West Lincoln supports elect respect pledge

At its August 11 meeting, West Lincoln Council unanimously supported the Elect Respect Pledge, committing 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, and
• Model integrity and respect by holding one another to the highest standards of conduct.

Niagara Regional Council supported the Elect Respect pledge on July 24, 2025.

“It is appalling to learn of the harassment, threats to family members and property, online trolling and overall disregard for appropriate words and deeds that many elected officials face,” says Mayor Cheryl Ganann. “I was proud to be at the table when Regional Council unanimously supported this pledge, and I am proud to now be able to say West Lincoln Council has also committed to the Elect Respect pledge.”

The Elect Respect campaign was launched by Halton Elected Representatives (HER), to promote the importance of a healthy democracy and safe, inclusive, respectful work environments for all elected officials that encourages individuals to participate in the political process.

The pledge draws attention to the increasingly hostile, unsafe work environments, threats and harassment faced by Ontario’s municipally elected officials. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Healthy Democracy Project has identified concerning trends with fewer people voting in local elections and running for municipal office.

Elected officials, organizations and community members are encouraged to support the Elect Respect campaign and sign the online pledge at www.electrespect.ca.

Stay up to date on all Township matters. Subscribe to receive news and notices directly in your inbox. For notifications and important updates, remember to follow the Township of West Lincoln on Facebook, X and Instagram @TWPWestLincoln.