Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy and Councillor Victoria Bozinovski are calling for more respect in local politics as the community prepares for the upcoming municipal election on October 26, 2026. At a joint press conference held on April 14, 2026, the pair expressed concerns over a growing pattern of harassment and misinformation aimed at local representatives and town staff, just weeks before the official start of the election cycle on May 1.
The officials highlighted several recent incidents, including a vehicle spotted on April 13, 2026, near Town Hall displaying signs urging residents to sign a petition against Councillor Bozinovski. Additionally, Councillor Bozinovski reported a confrontational encounter on March 23, 2026, where she was approached by an individual in a manner she described as threatening. Police were called to the scene during that interaction.
Mayor Roy also pointed to a series of misleading robocalls from November 2025 commissioned by an organization called the Whitby Taxpayers Federation. The mayor noted that the town has spent approximately $100,000 during this council term investigating various allegations against her, all of which were eventually determined to be unfounded.
On the same day as the press conference, an integrity report found that Councillor Chris Leahy breached the council code of conduct twice by publicly disrespecting town staff. The town council is set to vote on a one-month pay suspension for Councillor Leahy on April 20, 2026.
In response to these events, the mayor and council members are urging residents to uphold the Elect Respect pledge, which was unanimously endorsed by the council in October 2025. This initiative encourages candidates and community members to keep public debate focused on the issues rather than personal attacks. Mayor Roy has also expressed support for provincial advocacy efforts, such as the previously proposed Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act, which would provide more tools to address serious misconduct by elected officials.
