For Immediate Release
May 26, 2026
QUEENS PARK – Orléans MPP Stephen Blais says the unanimous passage of Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, marks an important and overdue step toward stronger accountability in municipal government across Ontario.
“For years, victims, municipal staff, advocates and Integrity Commissioners warned that Ontario’s municipal accountability laws were broken, said Blais. Today, Ontario finally acknowledged that reality.”
Blais first raised the issue in the Ontario Legislature in 2020 following a series of Integrity Commissioner reports involving former Ottawa City Councillor Rick Chiarelli. He later introduced the Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act, legislation designed to create stronger penalties, including removal from office, for serious misconduct by municipal elected officials.
“Ottawa was ground zero for councillor harassment, said Blais. Women came forward with extraordinary courage. They exposed serious flaws in Ontario’s laws and forced this province to confront the reality that municipal accountability systems were failing victims.”
Bill 9 creates a new framework for municipal accountability and expands the role of Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner in serious misconduct cases.
While Blais supported Bill 9, he is warning that the bill still leaves important concerns unresolved.
“This legislation is a step in the right direction, but it is not perfect, said Blais. I continue to believe accountability decisions should be more independent and less political, and I believe the government waited far too long to act.”
During committee hearings held across Ontario this summer, Blais pushed for stronger reforms and criticized the government for rejecting a number of proposed amendments from experts and advocates.
Still, Blais said the legislation represents meaningful progress after years of public pressure and advocacy.
“For too long, the maximum consequence for serious misconduct was often little more than a temporary pay suspension, said Blais. That failed victims, failed municipal staff, and failed public confidence in local government.”
With a municipal election approaching, candidates, councils, staff and residents deserve clearer rules and stronger accountability standards.
Blais also credited the women who came forward in Ottawa and across Ontario despite significant personal and professional risks.
“This progress was hard fought and hard earned, said Blais. Without the courage of victims who spoke publicly about harassment and abuse, this legislation would never have happened.”
“Today’s vote belongs to them.”