By popular request · A Gather 2030 strategy brief
A Declaration of Public Service
What Ontario councillors actually promise when they take office, what allegiance to the Crown does and does not mean, and how a respectful request for change could be prepared.
What the declaration actually says
Every Ontario council member makes the same four promises before taking a seat. The province sets the wording under section 232 of the Municipal Act, 2001; councils cannot change it.
Impartial service
Exercise the office truly, faithfully and impartially.
No improper payments
Accept no payment or reward for acting in a biased or corrupt way.
Disclose conflicts
Declare pecuniary interests under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Allegiance
Be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third.
That's all. The declaration contains no pledge to the United Nations, ICLEI, FCM, the WEF or Agenda 2030.
The declaration points to council's duties
The first promise is to exercise the office "truly, faithfully and impartially." What that office requires is set out in the same statute: section 224 of the Municipal Act, 2001 defines the role of council.
That role includes evaluating the municipality's programs, deciding its services and protecting its finances. It applies equally to programs, memberships and targets taken on through outside organizations such as ICLEI or FCM, or frameworks linked to Agenda 2030.
The oath is not an obstacle to reviewing these commitments. Faithfully carrying out the role it describes is the reason to do it.
- (a)Represent the public and consider the well-being and interests of the municipality
- (b)Develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality
- (c)Determine which services the municipality provides
- (d)Ensure administrative and controllership policies are in place to implement council's decisions
- (d.1)Ensure the accountability and transparency of the municipality's operations
- (e)Maintain the financial integrity of the municipality
- (f)Carry out the duties of council under this or any other Act
What's inside the brief
A referenced, readable resource for councillors, residents and anyone who wants to understand the oath or pursue a change.
Understand it
- The declaration, clause by clause
- Where the allegiance requirement came from
- What allegiance to the Crown means in Canadian law
Know the history
- The 2018 Hearst case and the Indigenous alternative
- Earlier requests from Ontario councils
- Court cases now under way in Quebec and at the Supreme Court
Prepare a request
- The Minister's authority under section 232
- The case for and against a change
- A suggested alternative declaration and how we would prepare a request
Appendices with suggested wording: a two-page councillor briefing, a letter to the Minister, and a model council resolution.
A note on approach
This change can be made. The way to do it is already proven: a clear, documented, respectful request to the Minister, ideally backed by council resolutions. Ontario changed this form once before, within a week, in response to exactly that kind of request.
Many of the people raising this issue care deeply about it, and that conviction is welcome. But confronting councillors, questioning their loyalty or wrapping the request in conspiracy claims is doing more harm than good. It hardens the very people who would have to say yes, and it discredits everyone else who is asking. Ten reasonable people will get further than a thousand angry ones.
If you are a reasonable person who would like to take this on, and you understand where it comes from, I would be more than happy to be part of that team and to work with you.
Maggie Hope Braun, Gather 2030 and KICLEI Canada
Start where you are
For residents
If you have questions about the oath, start with the facts and sources in the brief. If you want to seek a change, follow the steps in section 9 and bring your council documents, not accusations.
Download the brief →For councillors
Appendix A is a two-page briefing you can share when residents ask about your declaration. Reviewing your municipality's voluntary programs and commitments can be done under the current declaration, as it stands.
Explore the 2027 Council Audit →How Gather 2030 and KICLEI work together
KICLEI stays focused on one mission. Gather 2030 looks at the bigger picture and shares effective strategies from across Canada.
A newsletter that brings together effective strategies for restoring good government and building community resilience. This brief is its focus for the coming months.
Helping councillors review the voluntary federal programs and international frameworks their municipalities have taken on, and decide whether those commitments serve their communities.
Support this work
This brief is free, and so is the 2027 Council Audit Toolkit. Your support helps bring this research directly to councils across Canada: outreach, educational resources, training and the follow-up that turns information into action.
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Gather 2030
The Declaration of Office is Gather 2030's focus for the coming months: the Ministry's response, the Supreme Court's decision in Wirring, and what councils across Ontario are doing.
KICLEI Canada
Research, tools and updates on the 2027 Council Audit, for residents and councillors reviewing their municipality's voluntary commitments.
This brief is offered for public information and is not legal advice. Every factual claim links to its source; readers are encouraged to check them and to seek legal advice before acting.