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Employee Participation In Municipal Election Campaigns

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to maintain the neutrality of the public service. Employees must ensure that any involvement in a municipal election campaign does not adversely affect their ability to perform their duties as employees of the Oakville Public Library. Restrictions address the need for employees to be and to appear impartial.

Policy

Employees are entitled to exercise their right to support or be involved in the political campaign of a municipal, provincial or federal candidate or party, provided they do so on personal time and do not hold themselves out as representative of the Oakville Public Library.

Employees are permitted to participate in electioneering, canvassing or actively work in support of a political candidate or party provided they do so outside of normal working hours, or during an authorized leave of absence without pay for this purpose, by using lieu time, adjusted work week time, or vacation time. Such activity must be as a citizen and not as, or appear to be as a representative of the Oakville Public Library. Examples of campaigning include telephone and e-mail solicitation, distribution of brochures, the display of campaign signs and the wearing of candidate buttons.

Where an employee wishes to run for Town Council in Oakville, he or she shall first seek a leave of absence for the period between the day the employee is nominated and ending on voting day, pursuant to subsection 30 (1) of the Municipal Elections Act 1996.

If an employee is elected, he or she will be understood to have resigned from their employment with OPL immediately before taking his or her elected seat on Council, pursuant to subsection 30 (4) of the Municipal Act 1996.

If employees are unsure about the appropriateness of their participation in election activities, they should consult with the Manager, Human Resources.

Effective Date: May 27, 2010
Next Review Date: 2014
Supersedes Policy Dated: June 22, 2006