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Death threats, sexual harassment, sexism — female politicians in Peel, Halton speak out
Harassment affects 63 per cent of surveyed local politicians, with women facing identity-based abuse.
Brampton city councillor Rowena Santos said she has faced sexist treatment and serious threats to her physical safety during her time in office.
And according to several female politicians contacted in Peel and Halton regions — many seeking re-election in the Oct. 26 municipal election — her experience is neither unique nor an aberration.
“A couple of people threatened me and said that I deserve to be raped and killed,” said Santos, one of two female councillors on Brampton council.
The first Filipino person elected to Brampton council, she said her identity has also been a target of criticism. In one instance, a woman baselessly claimed that Santos’ Filipino background meant she was submissive to men and that her electoral success was the result of “sleeping her way to the top.”
2026 numbers from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) show that women account for 32 per cent of municipal candidates (2,103 of 6,663), up from 31 per cent (1,931 of 6,306) in 2022. This represents an increase of 172 female candidates, continuing an incremental rise in women’s representation on the ballot.
However, that increase has not necessarily translated into a more welcoming environment for all women.
Harassment widespread but different for women
While data from the 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer shows that harassment is a widespread issue among elected officials, affecting 63 per cent of the 1,633 local politicians surveyed, the ways in which it manifests for women can be different in nature.
“When you look at the harassment and violence that’s directed to women and racialized candidates, violence tends to focus, not on who they are as politicians, but who they are as people,” said Dr. Erin Tolley, the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Race, and Inclusive Politics and associate professor in the department of political science at Carleton University, in an interview.
“It’s more likely to pinpoint their identities either as women or racialized or both.”
‘People show up at my house’: Caledon Mayor Annette Groves
Annette Groves, the mayor of Caledon who is not seeking re-election, said “some of the terms that people use on social media, the names they call us, they’re certainly not going to use the same description … or term for a male politician.
“I find people show up at my house. I don’t think you’d be showing up at a male person’s house. That is my private space where my family lives.”
Mississauga Coun. Natalie Hart on scrutiny of appearance
Natalie Hart, Mississauga’s Ward 5 councillor who is seeking re-election, has said that while running for office and serving as a councillor she was subject to sexist remarks as well.
“Shortly after I was elected there was a lot of commentary about the fact that the pictures that I’ve used on my signs didn’t accurately look enough like me. You still experience that at the doors where people will hold your flyer up to your face to see if it looks like you,” said Hart.
“You face a lot of scrutiny on your physical presentation. What you wear, how often you wear it, your weight, your age, your marital status, all of those things that are not necessarily a part of what it looks like as a male in these spaces.”
Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Elect Respect campaign
Marianne Meed Ward has been mayor of Burlington since 2018 and is also running for re-election. She too has been subject to gender-based discrimination and harassment, listing several unsettling incidents, including people:
- calling her office at city hall and making sexual references toward her
- threatening to set her on fire
- telling her she should be “strung up at city hall”
As well, she said she’s been threatened by people using profane and derogatory language specific toward women.
As soon as she went public with this story, she said the first comment she received was someone saying “weak women shouldn’t be in politics.”
Against the backdrop of this increasingly hostile political environment, Meed Ward began convening female elected representatives from across Halton Region, from school board trustees to members of parliament, to share their experiences as women in politics.
Twice a year this group of 25 women would get together, privately, for coffee to exchange stories and figure out ways to offer one another support.
At one of the meetings, she said someone asked, “if you had a daughter would you advise her to seek elected office?”
“All of us hesitated. And there was a time where I would have never hesitated,” she said.
“And then story after story came out … and every single person had a story of being threatened with bodily harm, and none of us had really talked about it with anyone. We had kept it private.”
The meeting of women in Halton led to the creation of the “Elect Respect” campaign, which brings together politicians from diverse backgrounds to call for more respectful and civil political discourse across the country, while recognizing that female elected officials may face heightened levels of intimidation.
Does harassment deter women from running?
Some female politicians believe that the unique treatment and threats women are subject to can deter them from entering the political arena altogether.
