Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy thinks that voters should be the ultimate decision makers when it comes to removing elected officials from municipal office.
Chatham Coun. Michael Bondy thinks that voters should be the ultimate decision makers when it comes to removing elected officials from municipal office.
"I don't think a small group should be able to unseat a democratically elected person in any office," Bondy said, stressing that elected officials who act inappropriately, should be punished at the ballot box.
The long-time councillor is trying to put his belief into action. At the Feb. 24 council meeting, Bondy brought forward a notice of motion that was to be discussed at the March 3 meeting. It asked Chatham-Kent council to submit a letter to the Ford government in opposition to tough new rules that would create a framework to remove misbehaving elected officials from office and potentially disqualify them from running for a seat in the future.
Tabled in the Ontario legislature in December, Bill 241 would usher in the changes under the Municipal Accountability Act 2024.
The proposed legislation comes in the wake of problems at municipal councils around Ontario – including nearby Sarnia – where its council has been forced to meet online due to the egregious and threatening behaviour of one of its members.
Bondy is adamant that a decision of such magnitude should not be left to a handful of people, such as an appointed integrity commissioner or ombudsman, noting it should be decided by the citizens at election time.
"If people act inappropriately, they should be punished when there is an election," he said, adding there is a way to "fire" municipal councillors.
Bondy, who himself has been sanctioned by the integrity commissioner and council in the past, said he was asked to "apologize" for his transgression, but he said it was difficult to do under the current process as the complainant’s identity is protected.
In an unrelated incident, fellow C-K councillor Rhonda Jubenville was punished as well for posts she made on social media. The North Kent councillor was docked three months' pay; the harshest penalty available.
Worries that tough new legislation will "silence" municipal officials and stop them from speaking out is another concern for Bondy.
"I'm really fearful this is going to muzzle council," he added. "That's the cancel culture that we live in. "If you are offended by something I say, be offended…don't vote for me."
However, even if Bill 241 is approved, a number of steps must be taken before an elected official is removed or disqualified.
This could only occur upon the recommendation of the municipal integrity commissioner, a concurring report from Ontario's integrity commissioner, and a unanimous vote of council with the exception of the person under review.
