Local election season is about looking past slogans and analyzing how candidates plan to govern. Recently, the burg watch questioned council candidate Shawn LeBlanc regarding accessibility—specifically his own campaign office and Open Air barriers.

Read the email exchanges below.

Here is a breakdown of the exchange and what it means for local voters:

1. Campaign Office Accessibility

• The Reality: LeBlanc confirmed his campaign office is based out of his private home and is not accessible.
• The Takeaway: For voters with mobility challenges, a candidate running an inaccessible campaign creates an immediate barrier to face-to-face democratic participation. True inclusion starts before Election Day.

2. The “Seeing is Believing” Stance vs. The Law (AODA)

• The Reality: When pressed on the Open Air barriers—which The Burg Watch noted was the number one complaint in the Open Air residents’ survey—LeBlanc stated he was “not aware of any barriers” and that it was “hard to commit to removing” them without seeing it himself.
• The Takeaway: In Ontario, accessibility is not a matter of a candidate’s personal observation. Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), municipalities and local leaders have a binding legal obligation to proactively identify, remove, and prevent structural barriers in public spaces. Prioritizing personal “awareness” over documented community data risks putting a municipality out of compliance with provincial law.

3. The “One Person” Fallacy

• The Reality: LeBlanc downplayed complaints by stating, “As of this moment I have one person telling me otherwise so I can’t comment on what I don’t know is happening.”
• The Takeaway: Accessibility is not a popularity contest or a majority-rules issue. Under human rights frameworks and the AODA, if a single physical barrier prevents one person with a disability from equally participating in their town, a legal and moral obligation to fix it already exists. Minimizing public survey data by framing it as a solitary complaint avoids systemic accountability.

The Bottom Line:
LeBlanc expressed a strong passion for accessibility in theory, promising to “do all I can for any resident once elected.” However, there is a clear gap between promising to “be a voice” later and refusing to acknowledge documented, legally protected barriers right now.

An effective municipal leader doesn’t wait to stumble over a barrier themselves—they trust the data, they listen to the residents who live it every day, and they understand their mandatory legal duties under the AODA.

What do you think? Does a candidate need personal proof to act on accessibility issues, or should they immediately respect the AODA standards and resident surveys?

Email exchanges between the burg watch and Shawn LeBlanc:

July 23 from the burg watch: Is your campaign office accessible? Will you remove Open Air barriers that prevent people with disabilities form equally participating in the community?

July 27 LeBlanc: Hello and thank you so much for reaching out. Currently my campaign office is my own home and not currently accessible. I am not aware of any barriers that exist in open air that impact accessibility. Happy to help wherever I can.  

July 28, 2026 the burg watch: The number one complaint in the Open Air residents’ survey is accessibility. Aside from the survey, residents have called attention to the Open Air barriers for years. Now that you’ve been made aware of the barriers, will you commit to removing them so people with disabilities can equally participate in their own community?

July 28 LeBlanc: I love your passion for accessibility. As I am not aware of anyone who has ever complained about this or observed it, it’s hard for me to commit to removing any barriers. However if I see or talk to any of these residents while on the campaign I will absolutely be a voice for making sure open air along with anything in our community is accessible for all residents. 

July 28 the burg watch: Oh, but you are aware now since I provided you with the information for you to be aware. It seems paradoxical for you to say ‘it’s hard’ for you to commit to removing any barriers since you’ll have a legal obligation to do so if you’re elected but that you’ll absolutely be a voice and make sure our community is accessible.

July 28 LeBlanc: I stand by what I said. If there are barriers that are making open air inaccessible I will make sure that’s not happening. As of this moment I have one person telling me otherwise so I can’t comment on what I don’t know is happening. Rest assured I will do all I can for any resident once elected to make their voice heard. 

July 28 the burg watch: Ok. But if one person encounters a barrier, you still have an obligation to address it. Is there a number of people you have in mind before you to take action? Because if you keep saying ‘if’ there are barriers, then I have to tell you that statements like that are ableist and attitudinal barriers.

July 28 LeBlanc: You have made me aware and when I have an opportunity to do something I will absolutely address it. In fact this weekend when I am open air weekends this will be my top priority to look and see if this is an issue and I can report back. I would also meet you down there if you ever wanted to show me in person. 

July 28 the burg watch: I’ve made you aware, which is more than I am obliged to do. You are the one campaigning, so you will be the one to fulfil legal obligations. I hope you become educated enough to do that.

Jully 28 LeBlanc: I appreciate your feedback. I hope you have a great night. Thank you for the input.