General News

Women’s group rep delivers presentation on harassment to council

October 13, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

A representative of a grass roots organization called Women of Simcoe Say No, presented a deputation to New Tecumseth Town Council during a Sept. 26 council meeting to promote Bill 5 – Stop Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act.

Alyssa Wright, representing the group, said they are asking the municipalities in Simcoe County to support the bill.

The bill, Ms. Wright said, will “advocate that municipal workers be protected from abuse and harassment just as workers in any other environment are already protected. We are asking that the municipalities of Simcoe County to support Bill 5 – the Stopping of Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act. We are asking that this endorsement be communicated to the province before the return to the legislature on Oct. 25, – encouraging them to make second and third readings of this bill and make it a priority for the sake of all municipal staff and those working with municipal governments.”

Ms. Wright said the private member’s bill was motivated by an incident in Barrie, among four cases of abuse by councillors.

“Residents and city staff in Ottawa, Brampton, Barrie, and Mississauga have recently learned the hard way that the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the tools it provides to protect people from workplace violence and harassment do not apply if the perpetrator is an elected official.”

She went on to say that if someone was violent or abusive as an elected official, “the strongest remedy currently available under the municipal act, is that the Integrity Commissioner can suspend them for 90 days without pay,” adding, “the victim or victims must make the decision of whether they can afford to leave a workplace that cannot keep them safe, or if they must stay and face their abuser every day.”

If the bill is passed, it would allow municipalities to direct the Integrity Commissioner to apply to the court to ‘vacate a member’s seat’ if is determined a member has contravened violence and harassment policies.

Councillor Michael Beattie proposed a motion to draft a letter in support of the Bill.

The motion was passed unanimously.

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