Stevenson questions Morgan’s election compliance, incumbent calls letter ‘desperation’

Susan Stevenson questions if Josh Morgan actions violate election laws, using city staff and resources. CTV London’s Daryl Newcombe reports.

Susan Stevenson’s campaign team sent a letter to the City Clerk’s office earlier this week, questioning whether several recent actions by incumbent mayoral candidate Josh Morgan complied with the Municipal Elections Act.

Morgan responded by calling the letter a sign of ‘desperation’ by Stevenson’s campaign.

“The intent is just to ensure that taxpayer-funded salaries are appropriately being used, and that there’s fair and clear rules around the use of city logos and premises,” Stevenson told CTV News.

Dated Oct. 14, the letter is titled, “Questions concerning use of City of London resources in the 2026 municipal election”

The four questions as written in the letter:

1. A screenshot attributed to Josh Morgan’s social-media reel shows the City Hall logo in a frame carrying the words “I’m asking for your vote. Question: Was the logo incidental background or deliberately incorporated into campaign messaging, and were City resources used? Is it ok for the city logo to be featured in this instance?
2. A comparison of mayorjoshmorgan.ca and joshmorgan.ca shows matching introductory wording. The civic-style site displays the City logo; the other identifies itself as a re-election website. Questions: Who created, maintained and paid for each site? Was City-produced content, photography or staff work used for campaign purposes? Why does the Mayor Josh Morgan website link to re election social media accounts with the same wording?
3. Concerns have been raised regarding the involvement of Mayor Josh Morgan’s Chief of Staff, John Fyfe-Millar, in re-election campaign activities during regular City business hours. Our campaign has observed and documented his attendance alongside Morgan at campaign-related events during weekday working hours. These observations raise legitimate questions about whether taxpayer-funded staff time or municipal resources are being used for campaign purposes. While we recognize that employees may participate in political activities while on approved leave, the public deserves clarity about whether appropriate arrangements were in place and whether City and campaign responsibilities have remained separate. We are calling for transparency regarding these activities and confirmation that municipal employment and resources are not being used to support any candidate’s re-election campaign
4. CTV interview screenshots show Morgan in apparent City Hall settings discussing tax and homelessness issues raised during the campaign, responding to Stevenson’s campaign announcements. Question: What distinguishes routine official responses to journalists from campaigning using City premises or resources?

Under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, municipal resources including staff time, facilities, and city branding cannot be used to support or oppose a candidate.

Morgan defends his campaign, telling CTV News that he has not heard from the City Clerk regarding the letter.

He pushes back against its questions and intent, “It’s not true. This is just desperation at its best! We follow the rules, each and every one of them.”

Stevenson flatly rejects Morgan’s suggestion that the letter implies desperation on the part of her campaign, “Over the course of the last four years, and throughout this campaign, the mayor has continued to throw stones from a very glass house.”

Regarding the use of city hall in the background of his campaign video, and similar content appearing on the two websites he asserts, “She (Stevenson) knows because she’s used city hall as a backdrop. She did it on city property, and I did it across the road. You can use city buildings in the backdrop of different images. You can be on the other side of the sidewalk.”

And in response to his Chief of Staff, John Fyfe-Millar appearing at campaign events during normal working hours, Morgan points to a flexible work schedule that can also include weekends and evenings, “(Staff) are doing what they’ve done the whole term. They’re using their flexible hours. And that’s all being tracked. John manages a great office, but he’s also allowed to volunteer for the campaign when he’s not working for the City of London.”

Morgan also defended being interviewed about the election while inside city hall.

“The media has every right to ask you questions wherever you are, and there’s an obligation in a free and democratic society to answer. And I will just remind Councillor Stevenson that in council chambers, we both answered questions about (a London) ACORN protest from a campaign perspective,” he added, referring to a news story that aired on CTV News last week about a housing protest and included comments from both candidates filmed immediately following a committee meeting.

In an emailed statement, City Clerk Michael Schulthess writes, “The City Clerk’s Office does not comment on potential penalties or enforcement action in specific cases. Generally speaking, the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 includes offence provisions and a broad range of penalties, including but not limited to fines, incarceration, and forfeiture of office. The application of those provisions and penalties falls within the purview of enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the courts and is determined on a case-by-case basis.”

“We need clear direction from the Clerk’s Office on what is, and what is not allowed, that will be applied equally and fairly across all candidates,” Stevenson said.

Ten other candidates are running to be mayor of London, John Feher, Lawrence-Zachary Howe, Barry Douglas Jacklin, Tariq Khan, Kirsten Krose, Dan Lenart, Bronagh Joyce Morgan, Christine Rosehart, Jeff Yam, and Mustafa Zeboon.

Election Day is Oct. 26.