Whitby council has voted unanimously to create a public registry for third-party consultants, a move aimed at improving transparency and accountability among elected officials.
The motion, introduced by Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy, was approved during a council meeting earlier this week with a 9–0 vote from all members of council.
The proposed registry will require councillors who work with external consultants or strategists to publicly disclose those relationships. The goal is to provide residents with greater visibility into who may be advising elected officials on political or strategic matters.
Several councillors spoke in strong support of the measure during the meeting, emphasizing that transparency is essential to maintaining public trust.
Regional Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy said the registry would reinforce openness in local government and help reassure residents that councillors are acting responsibly.
“When you have nothing to hide, there’s nothing to worry about,” Mulcahy said during the discussion. She also confirmed that she has not used any third-party consultants during her current term in office.
East Ward Councillor Victoria Bozinovski echoed that sentiment, saying that elected officials should be upfront with residents if they are working with outside consultants.
“I think if you are an elected member and you are using a third-party organization, you should 1,000 per cent disclose that information to your voter base,” Bozinovski said.
Bozinovski also stated that she has not worked with any third-party paid consultants during the current term.
According to information shared during the meeting, eight of the nine members of Whitby council said they do not use third-party paid consultants or strategists.
The remaining councillor, Regional Councillor Chris Leahy, did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding whether he has used a third-party consultant.
Attempts were made over a two-week period to contact Leahy through phone, email and text messages, but no response was received.
Despite not speaking during the council meeting, Leahy voted in favour of the motion to create the consultant registry.
The lack of response drew criticism from several council members, including Mayor Elizabeth Roy, Regional Councillor Maleeha Shahid, and Centre Ward Councillor Niki Lundquist.
While none of the councillors mentioned Leahy directly during interviews following the meeting, they emphasized that all elected officials should be willing to answer questions about their use of consultants.
Mayor Roy said the registry represents an important step toward strengthening transparency at the municipal level.
By creating a public record of consultants working with council members, residents will be able to see whether elected officials are receiving outside strategic advice and who those advisors may be.
Supporters of the initiative say the registry will help maintain public confidence in Whitby’s municipal government and ensure voters are fully informed about the influences behind political decision-making.
The timeline for launching the third-party consultant registry has not yet been announced, but council staff are expected to begin developing the framework and reporting process in the coming months.
Once implemented, the registry will allow residents to easily access information about consultants working with Whitby council members.
