Private Member's Bill by Stephen Blais, motivated in part by Barrie's recent Workplace Investigation.
The Private Member's Bill put forward by Stephen Blais, MPP for Orléans, has passed first and second reading, and has now been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.
This Bill would amend the Municipal Act and City of Toronto Act to require a municipality's Code of Conduct to include a requirement for Councillors and members of Local Boards to comply with workplace violence and harassment policies. It would also allow municipalities and local boards to direct the Integrity Commissioner to apply to the court to vacate a member's seat if their inquiry determines that the Councillor or member has failed to comply with these policies.
As stated in his news conference (below), MPP Blais notes that this Private Member's Bill was motivated by the recent cases of abuse and harassment by City Councillors in Ottawa, Brampton, Barrie and, more recently, Mississauga. He is asking for this Bill to be "fast tracked" to be passed before the legislature is dissolved for the upcoming Provincial election.