Understanding and Counteracting Incivility in Canadian Municipal Politics

Incivility in Canadian Municipal Politics

Incivility (rude, disrespectful or abusive behaviour in public discussion) has become a growing concern in Canadian local government. Officials and advocates warn that community discourse is becoming less civil both online and in person. Alberta’s municipal association president even noted that “incivility has touched all of us – whether through social media, in public discourse, or even in conversations with colleagues”. In other words, council meetings and civic forums that once featured heated but respectful debate are increasingly marked by shouting, personal attacks, and harassment. This trend emerged in recent years and has accelerated during and after the pandemic, as social media makes it easier to send uncivil messages to officials.

National Trends and Statistics

Recent studies confirm that many Canadian local politicians face insults and threats. In a 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer survey of elected officials, about 63% of respondents said they had experienced some form of harassment during their term or campaign. The Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) reported even higher rates: 74% of Quebec mayors and councillors said they had been harassed or intimidated. In Quebec surveys, the share of officials reporting harassment jumped from 28% in 2017 to 39% in 2023. These findings paint a national picture: city councils from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia are hearing more angry and abusive comments from parts of the public.

The rise in incivility is widely noted by local leaders. Alberta Municipalities President Tyler Gandam has said there is “a definite increase” in the amount of harassment directed at elected officials, much of it “online” by anonymous users. In one Alberta report, Gandam described a wave of online hostility that is hurting council operations. In fact, byelection data show that mid-term resignations jumped about 30% in Alberta during the 2021–25 term compared to the previous. In Quebec, nearly 10% of municipal leaders left their posts early since 2021, with some resigning because of “toxic behaviour” by citizens. These numbers suggest that, across Canada, rising incivility is driving good candidates away from running for council and pushing serving members out of office.

Impact on Local Government and Public Service

The uncivil climate is hurting councils and communities. Resignations and recruitment problems have real impacts on local governance. Councils can be stalled when members quit or elections must be repeated. In Quebec and Alberta alike, leaders worry that fewer people will step forward to run if the job means facing abuse. Even when officials stay, the stress is high: city managers and staff report dealing with rude or threatening behaviour at work.

An Ontario survey of municipal managers in 2024 found “many troubling stories of abuse and harassment of CAOs and their teams,” noting flatly that “it is not an easy time to be a municipal public servant”. Senior staff described being frequently “yelled at” by the public and fighting misinformation online. This constant conflict takes time and money: councils may have to hold extra meetings to address public confusion, hire security at events, or train staff in conflict de-escalation. The bar for public service has effectively been raised – officials now juggle policy work along with defending their reputations and safety.

These pressures weaken local government, and cause an increase in anxiety and burnout among councillors and staff. Town clerks and CAOs leave jobs when threatened or harassed, leaving skill gaps in municipal organizations. One New Brunswick councillor, Lorna Yard of Witless Bay, resigned in March 2024 after “near-constant harassment” from residents and anonymous users online.

Other officials have described getting personal threats. Gatineau’s mayor cited “death threats” and misogynistic abuse as reasons for stepping down in 2024. In British Columbia, even small towns have seen safety fears: the mayor of tiny Silverton quit over threats, and in Langford a councillor found a stranger taking photos through their window. Ontario councils have reported workers feeling unsafe due to harassment or even physical intimidation at meetings. In short, the breakdown of respectful discourse is straining municipal services and threatening democratic participation.

Voices of Local Politicians

Municipal leaders themselves have spoken out about the incivility they face. In Quebec, Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif observed that “harassment has been more and more frequent in the municipal world… social media is part of the reason why we see more and more."

Tardif, who helped release the Quebec survey results, noted that his colleagues across Canada hear similar complaints. In Ontario, Brampton Regional Councillor Rowena Santos has publicly warned that women in office face a “cyber harassment” storm: she described how elected women endure “sexism, misogyny… unwarranted attacks, harassment, hostile accusations, misinformation” and said that “for women like us… it’s getting worse” as they speak up. 

