Municipal governments across Ontario are once again being told to wait as the provincial government delays legislation that would give councils stronger authority to discipline councillors who breach ethical standards.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra had signalled earlier this year that changes to the Municipal Act were in the works and that a long-anticipated proposal would be unveiled at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conf. in August. The conference concluded this week without any such announcement.
The government now says it is holding off until it receives recommendations from Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner, whose advice was formally requested by Premier Doug Ford in June. At the time, Ford asked the commissioner to examine how municipal integrity systems could be better standardized across the province, including codes of conduct and enforcement mechanisms.
Calandra has acknowledged the delay, saying the issue proved more complicated than expected. After missing a June deadline to table legislation, the minister said further consultation was needed to ensure the changes would stand up legally and apply fairly across Ontario’s 444 municipalities.
Municipal leaders have been pressing for reform for years, arguing that current rules are outdated and leave councils with few options when dealing with serious misconduct, including workplace harassment. Under existing legislation, penalties are largely limited to pay suspensions, even in cases of repeated or extreme behaviour.
Premier Ford’s office says the Integrity Commissioner’s report is now expected sometime this fall. In a statement, spokesperson Grace Lee said the government is seeking a “consistent and uniform approach” to councillor conduct, citing wide differences in how municipalities currently handle complaints and discipline.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario first submitted formal recommendations in 2021, and previous reporting has shown the government was close to introducing a bill under former municipal affairs minister Steve Clark. With no legislation yet introduced, frustration among local officials is growing.
That frustration has been particularly visible in Pickering, where Mayor Kevin Ashe and several councillors recently urged the province to close what they describe as a “glaring loophole” in the law. Their concerns stem from the conduct of Coun. Lisa Robinson, who appeared on an online far-right program during which the host made violent and inflammatory remarks about other Pickering councillors.
Robinson has already faced multiple pay suspensions following findings by the city’s integrity commissioner related to cyberbullying, intimidation, and homophobic and transphobic comments. Despite those sanctions, fellow councillors say the city lacks the authority to take stronger action.
Pickering Coun. Mara Nagy said she raised the issue directly with Calandra during the AMO conference, noting that she has received death threats since Robinson’s appearance on the show.
“This has gone far beyond political disagreement,” Nagy said. “We need tools that actually protect people.”
Robinson has denied wrongdoing and argues the actions taken against her are an attempt to suppress her views.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath also criticized the lack of progress, saying municipal councils are effectively workplaces without clear protections.
“When you don’t have real consequences, people are left exposed,” Horwath said. “That’s not acceptable in any other workplace.”
Advocacy groups have also added pressure on the province. Women of Ontario Say No, a non-partisan coalition, has been calling for reforms after hearing from municipal officials who say harassment complaints cannot be meaningfully addressed under current rules.
“The desire is basic,” said gather part Emily McIntosh. “No one ought to confront mishandle at work, and chosen authorities ought to not be excluded from that standard.”
Earlier this year, Liberal MPP Stephen Blais attempted to fill the gap by introducing a private member’s bill that would have allowed councillors to be removed from office for violating workplace violence or harassment policies and potentially barred from re-election. The Progressive Conservative government voted down the bill, maintaining that it would introduce its own legislation.
For now, municipalities remain in a holding pattern, waiting for provincial action they say is urgently needed to ensure accountability, safety, and professionalism in local government.
