Defending Our Voice at the Council Table:
How a Public Remonstrance Can Protect Elected Councillors and Democratic Debate
By Maggie Braun, KICLEI Canada
In municipalities across Canada, elected councillors are under increasing pressure to fall in line with global programs like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), net-zero mandates, and carbon accounting policies promoted through organizations like ICLEI and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
When a councillor begins asking the right questions—“Who approved this?” “What is the cost to our ratepayers?” “Does this reflect local priorities?”—they may find themselves isolated, censured, or targeted through council process.
But here's the truth: councillors are not supposed to be punished for representing their constituents. They are not required to agree with centralized planning. They are not under oath to global frameworks. They are accountable to the people—not to administrative consensus.
And when that voice of dissent is silenced, the public must respond.
✍️ The Remonstrance: A Tool of Democratic Defence
KICLEI has developed a new Council Report / Delegation Template called a
“Notice of Remonstrance and Statement of Public Interest.”
This formal document gives constituents a peaceful, professional, and strategically grounded way to:
Defend a councillor who is being unfairly targeted
Put the council on notice of democratic overreach
Assert the Charter-protected rights of free expression and representative responsibility
Create a public record of civic dissent—without relying on media framing or institutional gatekeepers
This tool can be submitted at a council meeting, shared online for signatures, or delivered by deputation as part of KICLEI’s commitment to lawful civic engagement.
🧾 What It Says
The Notice outlines:
The councillor’s duty under the Municipal Act or Municipal Government Act to represent the public, not private agendas;
Their Charter rights to freedom of expression and political conscience;
The public’s expectation that elected officials must be allowed to raise legitimate concerns—especially on matters involving jurisdiction, cost, and international influence.
It then formally objects to any attempt to silence that councillor, and calls on council to withdraw any disciplinary motion.
This isn’t a legal threat. It’s a civic stand. A declaration that we are watching, and that due process still matters in Canada.
💥 When to Use It
Use this Remonstrance when a councillor is:
Being censured or reprimanded for “disinformation” or “non-cooperation”
Challenging programs linked to ICLEI, FCM, or the UN SDGs
Isolated or excluded from committee roles due to their political stance
Facing public smear campaigns orchestrated through media or activist pressure
It is especially useful when other councillors are unsure or afraid to speak up. This tool shifts the narrative: from “rogue councillor” to “civic defender under fire.”
📣 Why It Works
This tool is effective because it:
Frames the issue in law, not emotion
Protects free speech and political diversity
Creates official correspondence for the public record
Empowers the public to participate in governance—not just react on social media
Even if council ignores the Notice, it sends a message to other councillors, staff, media, and the public:
This councillor is not alone. We are paying attention. And we will not accept undemocratic behavior from those who claim to serve us.
🔧 How to Use It
Visit kiclei.ca/documents (coming soon) or email us for the template.
Customize with the councillor’s name, your municipality, and the relevant facts.
Submit it as a delegation or written correspondence at a council meeting.
Share a link for others to sign publicly.
Follow up with respectful, principled communication—following the KICLEI Code of Conduct.
🛡 Let’s Stand Together
Our councils work for us. Our elected members deserve protection from ideological coercion and administrative punishment. The Remonstrance is not a protest—it’s a constitutional shield, a civic document rooted in Canadian law and local accountability.
As the climate agenda continues to merge with global governance, energy restrictions, and social engineering, those who speak up will be targeted. But we won’t let them stand alone.
Stand with your councillor. Defend open debate. Demand due process.
Download the template or email us to get started:
📩 info@kiclei.ca
🛠 Join the movement and learn more at www.kiclei.ca
Thank you Maggie I am sending this "Public Remontrance" to council secretary Alison Gray for distribution. I'm hoping that they respect your approach to localism and create dialogue with you directly. Our legal advisors believe that the damage to greenland affected properties is done and compensation should be pursued in a respectful legal manner in accordance with supreme court findings. If council actually works for property owners I'm sure she will contact you.