Brant County Rejects #ElectRespect Pledge
Brant County has opted not to join the #ElectRespect pledge, an initiative aimed at promoting a safe and respectful democracy.
Some elected officials in Brant believe the pledge is already covered in their code of conduct. However, others argue that the pledge is necessary to address incidents of bigotry and hate speech during the last municipal election.
“Aside from one councillor’s concerns about how the information was received, there was no discussion. They just voted against it and moved on. It sends a terrible message,”
said Kari Raymer Bishop. The pledge, started by the Halton Elected Representatives, aims to “restore civility and respect to the public square.”
Coun. Lukas Oakley noted that some candidates of colour received “bigoted comments” and “hate” during the election, highlighting the need for such a pledge.
The county's decision was made after a tie vote, preventing them from joining the 31 municipalities that have already pledged to uphold a safe and respectful democracy.
Author's summary: Brant County votes down #ElectRespect pledge due to existing code of conduct.