Kinew accuses group of Republicans of pitching ‘timber tantrum' over wildfire smoke
'These are attention-seekers who can't come up with a good idea on health care or on making life more affordable,' Kinew told The Canadian Press. 'So they're playing games with something that's very serious.'
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Toronto Sun
17 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Ontario's proposed updates to municipal code of conduct rules flawed, critics say
Published Aug 08, 2025 • 4 minute read Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to journalists at the Queen's Park Legislature in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. Photo by Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS As the Ontario legislature considers a bill that would give municipal councils the power to remove misbehaving and unethical members, some critics say the proposed legislation has serious flaws that must be addressed to ensure accountability. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Progressive Conservative government's bill seeks to standardize municipal codes of conduct and give councils the power to vote on vacating the seat of a councillor who has violated the code. For years, municipalities have voiced the need for updated laws to deal with problematic councillors. Under current rules, municipalities establish their own codes of conduct and appoint an integrity commissioner, said John Mascarin, a partner at Aird & Berlis in Toronto who specializes in municipal law. Mascarin was among members of the public who highlighted their concerns about the proposed bill during the province's committee consultations last month. He explained that if a councillor is accused of violating the code under the current system, the municipal integrity commissioner investigates and provides a report to council, which can then vote on one of two possible penalties: a reprimand or a suspension of pay for up to 90 days. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Proposed changes would allow the municipal commissioner to recommend the removal of a councillor to the provincial integrity commissioner, who can then perform their own assessment and potentially make the same recommendation. The removal would then require a unanimous vote by the other members of council — a step Mascarin called 'fatally flawed.' The councillor recommended for removal would only have to find one person 'that's going to align with them to save their seat,' said Mascarin. 'My view is I doubt that anyone will ever be removed under this proposal if it becomes law,' he said. The proposed bill comes after several years of municipalities calling for such changes to address workplace harassment and allow for stricter penalties. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario said in its submission to the bill consultation that it supports the measure but recommends the unanimous vote requirement be changed to a supermajority and a range of discipline options be put in place aside from removal from office. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe has been a prominent supporter of the bill after a member of his council was embroiled in misconduct allegations and handed multiple 90-day pay suspensions. The conflict in the city east of Toronto that began more than a year ago involved multiple complaints against Coun. Lisa Robinson, including accusations of homophobia and racism and her repeated appearances on right-wing media platforms. Robinson, who has denied allegations against her, told a committee consultation in July that while parts of the proposed legislation are necessary and overdue, it lacks an appeal process and independent adjudicator. Speaking at the same consultation, Ashe asked the committee to consider expediting the process and adding other forms of sanctions, and also suggested an independent judicial decision. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'm very hopeful that the bill will move forward so that there will be an opportunity for higher levels of scrutiny, greater ability for sanctions and then ultimately the ability of the greatest sanction, which is the removal of a councillor from office,' Ashe said in a phone interview last month. Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher said the bill is 'just a few baby steps in the right direction' since it would uphold the province's current system of having municipalities appoint their own local integrity commissioners, which he called 'conflict-ridden' in itself. Conacher suggested that the provincial integrity commissioner be tasked with investigating complaints against local councillors and imposing penalties, similar to how the provincial privacy commissioner oversees municipal information laws. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'When you're having the provincial parties choose the watchdog for municipalities, then you have that separation where no municipal politician is involved in the choice,' Conacher said in an interview. 'Politicians should never be judging other politicians in any way because they're unfit to do that because of their political biases.' Conacher added that another method of accountability could see complaints referred to a judge to ensure decisions are made independently from municipal officials, a measure Mascarin said he supports. Natasha Salonen, mayor of Wilmot Township near Kitchener, applauded the province's push for more accountability but said there's little support in place for elected officials who are affected by the misconduct of their peers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She told the consultation committee she'd like to see a human resources system for municipalities, potentially through Ontario's ombudsman or the public service commission, that could help address such complaints. 'Having bills and legislation like this passed help ensure that there is accountability and civility for the people who are running to represent our voices in our country,' Salonen said in a phone interview. Salonen noted that overturning the public's vote by removing someone from office should not be taken lightly, and underscored the need for thorough investigations and supports when there are allegations of misconduct. Public office 'is a place to serve and not a place for suffering,' she said. She added that the political sphere is much different than it was when the current municipal rules were enacted more than 20 years ago, and there's more polarization and public discourse in local politics. 'I think that this underlines that Ontario can lead by example by stating conduct matters,' she said. 'Respect is non-negotiable.'
