Stephen Blais wants the government to stop playing footsie and commit.

In August, Blais re-introduced his private member's bill that would allow city councils to remove councillors for breaching workplace violence or harassment policies. Right now, they can only be booted for certain conflict-of-interest and campaign spending violations.

It's the second time the Liberal MPP and former Ottawa city councillor has tried to get the bill through the PC-controlled legislature. The bill passed second reading unanimously last session, but didn't get a committee date, so it died when the house rose for the 2022 election.

Blais said he's heard sweet nothings from Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark about the bill, which makes him hopeful it'll pass this time.

The PCs are also working on their own version of the bill, and have consulted with cities across Ontario, Blais said.

"If they wanna bring their own bill forward that has this provision in it, and deals with other municipal integrity issues, then we'd certainly be supportive of that," he said.

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Clark's office, and that of Premier Doug Ford, didn't respond to a request for comment.

Blais, the Liberal municipal affairs critic, said he's sent letters to rookie PC MPPs Charmaine Williams and Graydon Smith seeking their support, but hasn't heard back.

The two could be important allies.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario called for a similar mechanism to remove councillors while Smith was the organization's president. And Williams, while on Brampton's city council, has called for her colleague Gurpreet Dhillon to resign in the face of sexual assault allegations.

READ MORE: Ontario should let city councils boot sexual abusers, NDP says again, after new allegations against Rick Chiarelli

It's unclear whether the bill would affect the re-election bid of Toronto Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, who has been charged with sexual assault. The bill itself doesn't specify which acts are egregious enough for a councillor to be removed — that power lies with the municipality's integrity commissioner. If the commissioner recommends removal, the case would go before a judge, who would have to sign off, Blais said.

Multiple local governments have faced controversies in recent years after councillors have been found or alleged to have behaved appropriately.

Blais said the bill's momentum is growing, boasting that Ottawa's council has signed on in support.

"As more and more municipalities vote in support of Bill 5, the Ontario government needs to listen, ensure it receives a committee hearing, pass Bill 5, and adopt it into law," he said in a release on Wednesday. "It is long overdue that municipal elected officials are held to the same standard as every other employee in Ontario."

Barrie, Springwater, Clearview, Orillia, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and Bradford West Gwillimbury have also voted to support his bill, Blais said. The townships of Essa, Adjala-Tosorontio, and Tiny will soon hear deputations.

Ontario's municipal elections will take place on Oct. 24.

With files from Aidan Chamandy

Blais hopes second time’s the charm for anti-harassment PMB

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