The Ontario government says it plans to pass long-awaited municipal code of conduct reforms before October’s municipal elections, including new powers that could remove councillors from office in the most serious misconduct cases.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack said the legislation remains active and is expected to move forward before the current legislative session ends.
The proposed reforms are aimed at creating stronger accountability rules for local politicians and bringing more consistency to how integrity commissioners operate across Ontario municipalities.
The legislation would introduce:
- A standardized code of conduct for municipalities across Ontario
- Stronger oversight of councillor behaviour
- More consistent rules for integrity commissioners
- The ability to remove or disqualify councillors in extreme cases
- A clearer provincial role in local accountability matters
Under the current version of the bill, a councillor could only be removed if all of the following occur:
- A municipal integrity commissioner recommends removal
- Ontario’s integrity commissioner agrees
- Council members vote unanimously in favour, excluding the councillor involved
Supporters say the threshold is intentionally high because removing an elected official is a serious step.
The reforms come amid renewed debate over municipal accountability following controversy in Brampton involving former councillor Gurpreet Dhillon and questions around how integrity commissioner reports are handled.
While the minister did not comment on that specific case, he said the province wants stronger standards and better vetting for integrity commissioners.
Some opposition members say parts of the legislation are positive, especially efforts to professionalize and standardize integrity commissioner roles. However, concerns remain about giving councils the final say on removing fellow councillors.
Critics argue that political relationships at council tables could affect such votes.
Ontario has discussed municipal conduct reform for several years:
- Proposed changes surfaced in 2021 but never advanced
- A new bill was introduced in late 2024 but ended with the election call
- Reintroduced in 2025, then stalled
- Now expected to return before the 2026 municipal vote
Municipal councils control major local issues such as housing, roads, policing budgets, transit and taxes. Supporters say stronger conduct rules can help restore public trust and ensure accountability when misconduct occurs.
After years of delays, the Ford government says municipal accountability reform is finally on the way — with new standards and the possibility of removing councillors who seriously violate the public trust.