Supporting 2026 Vaisakhi Parade

Thank you so much, Chair. I'm bringing forward this motion because at its core, it speaks to something very simple. Trust. Trust in our institutions. Trust in our process. Trust that decisions are made at this table that are grounded in fairness, transparency, and accountability. The Elect Respect campaign emerged as a response to increasingly toxic, polarized, and at times personal attacks in our civic discourse. The idea was simple but important, that even in disagreement, there are standards of honesty, of accountability, and of respect. That should guide how we engage with one another and with the public. Over the past while, We've seen how quickly that trust can be strained. Recent tensions have put a spotlight on why this motion matters right now. This motion is about ensuring that we are setting clear expectations, that we are acting consistently, and that we are giving the public confidence that the rules apply the same way to everyone. And it's important. It's about... And more importantly, it's about recognizing that the credibility of this council doesn't come from any one decision. It comes from the cumulative effect of how we conduct ourselves, how we treat each other, and how we demonstrate accountability to the people we serve. So I hope colleagues will see that this is not a political exercise, but a constructive step, a step towards reinforcing the integrity of our processes and toward rebuilding and maintaining the public trust that all of us, regardless of affiliation, rely on. Thank you.

Yeah, thanks very much. I just also want to note that it still shows Motion 1 that we're speaking to, so it's for folks following along online.

Yeah, no worries. Yeah, I mean, I really just want to say thank you to the mover of the motion, Council Orr, and our speaker. I am familiar with Halton Region very well through my role with FCM. And it's a big conversation at the FCM table among board members and membership in terms of the ongoing harassment, particularly since COVID, that elected officials face. I think it's been highlighted in the speaker's comments that there's a natural... naturally that there is a certain amount of scrutiny, let's say, that politicians are held to a high standard and ought to in terms of how they conduct themselves and that we should be debating policy. That's part of what we do. But I think that... with social media and the invisibility of some of those tactics, it does increase the level of harassment and betrayal that is targeted towards elected officials, but then also creates a really negative cycle back to the public. And so there is something really concerning, I think, about the decline in the decorum between elected officials and the public going back and forth. And we see that playing out on X. We see that playing out on other social media platforms. And The concern that I face, having been elected now for eight years, the concern I have is that it's being normalized, and it's not normal. Going back to the days where there was no online anything and we'd be writing letters and talking face-to-face, I think the system was set up for that kind of debate and that kind of discussion. The system's not set up for what we have now. And so the piece that I feel important to raise, and as somebody who, through the work, the national body work, has actively engaged in increasing women's participation in local government. I look at the elect respect campaign, and I appreciate bringing that to our attention through this motion to join. that effort right across the country. And that I think we should sign on to that. And when I look at Marianne Ward, who was the mayor of, or is the mayor of Burlington and comments on not leaving politics because somebody's bullied her out of this profession, but leaving on her own terms, I relate to that. And then also, you know, that it's far more prevalent amongst women and those who are a much higher level. And I'll note that there was a, in the last round of municipal elections with Quebec, 800 members elected to municipal government resigned before their term was up. That's a stunning number. And it just shows that we need to create an environment where good people and people from diverse backgrounds see themselves as somebody who could run for council and represent their communities. And also we have to create an environment, this isn't just about the electeds, but where the public feel like their input is valid and valued. And so it becomes an agreement, like an unspoken agreement between the public and the elected that we commit to a level of decorum and workability. that we put down guards and we open up our ears and listen to one another. And so that's what I see happening through this campaign. So we're in a Vancouver bubble in this conversation, but it extends far beyond that. And so I'll sign on and I'll support the motion.

Thanks. Thank you to Councillor Orr for moving this motion and I think it's a good complement to our Code of Ethics and Oath of Office. I think the most important aspect of it for me is that the treatment of politicians between each other and also bullying and harassment that can occur of sitting politicians can dissuade people from running for office and especially those from more diverse backgrounds that we need to see represented in positions of power making decisions on behalf of our entire community. Thanks.

Thanks very much, and thank you, Councillor, for bringing this forward. Lest anybody got the impression from sort of the comments, the dialogue, or the thrust of this motion, I want to just maybe through you, Chair, ask the question of the mover. I'm just sort of speaking between you and me, having been colleagues in this chamber now for approximately a year. Has our experience working together been generally a very positive one?

I would say so, yes.

And when you first came into the chamber, of course, you were probably greeted, I think, probably in a way, but perhaps you can describe it yourself in terms of making sure that you were welcomed in this environment with working with us.

Yeah, I would say it was a welcoming environment, for sure.

And even in terms of... like working together collaboratively. You've seen that. I think the headlights motion that passed successfully, unanimously, involved some collaboration with council members here on our side, if you want to call it that.

Yeah, what was the question?

