'This is not a blood sport' — but it might be now

Barnstorming Bill 5

ABOVE THE FOLD

CLEANING UP COUNCIL — Bill 9, the Ford government’s long-awaited move to give municipalities real teeth when it comes to disciplining misbehaving politicians at the council table, is on tour — and the testimony is revealing deep divides.

The revamped Municipal Accountability Act would, for the first time, allow integrity commissioners to recommend removing councillors for serious misconduct. It creates a uniform code of conduct across Ontario’s 444 municipalities, introduces oversight from the provincial ethics watchdog, and gives council the final say on whether to remove one of their own — but only with a unanimous vote.

That last part has become the flashpoint. Proponents say it’s a critical tool to restore trust and safety in municipal workplaces. Critics warn it could backfire, retraumatize victims or get bogged down in political retribution.

Here’s what stakeholders are saying on the road as during committee hearings:

THIS CAN’T BE A TOOL TO SILENCE DISSENT — VERONIC…