More than 4,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the removal of Sarnia, Ontario, City Councillor Bill Dennis after he used offensive language to describe a new Indigenous mural and its supporters. The push for his removal follows a special meeting on March 24, 2026, where council members voted to demand a written apology from the councillor for remarks made on social media.
The controversy began on March 18, 2026, when Dennis criticized a $12,500 Indigenous mural at City Hall, calling it “virtue signalling.” He later engaged in vulgar online exchanges with local Indigenous leaders, telling Walpole Island First Nation Chief Leela Thomas to “put that in your pipes and smoke it” and calling Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief Janelle Nahmabin an “insincere dishonest politician.” When asked by council to apologize to the artist and local chiefs, Dennis refused, stating, “The Leafs have a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup this year than me apologizing.”
This is not the first time the councillor has faced disciplinary action, as he is currently banned from entering City Hall and attending meetings in person. An investigation in early 2025 found he had broken workplace harassment rules, adding to a record that includes four official reprimands and a 45-day suspension of his pay. The petition on Change.org cites this history as a reason for his removal from office.
Chiefs from the Walpole Island, Kettle and Stony Point, Chippewas of the Thames, and Caldwell First Nations have filed formal complaints with the city’s Integrity Commissioner. While Sarnia City Council does not have the legal authority to fire an elected official, members are looking for ways to address the ongoing behavior. Local leaders are now asking the provincial government for more power to handle situations involving elected officials who break conduct rules.