Acknowledging that the collaboration does go on here. I just don't want anybody outside of the chamber to sort of get the impression that that the sort of level of toxicity that is really the target of some of this is actually something that goes on on political lines in any way, that's all. I do think this is an important dialogue and conversation. I have been, you know, obviously in my time as an early adopter of social media, I've watched how conversations have become quite dark. And while we have very little control over the people, the public who support us, certainly I think we have to comport ourselves in a way that we would expect that in return that we would be able to have sort of positive and productive dialogue about how to advance the public good in this city as well. So I realize that this doesn't necessarily extend social media and I know that I think certainly since since the by-election I haven't felt any particular direct personal attacks from any any member of the chamber but I also know that out in the community it it's it's sometimes extraordinarily hostile and I would just I hope that by supporting work like this that we can maybe convey out to the broader community as well how important it is that that level of civility is is shared by those of us who are very active and interested in in again the future of the work we do here City Hall but thanks very much thanks counselor counselor fry

Yeah, you know, I appreciate Councillor Klassen's level setting on some of this. I do think that, you know, and I certainly don't want to get into an item that's before the courts, but certainly there has been issues that probably would transcend what we would consider respectful under this context. And I think that it's helpful to just level set with this sort of a pledge and recognize that that we can do better. And I say that for myself, too, because I'm often taking shots at colleagues in the... in the social media arena or what have you. And as we enter silly season, of course, we do see more of that kind of thing. But I also, you know, I have a different recollection of when Councillor Orr first got elected and in a press conference that was held that was, you know, very not welcoming to Councillor Orr and perhaps misrepresented some of his comments online. So again, I think that just to be, you know, kind of broader in thinking about this. it's always good if we can kind of, like, just think back and think forward and do take that kind of pledge to respect. I think this is helpful, and certainly I don't want to relitigate the past or what's even before the courts now, but I do think that it is a good reminder that we can always do better. And I thank Councillor Orr for bringing it forward, and I thank everybody for being open to this concept.

Yeah, thanks. I was going to bring up the same thing. While generally the environment was very welcoming, and I do appreciate that, there was a time where I didn't want to come to work instantly, before I was even sworn in. I felt terrified to step into this building. I was getting death threats before I was even sworn in because of this press conference that Councillor Fry mentioned.

And I'll echo the same words as Councillor Fry. I can do better. And I think I have. I think I have stepped up in my dialogue, you know, online.

And I'm saying this as a very privileged white man that can take a lot of this. I can dish it out. I can take it. But this is what we're talking about. This dissuades people from ever wanting to sign up. Indigenous people, people of color, queer people, right? And that's what this is about. This isn't about a tit-for-tat. This wasn't directed at how I was welcomed in. This is just we can all do better across the country.

Yeah, thank you.

Okay. Yeah, I appreciate having – I appreciate this conversation. It's an important one, and I appreciate us having an open dialogue around it. I think that this is my second term on council, and I will say personally I have never gotten political against individuals. I just don't. It's not my style. Issues, I think, are absolutely fair to debate, and I think it's fair to have strong – opinions, and I think it's fair to hold each other to account and debate the issues. That is our job, right? And that should happen in the public forum, in the council chamber, and it happens in other forums around community, online, social media, etc. I always find it deeply regretful when there are personal attacks and commentaries and characterization, and Councillor Orr and I may have been characterized for very different reasons, but I have lived it. I remember last term there was a certain motion related to funding of the police that was debated, and I think there was about, I don't know, 350, 400 letters that came in that suggested that I was, what was the commentary? I think my mind blocked it out. It was a little bit of a sort of a defense mechanism, but that I was racist, which I thought was an interesting one. There's many things that you can take me up on that might not be the one to choose. My last name is my name is Y-U-N-G. So I thought that was an interesting choice. I was it alluded to the fact that I was married to a killer cop. I should divorce my word. I cannot repeat in the council chamber. very unfortunate, and I should watch my back. I had to deal with corporate security. I was asked to vary my routine and think about where I went and coffee shops, and I thought, this is wrong. At what point did we become a city like this where we can't have a debate? A very passionate topic, obviously, and an issue, but all to say that this has been going on for some time, and it's not for the faint of heart. And I was, I have to say, grateful at the time that I didn't have to necessarily, perhaps because of my background and being more keenly aware of security, have to go through some of the learnings of a new counselor of having things like an unlisted phone number, an unlisted home address, different things that you, different cautions that you take. So I'm fully supportive of creating an environment. I think that it probably is helpful to note that we are heading into an election year, and I think we can all There's going to be a lot of politics in that. I think it was referenced silly season or we can dish it out. I don't think we should be dishing it out. I think we should be debating ideas and dialogue. I don't think that we should be dishing it out, quote, unquote, on each other. And I'm not sort of picking on that. I'm just using that in terms of offering a perspective. So, yeah, I mean, let's hold each other to account. Let's debate the issues and the ideas. But it would be really great coming up. It's April 1st today. We've got a few more months left in this chamber to the end of July. If we could refrain from... a lot of the political commentary and innuendos, if motions are political or not, and just bring your A-game and debate motions on content and their merits or their non-merits, and be substantive in researching the arguments. And I would suggest that that is the opportunity that this council has ahead of us in the next few months. to do that so i'm happily will support the pledge um i've experienced it as a woman i don't need to share all the different uh examples of things that others have i shared one that was quite personal to me but um there you go um those are my thoughts thank you very much and i appreciate the discussion this morning i think it's important thank you counselor maloney

I just wanted to very briefly express my support for Councillor, who's been just an incredible colleague and always has the interests of the broader community, especially the most vulnerable members of our community, in his heart and with all the work that he does and has had to deal with a great deal of stress and very stressful situations.

that have been amplified by his high profile position and his electative position.

But I certainly have appreciated very much his support on council since we were elected.

I'm now going to call the vote.