A near-unanimous city council voted to support an Elect Respect pledge to be kind to one other.
The lone member to vote against the pledge was Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc, who prior to voting against the motion asked a series of questions about enforcement. The Elect Respect pledge is just that; a pledge members can make voluntarily which has no follow-up enforcement.
Ward 7 Coun. Natalie Labbée introduced the motion for city council members to support the pledge, citing a growing incivility toward politicians, not only online but also in-person.
“We’ve seen numbers of people willing to put their names on a ballot reduce, and that’s preventing really qualified people, competent people, from putting their names forward,” she said.
Last year, 81-year-old Frederick Lammi was charged with one count of criminal harassment for allegedly threatening Labbée.
By signing the pledge, members commit to:
- Treat others with respect in all spaces—public, private, and online
- Reject and call out harassment, abuse, and personal attacks
- Focus debate on ideas and policies, not personal attacks
- Help build a supportive culture where people of all backgrounds feel safe to run for and hold office
- Call on relevant authorities to ensure the protection of elected officials who face abuse or threats
- Model integrity and respect by holding one another to the highest standards of conduct
Elect Respect is part of a broader effort founded by a small group of women in Halton, with more information available by clicking here.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Labbée's correct ward number (7).