Municipalities NL wants mayors, councillors on leave if they enter higher political levels

Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL)is going to lobby to have municipal politicians forced to take a leave of absence if they enter provincial or federal politics, following a resolution passed at its annual meeting this past weekend in Gander.

"We don't have political parties in our municipal system. It's everybody for themselves, and I think this particular change is aimed at making sure it stays that way," saidMNL CEOCraigPollett.

Themove for change came from the town of Grand Falls-Windsorwhere Mayor Al Hawkins first declared his intentions to become a Liberal candidate in the provincial election in October 2014, but continued to sit on council until close to the end of October 2015.

"[Council] agreed there is the appearance of conflict," said Grand Falls-Windsor Coun.Darren Finn.

"We're saying in our particular motion, once you're declared a candidatethen you're clearly campaigning. And you can't be 100 per centa councillor and 100 per centa candidate"

Public criticism

Finn said the council in Grand Falls-Windsor did get flak from the public about Hawkins' decision, but there was no clear direction from the provincial Municipalities Act on what to do.

"It deals nothing with the level of rules that we're looking for, with respect to a councillor being able to influence decision, or avoid controversial issues, when they're seeking another office. Because it's in their best interest to avoid controversial issues or speak on controversial issuesbecause it may impact their campaigns negatively," said Finn.

Pollett agreed that even the appearance of conflict of interest could be a problem.

"I think the concern was, 'Could you still influence council to take an action, or make a decision that supports your particular party, or the position of your party?' and that the two start getting mixed together," said Pollett.

Close vote

Pollett said the motionpassed with about 63 per cent approval, a fairly close vote for MNL resolutions, which Pollett said tend to be overwhelmingly approved or rejected.

"I think the main issue with people who didn't like the resolution was, 'Are we taking some authority away from the municipality to make the decision on their own?'" said Pollett.

Pollett said despite those minority concerns, MNL will now takethe resolution to the provincial government to direct municipal politicians to take leave of absences, should they enter another level of politics.

"That's our next step, to go tell them what our membership wanted," said Pollett.

MNL has no authority on its own to change the Municipalities Act.