Strength in Numbers – AMCTO and AORS Call for Stronger Protections for Municipal Staff under Bill 9
The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) and the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) have come together once again to advocate for stronger protections for municipal staff across Ontario.
Following the recent Standing Committee hearings on Bill 9, An Act to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Act, 2001 in relation to codes of conduct, AMCTO and AORS have submitted a joint letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack.
While both associations commend the government for bringing forward legislation aimed at strengthening accountability for municipal elected officials, our joint submission emphasizes that further amendments are needed to ensure the bill truly delivers safe and respectful workplaces for all municipal employees.
Currently, municipal staff do not have the same workplace protections as other Ontario workers. There are no meaningful consequences when elected officials engage in harassment or abuse, and no whistleblower safeguards for those who report misconduct. Bill 9, as drafted, also lacks independent oversight and consistent enforcement mechanisms.
Our joint recommendations call for several key improvements, including:
- Whistleblower protection for staff who report misconduct;
- Independent oversight through a provincial Integrity Commissioner panel;
- Proportional penalties, including removal from office for egregious acts and multi-term ineligibility for re-election;
- Automatic leave and removal for officials charged or convicted of assault; and
- Standardized qualifications for municipal Integrity Commissioners.
AMCTO and AORS share the belief that safe, respectful municipal workplaces are foundational to strong local governance. By uniting our voices, we are calling for legislative changes that ensure municipal staff can carry out their duties without fear of harassment or retaliation.
You can read the full joint letter to Minister Flack here: Read the Letter →
Together, we can ensure that all municipal workers in Ontario are afforded the same dignity, safety, and protection as every other worker in this province.