Bill Dennis
Running for Mayor of Sarnia
Sitting city councillor who declared his mayoral run in 2023 and prides himself on being self-funded.
Background
Sitting city councillor, first elected in 2018, now serving his second term, declared his mayoral run in 2023.
Where they stand
Each position pairs what they say with what they did.
Environment
Generally pro-industry
What they did:
Generally pro-industry; no clear environmental commitments found.
Housing
Opposed affordable housing proposal
What they did:
Opposed at least one affordable housing proposal (June 2026).
Transparency
First Nations conduct complaint
What they did:
Subject of a First Nations conduct complaint (2026); has declined to apologize.
OAC flags
OAC opinion · evidence-based, not neutral
- First Nation conduct complaint. A formal complaint was filed against him by a Walpole Island First Nation chief over social-media remarks described as offensive to the Indigenous community (CBC/CTV News, 2026). Dennis has publicly declined to apologize.
- Defamation judgment. In June 2026 an Ontario court ordered Dennis to pay $33,000 for defaming the executive director of the Sarnia-Lambton Children's Aid Society in a 2024 Facebook post, and dismissed his counterclaim as an "instrument of intimidation."
- Opposed affordable housing. He has opposed at least one affordable-housing proposal (June 2026), the 94-unit affordable/RGI apartment building at 700-718 Cathcart Blvd.
- Third-party advertiser. A third-party advertiser supporting the municipal election is aligned with Bill Dennis, though Dennis prides himself on never taking donations and being self-funded.
- Spouse is CEO of Bluewater Power Distribution, Sarnia.
Sources
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/never-in-a-million-years-sarnia-coun-dennis-refuses-to-apologize-for-comments-deemed-offensive-to-indigenous-community/
- https://sarnianewstoday.ca/sarnia/news/2026/03/19/first-nation-chiefs-file-complaint-over-sarnia-councillors-facebook-remarks
- https://www.thesarniajournal.ca/news/bradley-and-dennis-clash-again-this-time-over-bill-9-12346210
- https://sarnia.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/197325/?preview=200784
- https://petrolialambtonindependent.ca/2026/06/26/city-is-behind-affordable-housing-proposal-despite-pushback-from-some-neighbours/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/sarnia-bill-dennis-council-city-mayor-9.7249346
- https://sarnianewstoday.ca/sarnia/news/2024/10/29/dennis-bradley-reprimanded-without-financial-penalty
