November 13, 2024

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Information for Potential Candidates for

Office of Mayor

Office of Councillor(s)

Introduction

Information packages are available for pick up in the Town Office during business hours and have been assembled to assist all individuals interested in seeking election or re-election to Municipal Council. As stated in the Notice of Call for Nominations the following documents provided in the nomination package will be received by the Town of Assiniboia’s Returning Officer, Clint Mauthe, on the 9^th day of October, 2024 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Town Office located in the Asaskan Complex, 131 3^rd Avenue West, Assiniboia, SK.

Form I (Front and Back) Nomination/ Candidate’s Acceptance
Municipal Public Disclosure Statement
Criminal Record Check

We are pleased to provide information for reference and a summary of the steps required to run as a candidate.

This information should not be considered all encompassing. This resource does not relieve candidates from the responsibilities of complying with all statutory provisions. Candidates may also wish to refer to the following resources:

Available is a Guide – Consider Running for Municipal Council – A citizen’s guide for candidacy in municipal elections. Also available are a Consider Running for Council Video Series – Four pre-recorded videos that break down the guide content into shorter video clips by topic.

Purpose, Power and Capacity of Local Jurisdictions

Within Canada there are three levels of government:

Federal - Elected representatives referred to as Members of Parliament (MPs)

Provincial - Elected representatives referred to as Members of the Legislative Assembly. (MLAs)

Both Federal and Provincial Candidates typically run with support of a political party and both the Federal and Provincial levels of government have powers that are recognized within the constitution

Local - Elected representatives referred to as Mayor, Councillors, and Trustees

Town of Assiniboia Municipal Council

Mayor

The position of Mayor is at-large elections, meaning that the person elected as Mayor represents the town as a whole and not a particular ward, section or neighborhood of the town.

Councillor(s)

The position of Councillor is at-large elections, meaning that each person elected as a councillor represents the town as a whole and not a particular ward, section or neighborhood of the town.

Unlike Federal and Provincial governments, Local Government does not have powers outlined in the constitution. Local government jurisdictions are created by the province. The province provides the structure for local governments through legislation, that which is applicable to the Towns status is:

The Municipalities Act:

Section 3

Principles and purposes of Act

3(1) This Act recognizes that municipalities, as local governments:

(a) are a responsible and accountable level of government within their jurisdiction, being created and empowered by the Province of Saskatchewan; and

(b) are subject to provincial laws and to certain limits and restrictions in the provincial interest as set out in this and other Acts.

(2) Having regard to the principles mentioned in subsection (1), the purposes of this Act are the following:

(a) to provide the legal structure and framework within which municipalities must govern themselves and make the decisions that they consider appropriate and in the best interests of their residents;

(b) to provide municipalities with the powers, duties and functions necessary to fulfil their purposes;

(c) to provide municipalities with the flexibility to respond to the existing and future needs of their residents in creative and innovative ways;

(d) to ensure that, in achieving these objectives, municipalities are accountable to the people who elect them and are responsible for encouraging and enabling public participation in the governance process.

In the Town of Assiniboia, we elect a Mayor and six (6) Councillors to create a council of seven. Their general duties are outlined in The Municipalities Act.

Section 92

General Duties of Councillors

Councillors have the following duties:

(a) to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;

(b) to participate in developing and evaluating the policies, services and programs of the municipality;

(c) to participate in council meetings and council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by the council;

(d) to ensure that administrative practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;

(e) subject to the bylaws made pursuant to section 81.1, to keep in confidence matters discussed in private or to be discussed in private at a council or council committee meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public;

(f) to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality;

(g) to perform any other duty or function imposed on councillors by this or any other Act or by the council.

Section 93

General Duties of Mayor

(1) In addition to performing the duties of a councillor, a mayor or reeve has the following duties:

(a) to preside when in attendance at a council meeting unless this Act or another Act or a bylaw of council provides that another councillor is to preside;

(b) to perform any other duty imposed on a mayor or reeve by this or any other Act or by bylaw or resolution.

(2) The mayor is a member of all council committees and all bodies established by council pursuant to this Act, unless the council provides otherwise.

Returning Officer

The Returning Officer for the November 13, 2024 Election is

Clint Mauthe
c/o Town of Assiniboia Office
131 Third Avenue West
Box 670, Assiniboia, SK S0H 0B0

Phone: 306-642-5002
Fax: 306-642-5622
Email: cao@assiniboia.net

The Returning Officer is responsible for conducting the election for the following offices:

Office Jurisdiction

Mayor Town of Assiniboia
(6) Councillor(s) Town of Assiniboia

Becoming an Elected Official

Why Run for Office

Becoming a member of Council is a challenging and rewarding experience. Elected officials have the opportunity to influence the future of our Town. People look to you to represent their best interests and make informed decisions that will benefit the municipality.

