How is candidacy in a municipal election treated differently?
The PSC grants permission to seek nomination as, and to be a candidate only if it is satisfied that the employee’s ability to perform his/her duties in a politically impartial manner will not be impaired or perceived to be impaired. For all types of elections, the PSC makes that determination based on factors such as the nature of the election, the nature of the employee’s duties, and the level and visibility of the employee’s position in the public service. Under the PSEA, for a municipal election, the PSC may make such permission conditional on the employee taking a LWOP for all or part of the period in which the employee seeks nomination as a candidate, or for all or part of the period in which the employee is a candidate before the election period. While LWOP is a requirement for candidacy during a federal, provincial or territorial election, it may be a condition for candidacy in a municipal election. In addition, for municipal elections, the PSC may make its permission conditiona
