Martensville City Council is considering the introduction of a proposed bylaw to regulate candidates’ disclosure of financial contributions and campaign expenses in civic election campaigns.
During a Martensville City Council committee of the whole meeting February 9, the merits and drawbacks of a proposed ‘Campaign Disclosure Bylaw’ were discussed by councillors. The proposed bylaw covers requirements by candidates to publicly disclose their campaign contributions and expenses, and also outlines procedures for complaints and enforcement.
The draft bylaw is based on similar bylaws for other municipalities, and falls under Section 34 of the provincial Local Government Election Act, 2015.
Under the proposed draft bylaw, campaign contributions totalling more than $250 from individual donors must be disclosed to the civic election returning office by May in the year following the election; or in the case of a by-election, within 180 days following election day. Campaign expenses must also be disclosed.
The proposed bylaw is likely to undergo further revisions before coming before council at a future meeting.
During the February 9 meeting, councillors heard from Martensville resident Geoff Baker, who had requested permission to address them on the issue. Baker said he had concerns about what he termed a “lack of transparency” in the election process, suggesting campaign contributions for each candidate should be made public prior to election day.
Baker submitted a petition containing names of fifty residents, the majority of whom live in Martensville, requesting “improvements to the civic election process in Martensville.”
Baker also requested the city post all bylaws, in their entirety, on its civic website. Currently, the most requested bylaws are posted online, including noise, nuisance, animal control, and snow removal.