Request for permission to be a candidate in a municipal election
In accordance with the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA), employees are required to obtain permission from the Public Service Commission (PSC) before seeking nomination as, or being, a candidate in a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal election.
With the various general municipal elections scheduled to take place in 2010, I would like to inform you of the changes to the process for requesting permission to be a candidate in a municipal election as committed to in the PSC 2008-2009 Annual Report. These changes came into effect on January 1, 2010, and they do not apply to the process for federal, provincial and territorial elections which remains unchanged.
Streamlined Process for Municipal Candidacy
In light of the experience gained in the last three years, the PSC has streamlined its approach to municipal candidacy requests. It is expected that this streamlining will facilitate the timely review of candidacy requests while ensuring a politically impartial public service.
The new process includes an updated municipal request form for the employee to complete with his or her supervisor or manager. The form is available on the PSC Web site at http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/plac-acpl/leave-conge/index-eng.htm. You may also contact the PSC at pa-ap@psc-cfp.gc.ca, or call toll free 1-866-707-7152, to obtain a printed copy of the form.
I would like to remind employees that the PSC may grant permission, with or without conditions, only if it is satisfied that seeking nomination as, or being, a candidate in the election will not impair or be perceived as impairing employees’ ability to perform their duties in a politically impartial manner. To ensure a timely decision, requests should be submitted to the PSC no later than 30 days before the date on which a decision is required from the Commission. Employees who do not provide complete information or who submit their candidacy request with less than 30 days face the risk of a delay or the PSC being unable to grant permission.
Additional information
The PSEA recognizes the need to balance the rights of employees to engage in political activities with the principle of an impartial public service. The PSC has the mandate to safeguard a politically impartial public service.
To obtain further details, please contact your organization’s designated political activities representative (DPAR) or visit the PSC’s Political Activities Web site at http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/plac-acpl/index-eng.htm. A list of DPAR and their contact information can be found at http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/plac-acpl/pol-cont-eng.htm.