Any challenges to being an elected official are outweighed by the benefits of being able to respond to the needs of our diverse community in a way that benefits all.

Time Commitment

Being an active member of Council is demanding on your time. In addition to regular meetings, you will be required to attend any special meetings, committee and board meetings as well as various public meetings and functions. You might consider speaking with a current Councillor to find out how much time you should expect to commit. The remuneration is set based on an average of 10 hours per week.

Term of Office

Council members are expected to serve a four-year term. That term officially begins at the first meeting of the Council after the general election and continues until the date of the next general election, unless the office is vacated sooner.

Key Info

Advanced Poll

Advanced Poll is Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Polling station will open at 9 a.m. and close at 1 p.m.

Location: Prince of Wales Cultural & Recreation Centre in the lower Curling lounge.

Election Day

Election Day is Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Polling station will open at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Location: Prince of Wales Cultural & Recreation Centre in the lower Curling lounge.

Results

The results of the vote will be declared on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Town Office in the Asaskan Complex.

Candidates’ Agents

Candidates wishing to appoint agents must complete an Appointment of Candidates’ Agent form (form T) for each agent. The agent must present the appointment form and make a declaration in the prescribed form Declaration of Candidate (form U) to the Deputy Returning Officer at the poll. Once the agent makes the declaration, the agent is permitted to be at the poll in a location designated by the Deputy Returning Officer(s) so that he or she may observe the conduct of the election. An agent is permitted to observe but in no way interfere with the process of the election. Candidates and agents may enter and leave the polling place at their pleasure during the hours the poll is open. Candidates or one of their agents may arrange to attend the polling place prior to the close of voting in order to observe the ballot count.

Candidates and agents are obliged to maintain the secrecy of the voting at the polling place. Failure to do so is an offence under the LGEA.

Name on Ballot

Names and occupations of all duly nominated candidates will be arranged in alphabetical order by surnames on the ballot for the office of Mayor & Councillor.

Upon candidate request, the ballot shall show in brackets:

a name by which they are commonly known
their affiliation with a voter’s organization or the word “independent”, in respect to a municipal election

Candidate information printed on ballots will be based on the information provided on the Candidate’s Acceptance Form (Form K).

Advertising and Promotional Activities

Advertisement

In accordance with The Local Government Election Act, 2015

Advertisement means any of the following that refers to any election or promotes the candidacy of a particular person:

a visual publication, display or representation consisting of images or text;
any audio publication or representation;
any advertisement, hand bill, placard, poster, circular or circular letter pamphlet;
any electronic or digital display;
any radio or television broadcast that refers to any election or promotes the candidacy of a particular person;

Distribute means to do any of the following:

print, or produce by any other process;
publish;
distribute by mail or otherwise;
post;
disseminate or broadcast

No person shall distribute or cause to be distributed any advertisement that promotes the candidacy of a particular person unless there is included in, or unless there appears on the face of the advertisement;

the name of the candidate on behalf of whom the advertisement is distributed; and
the name of the person who has authorized its printing, display and distribution.

No person shall display, distribute or post in the polling place or within 100 metres of the building in which the poll is held a specimen ballot marked for a person whose name in on the ballot for election, or any other material purporting to explain how to vote, or leave any such material in a voting compartment, except as provided by the Local Government Election Act, 2015.

No candidate, agent or any other person shall:

canvas or solicit votes in the polling place or within 100 metres of the building where the poll is held
make any communication to a person intending to vote other than through the Deputy Returning Officer

No person shall directly or indirectly induce a person to display their ballot in a manner that reveals how they have voted.

Election Signs

Election signs are exempted from development permits and display is allowed during the period of the election campaign and seven (7) days thereafter. Removal is required after this period.

Signs shall not be located where they may interfere with, distract from, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
Signs shall not be located in such a manner as to impede the view of any pedestrian or vehicular right of way, or railway crossing

Eligibility to Vote

In Assiniboia, a voter’s list does not exist for the Municipal election. Eligible voters are required to make a declaration at the polls. Voters are required to produce identification that clearly shows their name and place of residence prior to completing the voter’s declaration.

Who can vote?

A person can be registered as a voter in a municipality if they:

are a Canadian citizen on the day of the election
are the full age of 18 years on the day of the election
on the day of the election have resided in Saskatchewan for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election
on the day of the election have resided in the municipality for at least three (3) consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election

on the day of the election have been and currently is the owner of assessable land situated in the municipality for at least three (3) consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election