Three women, including Niagara Regional Councillor Haley Bateman, were arrested during a Niagara Falls City Council meeting on Tuesday while advocating for proposed legislation aimed at ensuring accountability for municipal council members charged with assault. This legislation, known as bill 9 or the Municipal Accountability Act, seeks to improve the oversight of elected officials facing serious charges, such as domestic assault, by establishing clearer mechanisms for their suspension or removal during legal proceedings.
Tensions escalated when Mayor Jim Diodati confronted the women, who were displaying signs reading, “The Women of Ontario Say No,” a message from the advocacy group Women of Ontario Say No (WOSN) focused on enhancing legislative accountability. The group had been denied the opportunity to speak in front of the council, despite seeking to raise awareness about bill 9 ahead of public hearings scheduled in Niagara Falls for July 4.
WOSN has been vocal about the necessity of a mandatory leave of absence for any elected officials charged with violent crimes, and their absence from discussions at the council meeting unwittingly highlighted the underlying issues of accountability in local governance. The council opposed their presence, citing ongoing legal proceedings involving Councillor Mike Strange, who has been charged with intimate partner violence. Even with the heavy context surrounding the charges, the women maintained that their demonstration was a peaceful assertion of their rights to voice concerns about critical legislation.
As Mayor Diodati insisted the meeting could not commence unless the signs were put away, the situation led to the arrival of Niagara Regional Police (NRP), who offered the women options to comply or face arrest. Despite maintaining their silence and peaceful demeanor, Bateman and two others were taken into custody for trespassing when they chose not to lower their signs.
The women were quickly released, with no charges filed against them. Their arrests prompted criticism regarding the violation of free speech rights, as highlighted by Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch, who noted that the act of holding signs should not obstruct council proceedings.
In the wake of these events, Emily McIntosh, the founder of WOSN, expressed disappointment over how such demonstrations are met with resistance, underscoring a continual struggle for effective public engagement. She also mentioned the financial barriers residents face when trying to file integrity complaints, perpetuating a disconnect between local governance and community accountability.
Councillor Bateman reiterated the importance of public discourse on legislation that impacts the safety and rights of women in Ontario, stating, “This was not a protest against Mike Strange… this is a matter of life and death for too many of us.”
This incident sheds light on the critical ongoing conversation about accountability in governance, emphasizing the necessity for public officials to engage meaningfully with their constituents. It highlights the resilience of advocacy groups like WOSN in their efforts to bring necessary reforms to local government practices, fostering a more democratic and accountable environment moving forward.