“I think part of the reason why women choose not to run is because they don’t want to put themselves into that situation,” Santos said. “You really have to have thicker skin if you’re a woman … Women always have to think twice or three times as to whether or not they want to put themselves and their family through that level of risk.
“It is sometimes mentally and emotionally taxing on you and so I think that’s part of the reason why a lot of women don’t do it.”
Added Hart: “It can really be tough to convince people that this is a career that they want.”
Women who run are more likely to win — so why aren’t more running?
Despite women in Ontario making up slightly more than half of the province’s population, they make up only 32.2 per cent of all municipal council seats, according to data from AMO.
However, Tolley said that when women do make the decision to run, research demonstrates they are more likely to win their elections.
Data from AMO shows in the 2022 municipal elections across Ontario, the success rate of women slightly exceeded that of men. Women candidates had a 47 per cent success rate while male candidates had a 44 per cent success rate.
Tolley said she believes the reason for this is because “the women … who tend to come forward, typically are more qualified than other candidates and the reason I think they’re more qualified is that they understand that in order to participate in this hostile climate, they need to be better than their competition.”
Elaine Moore, a former Brampton city and Peel regional councillor, said she did not experience sexism to the same extent while serving as a regional councillor, but noted that she felt the men around her viewed their opinions as more credible, leaving women feeling they had to be especially well prepared to have their voices heard.
Tolley believes that while the number of women seeking municipal office is still low, it is increasing because more and more women are either choosing to overlook the hostility or are empowered to change it through their presence in politics.
A parting message from Caledon’s outgoing mayor
Groves said as her mayoral term comes to an end her parting message to young women is not to be deterred or intimidated by such behaviour.
“This is a message I have for young women. Never be intimidated. You need to believe in yourself, you need to believe in who you are, and you need to stand up for what is right. And even if you are the only one standing, you must stand up for what you believe is right, and never be intimidated by any of this,” said Groves.
Copyright 2026, Mississauga.com. All rights reserved.
Bridget Potasky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Mississauga.com.
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Four stabbed, hospitalized in targeted gang attack in Vancouver nightclub: police
Four stabbed in targeted Vancouver attack
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Police say four people have been stabbed in an attack at a Vancouver nightclub over the weekend.
It happened Saturday inside a club on city's Granville Entertainment District at around 3 a.m.
Police say arriving officers found the four hurt and all were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses say there was an altercation and three men who were patrons of the club were stabbed along with a male employee who tried to intervene.
Investigators say they believe it was a targeted attack that has links to the gang conflict in the Lower Mainland.
A suspect remains at large and is described as a black man about five feet 10 inches tall with dreadlocks and wearing a black puffy jacket.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Members of Quebec's official Opposition Liberals sworn in at the legislature
Quebec Liberals sworn in at legislature
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
The Canadian Press
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Millard urged his caucus to serve with clarity and humility today as they were sworn in at the provincial legislature.
Millard said his party's work isn't done after a strong Oct. 5 election result.
The party more than doubled its seat count, going from 18 to 40 and will serve as the official Opposition to the minority Parti Québécois government.
Former premier Jean Charest was on hand to watch as his son Antoine was sworn in as the new representative for the Verdun riding.
All of the Liberals opted to swear the oath to the Quebec people and not to the King, after the oath to the monarch was made optional in 2022.
One member, Affine Lwalalika, was not sworn in since a judicial recount is underway in her riding.
Milliard told his elected members to be proud, but also urged them to approach the role with “a healthy dose of clarity and humility.”
“If our work of rebuilding were complete, we would be the ones forming the government today,” he said, adding, “There are still many regions to win back.”
“The result on Oct. 5 is certainly an important milestone, but it is by no means the culmination of all our efforts.”
He said it's unclear how long the minority PQ government led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will last, and called for both discipline and teamwork.
“When it comes to resolving crises, the government will find in us a reliable and open partner, but when it comes to creating crises … it will find in us a tough and unyielding opponent,” he said.
Milliard also stated that the Quebec Fleur-de-lis is “just as striking alongside the Maple Leaf," in a plea for federalism that drew thunderous applause.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
By Caroline Plante | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Canada Morning Brief: What You Need To Know For June 28
Including how to get a breezy summer job catching 18-foot pythons in Florida.
