Byelection signs ordered removed

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/10/2023 (1079 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Ward 2 candidate in the ongoing Brandon School Division board of trustees byelection was ordered to remove signs he had placed on the grounds of Canadian Forces Base Shilo.

The Sun obtained a copy of an email sent from a Major Yanick Robert to Brandon’s senior election official Heather Ewasiuk stating he had been informed a candidate may have been campaigning on base.

“The political neutrality and the appearance of neutrality of the federal public service and particularly the Canadian Armed Forces is essential and therefore political activities on Defense establishments are governed by a very strict policy,” Robert wrote.

“Among other things, it is not permitted to conduct speeches or meetings of a political nature on Defense establishments. Also, political canvassing or the distribution of political advertising, other than by mail, anywhere on a defence establishment is not allowed.”

The email concludes with Robert asking that candidates be informed about these rules and that signs erected by Henry Sieklicki be removed within 24 hours or the base would remove them.

The base’s public affairs officer, Lori Truscott, confirmed that the email had been sent and that the signs had been removed. She said the rules concerning political activity on bases are located in volume one, chapter 19, section 44 of the Department of National Defence’s King’s Regulations and Orders.

“This is not unusual,” Truscott wrote in an email. “We occasionally need to educate campaigners, who are unfamiliar with the regulations governing such activity on a [Canadian Armed Forces] establishment, of the restrictions in place.”

Reached by phone, Ewasiuk said she had been unaware of the rule herself, with Ward 2 not having a contested race since 2002 — meaning winning candidates were acclaimed to their roles without having to actively campaign.

“A lot of this is kind of relearning the curve quickly,” Ewasiuk said. “But they are federal jurisdictions so they can set their own rules. I was not aware of that, but as soon as the base let me know, I let the candidates know.”

The Sun was unable to reach Sieklicki for comment by phone or email.

He is one of two candidates in Ward 2, which represents Brandon School Division schools outside of the City of Brandon. The other candidate in Ward 2 is Lorraine McConnell.

» cslark@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ColinSlark