USE OF CORPORATE RESOURCES FOR ELECTIONS PURPOSES

Preamble

The purpose of this policy is to clarify that members of Council are required to follow the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. It is necessary to establish guidelines on the appropriate use of corporate resources during an election period to protect the interests of both the Members of Council and the Corporation. The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, prohibits a Township from making a contribution to a candidate. As a contribution may take the form of money, goods or services, any use by a Member of Council of the Corporation's resources for his or her election campaign would be viewed as a contribution by the Township to the Member, which is a violation of the Act.

Scope

This policy applies to all candidates.

Policy

1. No member shall use the facilities, equipment, supplies services, staff or other resources of the Township for any election campaign or campaign related activities.
2. No member shall undertake campaign-related activities on Township property during regular working hours.
3. No member shall use the services of persons during hours in which those persons receive any compensation from the Township.
4. Corporate resources and funding may not be used for any election-related purposes including:
- print or distribute any material paid by municipal funds that illustrates that a Member of Council or any other individual is registered in any election;
- profile (name or photograph), or make reference to any individual who is registered as a candidate in any election;
- print or distribute any material using municipal funds that makes reference to, or contains the names or photographs, or identifies registered candidates for municipal elections;
5. That the Municipal Clerk be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect to this policy.
6. This Policy does not apply to the Township road right-of-ways


Limitation

Nothing in this Policy shall preclude a Member of Council from performing their job as Councillor, nor to inhibit them from representing the interests of the constituents who elected them.