Good morning — Andrew from Narcity here! ☕
Reminder: you have three more days to stock up on supplies ahead of Canada Day store closures on Friday.
Psst... You can now sign up for the soon-to-launch email version of the Canada Morning Brief right here.
In Case You Missed It
1. Canadian Government Promises Streamlined ArriveCan
The feds will try to alleviate some of the country's airport delays by making the ArriveCAN software "faster and easier" to use, Lisa Belmonte writes. Starting today, those arriving at Toronto Pearson or Vancouver International can use the ArriveCAN app or website to make their customs and immigration declarations up to 72 hours in advance.2. Ex-Leafs Star Kadri Calls Out His Detractors After Cup Win
Shortly after winning his first career Stanley Cup — and as the first Muslim player to ever do so — Nazem Kadri wasted little time addressing his haters, particularly those who doubted him during his decade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After tallying 15 points in 16 games en route to the Colorado Avalanche's title win, the 31-year-old said those who thought he was a "liability" due to his abrasive playing style could "kiss (his) ass." Josh Elliott has the full story here.
3. Why You Should Visit Alberta Instead of BC This Summer
There's a minor feud brewing on Narcity's western Canada desk, with writers from the country's two western-most provinces squaring off over their summer travel itineraries. This weekend, however, Calgary-based Charlie Hart actually had lifelong Vancouverite Ashley Harris agreeing with some of her takes on Alberta's superiority over British Columbia. Here's why you should visit the Princess Province this summer.
4. Who's Mans From Toronto Is This?
The stars of the new Netflix action comedy The Man from Toronto have already apologized for the deeply offensive affront of... not pronouncing "Toronto" authentically. However, there were actually more than a handful of obvious tells that neither Kevin Hart nor Woody Harrelson's characters were actually from Hogtown. Tristan Wheeler breaks down the list here.
5. A New Way To Explore Niagara Falls
Starting on Canada Day, visitors to Niagara Falls will be able to experience the signature landmark by questing 2,200 feet down through a cavernous, underground tunnel. Those who brave the trek are rewarded with a new panoramic vantage point from which to view both the Horseshoe and American Falls. For what you need to know before you visit, Madeline Forsyth has the deets.
5 Things You Need To Know Today
🎉 HOLIDAYS
There are a bunch of completely legit holidays taking place today, particularly stateside, where Americans will observe such sacred occasions as National Insurance Awareness Day, National Logistics Day and National Tapioca Day. Exciting!
🎾 WIMBLEDON
Canada's Rebecca Marino fell on the first day of Wimbledon but the three remaining Canucks competing in singles play — Bianca Andreescu, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov — are all in Round 1 action today at the All England Club.
⚾ BASEBALL
As far as midseason, Tuesday night games go, tonight's clash with the visiting Boston Red Sox could be a big one for Toronto. The Blue Jays can leapfrog Boston for second place in the AL East with a win. First pitch comes at 7:07 p.m. ET.
🐍 JOB ALERT
Those looking for a relaxing way to make a few bucks this summer should head down to South Florida, where a program will pay you $10-15 an hour (plus bonuses) for capturing pythons — like the 18-foot monster that was recently caught in the Everglades.
🎂 BIRTHDAYS
Expect Elon Musk to mark the 51st occasion of his birth by tweeting something absolutely exhausting. Happy 31st birthday to Belgian soccer star Kevin De Bruyne — who Canada will see in Group Stage play at the FIFA World Cup this fall. Say anything to John Cusack — but especially "happy birthday," since he turns 56. Former MTV monopolizer Rob Dyrdek is 48, making millennials of a certain vintage feel especially ancient.
Thanks for reading the Canada Morning Brief — the Ridiculousness to Narcity's Fantasy Factory.
Soon, you will be able to get our newsletter straight to your inbox. Until then, I'd love to know what you liked (and disliked) about today's edition at andrew.potter@narcity.com.
Have a great day and see you back here tomorrow!