Schedule “A”

Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes

General Policy Statement:

The purpose of this policy is to clarify that members of Council are required to follow the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 as it pertains to expenses; and that

• No member shall use the facilities, equipment, supplies, services, staff or other resources of the municipality (including Councillor Newsletters and Councillor Budgets) for any election campaign or campaign related activities.

• No member shall undertake campaign-related activities on municipal property during regular working hours.

• No member shall use the services of persons during hours in which those persons receive any compensation from the municipality.

Application:

This policy is applicable to all Members of Council.

Specific Policy:

(1) That, in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996:

a. Corporate resources and funding may not be used for any election-related purposes;

b. Staff may not canvass or actively work in support of a municipal candidate during normal working hours unless they are on a leave of absence without pay, lieu time, float day, or vacation leave;

c. Members of Council may not display any election-related materials or distribute any election-related material in municipally-provided facilities, this excepts the use of facilities such as community centres, libraries or the theatre, provided the application process is followed, including payment of the required fee;

d. The budgets for Members of Council for the period January 1^st to Election Day in a municipal election year be restricted to 11/12ths of the approved annual budget amount with the provision that subsequent to election day:

i. New Members of Council be allocated a budget equal to 1/12^th of the approved budget amount for the month of December; and

ii. Re-elected Members of Council have available to them the balance of funds remaining as of Election Day;

e. The following be discontinued for Members of Council, for the 2006 election year, on June 30^th and for subsequent election years on April 30^th:

i. All printing, high speed photocopying and distribution, including printing and general distribution of ward-wide notices, unless authorized by Council;

ii. Production or distribution of Newsletters

f. The following be discontinued for Members of Council on June 30^th:

i. All forms of advertising, including in municipal publications;

g. The following be discontinued for Members of Council from the July 30^th in a municipal election year to Election Day:

i. Disbursement of Notices for the Opening of Parks, Open Spaces and Facilities.

h. The following be discontinued for Members of Council from the day prior to Nomination Day in a municipal election year to Election Day:

i. The ordering of office furniture and furnishings, except those of an emergency nature, as well as no movement of furniture and furnishings; and

ii. The ordering of stationery.

i. Members of Council may not:

i. 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 or where they will be running for office;

ii. Profile (name or photograph), or make reference to, in any material paid by municipal funds, any individual who is registered as a candidate in any election;

iii. 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; and that minutes of municipal Council and Committee meetings be exempt from this policy;

iv. Use the Town’s voice mail system to record election-related messages; and

j. Websites or domain names that are funded by the municipality may not include any election-related campaign material;

k. Cell phones and PDA’s that are funded by the Town may not be used for any election-related campaign purpose, unless the Town is reimbursed;

l. The above recommendations also apply to an acclaimed member or a member not seeking re-election; and

Limitation:

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