Money woes, harassment pose barriers to diversifying Ont. politics, study finds

New research is highlighting harassment and a lack of financial resources as two common barriers for diverse candidates in Ontario municipal politics.

TitledMapping the Experiences of Diverse Candidates Running for Municipal Office in Ontario, the project was commissioned by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario(AMO) and released during their annual conference in Ottawa earlier this month.

Its results were compiled from a mix of approaches, including interviews, survey responses and focus groups. There were a total of 118 participants.

• Housing shortage, health-care crisis on agenda as Ontario municipal leaders meet

The projectfocused on diverse people including those from2SLGBTQ+,racialized,low-income and non-Christian backgrounds who wererunning foroffice, contemplating a run or had already been elected.

Ottawa Morning10:36Rawlson King is Ottawas first Black city councilor, and he doesnt want to be the only one

Rideau-Rockcliffe councillor Rawlson King explains the work being done by the Healthy Democracy Project to encourage more racialized people to run for municipal office.

Rawlson King, a Ottawa city councillor and member ofAMO'sHealthy Democracy Project advisoryboard said the project was "refreshing."

"This was qualitative. It actually looked at the lived experiences of different candidates who ran. And it was trying to ascertainwhat were the advantages [and] disadvantages, what were the benefits of running," he toldCBC's Ottawa Morning last week.

"It's a very powerful piece of research."

Campaigns 'not cheap'

According to the project, financial barriers were the "largest" obstacle including the "personalfinancial impact of running for officeand the reality that the salary for their elected office was not financially viable."

"Campaigns are not cheap.They're expensive and you have to commit a lot of personal funds," said Cornwall, Ont., MayorJustin Towndale, whose parents immigrated to Canada from India.

"Typically what you see is if someone spends more money, they are typically more successful. It's not universal, but you do tend to see that because when you spend more money, you have a greater reach."

The report also highlighted the mental toll of discrimination, bullying and harassment both in person and online.

• Faced with hate, municipal politicians want help turning down the temperature

• Harassment of MPs spiked almost 800% in 5 years, says House sergeant-at-arms

Those issues were "front and centre" for those who were interviewed and participated in focus groups, the study said.

"While all candidates may experience some amount of bullying and harassment along their political journey, it appears that issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and ability significantly amplify the volume and intensity," the research said.

'A very lonely place'

While overdue, the research is a step in the right direction, said Sen. Bernadette Clement, who serves on the advisory board with King and was mayor of Cornwall from 2018 until 2021.

"I would have loved to have had access to this kind of researchback when I started my political career in 2006," she said.

"I was the first Black woman mayor in Ontario. That's great, but it is also a very lonely place."

• Cornwall mayor reflects on 'incredible pressure' amid social change

While it's goodto see this type of research done in a municipal context, Towndalesaid it's just a start.

"I think when I was looking at how many responses were received, it seemed relatively low," he said, adding that he'dlike to see another survey done with a wider variety of participants.

While he was unable to take part himself in the study due to timing, Towndalesaidhe'd jump at another opportunity.

Despite these barriers, study subjects shared a variety of motivations includinga desire to increase representation in their local governments andto change local legislation to better support their communities.

AMO saidit plans to use itsfindings to inform ways of helpingdiverse candidates and increasingdiversity in municipal politics.