The Town of Newmarket is considering joining the chorus of municipalities calling for changes to ensure a councillor can be forced out in cases of harassment.
Town council will consider the movement to support Bill 5 at its June 2 meeting, which seeks legislative changes to ensure that an integrity commissioner can remove a council member when they harass others.
Council will also consider a new all-way stop at William Roe Boulevard and confirm changes to a tree-cutting bylaw.
Here is what NewmarketToday will be following:
Pushing against councillor harassment
Newmarket is looking to back a bill to address any councillors across the province getting away with harassment, though the proposed legislation was defeated in the provincial legislature May 30.
Advocacy group The Women of Ontario Say No has fought to get Bill 5 passed, which would introduce legislative changes to address appropriate punishment for harassment. As it stands, even if an integrity commissioner confirms a councillor has perpetuated harassment, they can keep their job and seek re-election. Bill 5 would establish a judicial process to remove them from office. The movement comes in response to high-profile cases of councillors harassing others in cities like Ottawa.
Newmarket Councillor Bob Kwapis put forward the motion at the last committee of the whole meeting.
“It focuses on municipality elected officials to be held to the same code of conduct standard and comply with their workplace policy,” Kwapis said.
In total, 156 municipalities have signed on in support of the bill already. Although the private members bill did not pass a second reading May 30, the group said on its website it will continue working on passing a version of the bill.
More stop signs
A Newmarket councillor wants to see a new all-way stop at William Roe Blvd. and Dixon Blvd.
Kwapis will make the case for a stop at the intersection. The location has had residents complaining and petitioning for years for more significant traffic-calming measures but a town study has found traffic patterns have not justified anything beyond more minor measures like temporary traffic bollards.
The intersection slopes downward in both directions and brings in traffic from the Yonge Street corridor.
Tree-cutting bylaw
The town will set to confirm significant changes to its private tree-cutting bylaw.
The amendments would see the permitting process eased for dead, dying or hazardous trees. The changes would also allow for quicker responses in cases of emergencies, such as storms.
The town implemented the bylaw last year to ensure residents were not cutting down trees on their property unduly.
The town is streaming the council meeting at 1 p.m. You can watch at newmarket.ca/meetings or attend in person at 395 Mulock Dr. You can also arrange a deputation or send correspondence by emailing [email protected].
