Ontario town takes ‘Elect Respect’ pledge against threats and harassment in public life

Clarington councillors have added their names to a growing movement against toxic behaviour and harassment in public life.

Elect Respect started as a conversation between a small group of women in Halton – the Halton Elected Representatives (HER), led by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – who came together to share their experiences with harassment and to stand up for a “better way forward.”

From that conversation came Elect Respect—a commitment to uphold the core values of democratic service, including the right to work free from threats, abuse, or intimidation.

Elect Respect now includes elected officials and candidates of all backgrounds who are speaking out against toxic behaviour and calling for a renewed commitment to respectful public service.

The latest to add their names and their commitments to the list are in Clarington, with Mayor Adrian Foster noting that many people – especially women – are choosing not to run for politics because of threats and harassment.

“That’s not how democracy works, that’s not how society works, Foster said, citing a young mayor in Quebec who stepped down halfway through her term because of threats, and his own wife who had to deal with people spreading misinformation.

“This is not just for politicians,” he noted. “The public is invited to take up the pledge and live up to the pledge.”

Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster

The motion passed 6-0 at General Government Committee on Monday, the same day as right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah college event and a week after Clarington Councillor Corinna Traill was accused of leaving death threats on a potential mayoral candidate’s voice mail.

Traill was absent from the committee meeting.

“We did not sign up to be anybody’s punching bag,” Foster said in quoting Meed Ward. “Our families certainly did not.”

Meed Ward said the campaign was launched to fight against rising toxicity against elected leaders, which is discouraging participation.

“Such behaviour is becoming more commonplace and is a real threat to democracy in Canada,” she said. “It impacts people of all different genders and cultural identities across all orders of government – from school trustees and municipal councillors to federal and provincial parliamentarians and ministers.”

“Qualified candidates may not step forward, and women currently holding office may leave. This deprives our communities of diverse perspectives and effective leadership.”

Elect Respect is a pledge to foster respect, inclusivity, and safety in public life and has earned commitments from nearly 130 elected officials, 14 municipalities and nearly 300 citizens since it was launched in June.

Anyone can take the pledge at https://electrespect.ca/ and the site is full of stories from public figures – predominately women and people of colour – who have faced threats and harassment, including  former Oakville North MP Pam Damoff, a three-term representative who did not seek re-election in 2024, citing fears for her safety and disgust with toxicity in politics.

“It’s far more prevalent amongst women and those who are racialized,” she said.

Granville Anderson, a veteran Clarington councillor with Jamaican heritage, said the harassment can be “utterly disgusting,” adding that his wife has also experienced it as a volunteer.

“It can be intolerable and it’s got to stop.”

Anderson said he was chatting with a new resident who moved to Clarington because of a report that declared it to be the fifth-safest community in Canada.

“But when you look at social media you’ll hear the contrary.”

The Elect Respect pledge:

• Treat each other, and 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.

“Harassment and abuse are undermining our democracy,” Meed Ward said on the Elect Respect website. “Together, we can rebuild a culture where everyone – candidates, elected officials, and the public – can participate in democracy free from fear or intimidation.”

“Our democracy depends on it.”