Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Municipal Leaders Support Stronger Consequences for Misconduct at City Halls Across Ontario
ONTARIO – Ontario’s largest municipalities are welcoming the passage of new provincial legislation designed to strengthen accountability and ethical standards for elected officials, calling it a major step forward for good governance and public trust.
Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, 2026, was recently passed by the Ontario Legislature following years of advocacy from municipal leaders who argued that existing rules provided limited consequences for politicians found guilty of harassment, bullying, intimidation, or other forms of misconduct.
The new legislation establishes a standardized code of conduct for municipal politicians across Ontario and introduces a formal process that could ultimately result in the removal of elected officials from office in the most serious cases of misconduct.
The law has received strong support from Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM), an organization representing the mayors of 29 of Ontario’s largest municipalities, including Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara, Durham Region, and other major urban centres. Collectively, OBCM municipalities represent approximately 70 per cent of Ontario’s population.
Municipal leaders have long argued that the previous system created inconsistencies between municipalities and left integrity commissioners with limited enforcement powers when dealing with serious complaints involving elected officials.
Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of Burlington and Chair of Ontario’s Big City Mayors, said the new legislation helps ensure that elected officials are held to higher standards.
“Elected officials must be accountable and held to a higher standard. Democracy depends on respectful conduct, and this legislation helps ensure there are consequences for inappropriate behaviour,” said Meed Ward.
Under the new legislation, municipalities will move away from a patchwork of local ethics and conduct policies and instead follow a provincewide framework aimed at improving consistency, fairness, transparency, and public confidence.
The legislation also introduces additional tools to address serious misconduct allegations while maintaining what municipal leaders describe as a high threshold for removing elected officials from office.
Ontario’s Big City Mayors credited years of advocacy, meetings with provincial officials, committee presentations, and council resolutions for helping bring about the reforms.
The organization also thanked Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and advocacy groups such as Women of Ontario Say No for supporting stronger accountability measures.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown welcomed the reforms, noting that public confidence in local government depends on integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
“Residents expect their elected representatives to conduct themselves with professionalism, respect and integrity. Strong accountability measures help strengthen public trust in local government and ensure that municipalities can continue serving residents effectively and responsibly,” said Mayor Patrick Brown.
Regional Councillor Rowena Santos also expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing the importance of creating respectful and safe environments within municipal governments.
“Public service is built on trust, accountability and respect. These new measures help reinforce the standards that residents expect from those elected to represent them. Stronger accountability tools will contribute to healthier workplace environments and greater confidence in our democratic institutions,” said Santos.
The Province of Ontario is expected to continue consulting with municipalities as details of the new standardized code of conduct are finalized and implemented across local governments.
Municipal leaders say the legislation represents an important modernization of municipal governance and provides communities with greater assurance that elected officials will be held accountable when their conduct falls below expected standards.
Supporters of the legislation believe the reforms will strengthen public confidence in municipal government while promoting respectful, professional and transparent leadership across Ontario.