These statements echo stories from smaller communities: another Atlantic municipal councillor noted that opponents of her policy ideas frequently resorted to “personal attacks and insults” on social media. Such accounts show that incivility often coexists with policy debates – for example, a conflict over a town development plan can quickly shift from reasonable disagreement into name-calling and threats.

Despite these challenges, officials also emphasize the difference between fair criticism and true harassment. Most leaders encourage citizens to stay engaged. They say legitimate questions about budgets, zoning or services are welcome. But when discourse turns to harassment – repeated insults, slurs, or threats – it undermines democracy. As one municipal article explained, criticism is “completely fair” and vital, but crossing into personal abuse pushes people out of politics. In other words, officials want accountability and debate, but not the abusive behaviors that have been on the rise.

Responses and Solutions

Recognizing the problem, governments and associations have begun acting. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) declared in 2024 that harassment of local officials is a “serious problem in Canada”. Delegates passed a resolution urging federal and provincial cooperation to protect politicians from threats and intimidation. Quebec has also taken steps: in early 2024 the provincial government created a confidential helpline for attacked municipal politicians and, in the same year, enacted a law fining up to $1,500 anyone who harasses or threatens an elected official.

Several councils have reviewed their codes of conduct for the public. For example, some municipalities now explicitly forbid “verbal abuse” (including yelling, insults or slurs) at council meetings and empower the chair to remove unruly participants. At a recent summit, Alberta municipal leaders launched civility initiatives and training (like role-playing games) to improve public debate in council meetings.

These efforts aim to draw a line between robust democracy and harmful disorder. Importantly, official recommendations stress that citizens’ voices should be heard, just not silenced by abuse. The FCM notes that “critique, dissent and vigorous debate are essential” to healthy democracy – but adds that “extremism in the current landscape, particularly online, is unacceptable”. In practical terms, this means encouraging respectful dialogue and educating both public servants and residents.

Municipal staff and councillors are receiving more training on defusing conflicts and using social media carefully. Community groups and leaders are urging Canadians to engage constructively – for example, by focusing on issues rather than personal attacks when attending town halls or online forums.

Towards Civil Discourse

The rise in incivility at the municipal level is worrying for local governance. When people yell insults or launch personal attacks instead of discussing policies, municipal governments cannot function smoothly. Local services and projects suffer when council work is disrupted by abuse or when good leaders leave. On the other hand, citizens’ concerns must be addressed. Democracy at the local level depends on listening to residents while keeping the conversation safe and respectful.

In many parts of Canada today, people are trying to find that balance. Officials, staff and communities are working – sometimes grudgingly – to set clear rules for conduct and to model better behavior online and in meetings. As a leader working in Municipal Government, creating systems of support within your teams to help them navigate challenges with incivility and building your skills for managing conflict and de-escalating situations.

The hope is that with more awareness, support and leadership, local politics can be both passionate and polite. After all, Canadian democracy is strongest when our municipal discussions are open and honest, yet civil enough to invite everyone to join in solving community problems.

Sources

• President's Summit Summit on Civility Highlights - Alberta Municipalities 
• "Quebec needs people to run for local office. The problem is they keep resigning" - Vernon Matters
• "Harassment in Municipal Politics: Experiences of Local Politicians" - Canadian Municipal Barometer
• "More local politicians in Quebec report facing harassment, intimidation: survey" - Global News
• "Rising Harassment of Officials Trains Local Governance Across Alberta" - The Chestermere Anchor
• Ontario Municipal Cheif Administrative Officer Survey 2024
• "The dark side of public service: Harassment of municipal council members reaching crisis levels" - Atlantic Municipal Magazine
• 2024 FCM Annual Conference - Resolutions Plenary
• Brampton councillors call for end to harassment, intimidation of women - Municipal World
• Civility Policy - City of Whitehorse

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