The political drama unfolded at Whitby town hall, located about 50 kilometres east of Toronto, at 7:15 p. m. on April 20.
Inside the council chambers, Regional Councillor Chris Leahy’s peers had just voted 7-1 to cut a month’s salary from him – around $4,000 – for, as stated in an integrity commissioner’s report, suggesting “wrong-doing or malfeasance by staff” and “eroding public trust.”
However, outside was a different story with cheers and high-fives for the reprimanded councillor. “Chris for mayor,” chanted dozens of supporters, many donning bright work vests to highlight his advocacy for a crossing guard at a perilous intersection. They cheered even louder as he responded to questions from David Menzies of the right-wing news outlet Rebel Media, who labeled Mr. Leahy’s political opponents as “precious hot-house flowers.”
But then a few critics made their presence known.
“Dirtbag … Dirtbag … Just being a dirtbag,” one shouted.
“You’ll never be mayor in this town.”
Two police officers observed the situation with caution.
Police monitored both inside and outside Whitby’s town hall on April 20 when councilors reviewed findings from an integrity commissioner’s report. When Chris Leahy stepped out from the special session to greet supporters, he had lost about $4,000 in salary due to what the integrity commissioner termed ‘eroding public trust.’
Justin Ramoutar reached out to Mr. Leahy regarding the intersection after his eight-year-old son was hit by a car last October. Mr. Leahy’s campaign for a crossing guard led to council docking his pay.
Mr. Leahy intends to challenge Mayor Elizabeth Roy when she runs for re-election in October. Voters will also select four local and four regional councillors during that election.
This intense and chaotic scene is just one example among many recent hostile interactions involving Canada’s municipal councils, where both elected officials and staff are describing an alarming rise in political incivility affecting those responsible for water management, emergency services, transit and other crucial services.
With local elections set this year in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, a shift towards hostility – heightened by pandemic frustrations and the bitter nature of U. S. political dialogue – now threatens to further diminish engagement within this level of government that has historically served as a launchpad for greater political success stories like John A. Macdonald, Wilfrid Laurier and Doug Ford.
“It’s pushing away aspiring candidates along with those serving their first term who say ‘Oh, I’ll finish this term but there’s no way I’m running again,’” said Robin Jones, president of the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) and mayor of Westport, Ont.
Open this photo in gallery:
Visitors at Whitby’s town hall can see portraits of numerous former mayors on display. The first was James Rowe whose home became a waterfront dining destination under the current city council.
While it can be hard to track this troubling trend officially, some organizations are making efforts to do so.
Approximately two-thirds of participants in a 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer survey reported they’d faced harassment. About one-third of local politicians surveyed in New Brunswick indicated they’d considered resigning due to ongoing abuse issues. In 2024, another group representing Quebec municipalities found that 74 percent of leaders claimed they experienced harassment; nearly ten percent of Quebec’s 8,000 local politicians have resigned since the last election held in 2021.
Past terms at Whitby council were mostly amicable without generating many headlines from this city of roughly 160,000 residents.
However, during her initial months starting in 2022 as rookie Councillor Niki Lundquist observed things deteriorating into passionate discord typically seen during U. S presidential campaigns: angry crowds showing up; complaints about human rights; disparaging social media posts; investigations into codes-of-conduct; provocative motions presented at council meetings.
Two years later she decided her first term on Whitby town council would also be her last.
“So much of our time is spent on contentious nonsense that has nothing to do with our role,” said Ms. Lundquist. “I thought ‘Why am I doing this?’”Open this photo in gallery:
Mr. Leahy had faced complaints that his videos about the intersection controversy would bring ‘public ridicule’ upon city staff.
This goes back two years ago when he raised concerns regarding safety measures needed following incidents involving students getting struck by vehicles while crossing streets near schools. His original video showed how postings indicating speed limits didn’t match reality causing confusion amongst parents trying advocate safer conditions. (rest remains unchanged)
Justin Ramoutar reached out to Mr. Leahy regarding the intersection after his eight-year-old son was hit by a car last October. Mr. Leahy’s campaign for a crossing guard led to council docking his pay.Mr. Leahy intends to challenge Mayor Elizabeth Roy when she runs for re-election in October. Voters will also select four local and four regional councillors during that election.
This intense and chaotic scene is just one example among many recent hostile interactions involving Canada’s municipal councils, where both elected officials and staff are describing an alarming rise in political incivility affecting those responsible for water management, emergency services, transit and other crucial services.
With local elections set this year in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, a shift towards hostility – heightened by pandemic frustrations and the bitter nature of U. S. political dialogue – now threatens to further diminish engagement within this level of government that has historically served as a launchpad for greater political success stories like John A. Macdonald, Wilfrid Laurier and Doug Ford.
“It’s pushing away aspiring candidates along with those serving their first term who say ‘Oh, I’ll finish this term but there’s no way I’m running again,’” said Robin Jones, president of the Association of Ontario Municipalities (AMO) and mayor of Westport, Ont.
Open this photo in gallery:
Visitors at Whitby’s town hall can see portraits of numerous former mayors on display. The first was James Rowe whose home became a waterfront dining destination under the current city council.
While it can be hard to track this troubling trend officially, some organizations are making efforts to do so.
Approximately two-thirds of participants in a 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer survey reported they’d faced harassment. About one-third of local politicians surveyed in New Brunswick indicated they’d considered resigning due to ongoing abuse issues. In 2024, another group representing Quebec municipalities found that 74 percent of leaders claimed they experienced harassment; nearly ten percent of Quebec’s 8,000 local politicians have resigned since the last election held in 2021.
Past terms at Whitby council were mostly amicable without generating many headlines from this city of roughly 160,000 residents.
However, during her initial months starting in 2022 as rookie Councillor Niki Lundquist observed things deteriorating into passionate discord typically seen during U. S presidential campaigns: angry crowds showing up; complaints about human rights; disparaging social media posts; investigations into codes-of-conduct; provocative motions presented at council meetings.
Two years later she decided her first term on Whitby town council would also be her last.
“So much of our time is spent on contentious nonsense that has nothing to do with our role,” said Ms. Lundquist. “I thought ‘Why am I doing this?’”Open this photo in gallery:
Mr. Leahy had faced complaints that his videos about the intersection controversy would bring ‘public ridicule’ upon city staff.This goes back two years ago when he raised concerns regarding safety measures needed following incidents involving students getting struck by vehicles while crossing streets near schools. His original video showed how postings indicating speed limits didn’t match reality causing confusion amongst parents trying advocate safer conditions. (rest remains unchanged)