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
BATRA'S BURNING QUESTIONS: Failing grade for Prime Minister Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is seen ahead of the Metis Major Projects Summit at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby WATCH: As Canada falls behind on immigration, trade and the economy, Sun Editor-in-Chief Adrienne Batra talks with political columnists Warren Kinsella and Brian Lilley on how Prime Minister Mark Carney got it wrong. What do YOU think? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or send us a Letter to the Editor for possible publication to . Letters must be 250 words or less and signed. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto Blue Jays Sunshine Girls Editorials Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kinew pitching Indigenous Crown entity to review, approve economic projects
The Manitoba government is proposing a new Crown corporation to proactively assemble Indigenous leaders for reviews and approvals of economic development projects. Premier Wab Kinew started meeting with First Nations and Métis policy-makers in the spring to pitch a 'Crown Indigenous corporation.' 'We need future generations of our people to know that, although we recognize and we stand firm in our treaty, we're willing, at times, to compromise and to make accommodations… that make sense, and this might make sense,' said Derek Nepinak, chief of Minegoziibe Anishinabe, also known as Pine Creek First Nation. The corporation is not simply a board to discuss co-management, but rather one that would create revenue streams with concrete benefits for the Anishinaabe people, Nepinak said. His initial understanding is that First Nations people would be represented on the governing board with just under half of all director seats. Brainstorming is taking place against the backdrop of a Canada-United States trade war and Prime Minister Mark Carney's related push to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. Kinew's office declined to comment on the initiative because of its early stage, but multiple sources confirmed the short-term goal is to secure federal dollars for local 'nation-building' projects. Such projects develop trade corridors, create good-paying unionized jobs and bolster Canada's energy production and natural resource development, as per Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. The federal legislation, a direct response to U.S. tariffs, allows cabinet to accelerate the approval of initiatives that fall into this category. It received royal assent on June 26, despite pushback from Indigenous groups that have raised concerns projects could be rammed through without their meaningful input. Exactly three months ago, Kinew penned a letter to the then-newly elected Carney to identify Manitoba's top development-related priorities. That list named expanding activity at the Port of Churchill, twinning the Trans-Canada Highway and fast-tracking exploration and extraction in the mineral-rich North. 'We can't forget what's at stake. We're at war with the United States. Maybe it's not a physical war where we're shooting guns or rockets, but it is a war that could cause so much damage and could hurt a lot of people,' said David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Chartrand, who oversees the MMF's economic development ministry, said he's worried about the growing financial stress his citizens and their neighbours are facing across the country. There's an urgency required to show Ottawa 'we're ready' as a province to undertake billion-dollar projects, he said. As far as Chartrand is concerned, establishing a board-run entity with proactive, built-in consultation processes would do just that. Pine Creek's chief echoed those comments, although Nepinak has trepidations about how the CIC will operate and the potential for projects to negatively affect waterways. He noted that consultation with Indigenous peoples who could be adversely affected by a nation-building project is explicitly spelled out in Bill C-5. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is meeting later this month to discuss what's at stake with the Crown corporation concept. Nepinak said his conflicting feelings are tied to First Nations maintaining they have unceded title to land and resources in their traditional territories, and that has not been affirmed by the province. At the same time, government officials have extended an olive branch that could yield concrete benefits for Anishinaabe people, he said. He suggested this particular partnership could prove to be one example where compromise makes sense, owing to its potential to drive revenue and bolster the Canadian economy during a particularly difficult time. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Nepinak said there's potential to raise revenue not only through commodities that come of new ventures, but also procurement and taxation. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak confirmed its involvement in meetings about the matter. The Manitoba Inuit Association indicated its leadership team was aware of the proposal, but it had not been contacted directly to discuss it. There are currently five Crown corporations in the province: Manitoba Hydro; Manitoba Public Insurance; Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries; Manitoba Centennial Centre Corp.; and Efficiency Manitoba. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
