the president – ​​former president – ​​but it looks like that is totally political persecution and it’s not going to go anywhere,” he said.

“I just see this as a way to get back at people you don’t like.”

Dennis noted former Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne’s support for the private member’s bill and said, “I think it’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

At that point in the meeting, Doug Cook, mayor of Lambton Shores, raised a point of order asking Warden Kevin Marriott to “end this conversation.”

“I’m just asking the question here,” Dennis replied. “This is kind of a serious thing here.”

“I’m just reminding people that when you point your finger at one person there’s always three fingers pointing back at you,” he said. “Liberals don’t like hearing the truth.”

At that point, Todd Case, mayor of Warwick Township, gained the floor and said, “After all that, warden, I’d like to support this initiative and I will make that motion on the floor, for very obvious reasons – some of the things we’ve heard today.”

Dave Ferguson, mayor of Brooke-Alvinston, seconded the motion and it was passed by council.

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