With a speaker list that included Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, and top New Democrat Marit Stiles, it may come as a surprise that the largest ovation at the annual AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) conference was reserved for a city councillor from Pickering.
Mara Nagy is in the middle of her first term representing Ward 2 in the southern Ontario municipality. She wasn’t listed on the conference’s program, but entered the spotlight when she asked Municipal Affairs Minister Paul Calandra about harassment in local councils during a session when the provincial cabinet fielded questions from municipal leaders.
The subject is of particular importance for Nagy, as Pickering has made headlines in recent weeks for the stark divisions between most of the city council and Coun. Lisa Robinson, who has garnered controversy over her recent appearance on the Kevin J. Johnston show hosted on Rumble, which Robinson’s colleagues have called “a far-right video platform.”