A worthwhile effort to demystify elections

On Tuesday night, the City of Brandon hosted a meeting for those considering running as candidates in the upcoming mayoral or city council elections.

It was unclear how many among the audience of approximately 35 people are seriously pondering the possibility of running, but the event was a helpful exercise in providing a range of information that prospective candidates and the general public should be aware of as the Oct. 28 elections draw nearer.

Senior election official Heather Ewasiuk and city clerk Renee Sigurdson provided a range of information to the audience, including a discussion of the legal basis upon which city councils exist, the many responsibilities of the mayor and councillors, the various requirements that apply to those who choose to run for mayor or city council, along with a detailed explanation of new campaign finance rules and spending limits.

For example, potential candidates learned that in order to be eligible to be a candidate, they must be at least 18 years of age on the day of the election, a Canadian citizen and a resident or property owner in the city of Brandon for at least six months before election day (April 28, 2026).

The rules also disqualify a number of others, including City of Brandon employees who have not taken a leave of absence, MLAs and MPs, judges and those who are disqualified from running in 2026 due to failing to file their 2022 Election Finance Statement before the applicable deadline.

The audience also learned that all prospective candidates must register in person with the senior election official (Ewasiuk) during the registration period prior to beginning their campaign.

As part of the registration process, each candidate must fill out the applicable registration form, which includes their name, address and the office they are seeking. Anyone who will be accepting contributions or spending money on their campaign must include the name and address of the financial institution they will be using for the purpose of their campaign.

Ewasiuk explained that the registration period for mayoral candidates began on May 1 and runs until Sept. 22, while the period for city council candidates begins on June 30 (next Tuesday) and also runs until Sept. 22. It is important to note, however, that candidates who register between those dates do not actually become an official candidate for election until they also file properly completed nomination papers with the senior election official. The period for filing those papers will run from Sept. 16-22.

Those rules are reasonably clear, but candidates must pay particular attention to the new rules relating to election financing and campaign spending limits. Under those rules, spending on a mayoral campaign is capped at $21,800, while city council candidates may spend up to $5,500. Only Manitobans may contribute toward a candidates’ campaign, and their respective contributions (whether cash or “in-kind) must not exceed $1,500 for mayoral candidates, or $750 for city council candidates.

Given the cost of most campaigns — signs and brochures aren’t cheap, after all — the new contribution limits make it all but impossible for candidates to finance their respective campaigns with their own money and donations from family members. In most cases, they will also need the financial support of others in order to spend the maximum allowed, and those donations aren’t tax-deductible.

Beyond the rules and requirements applicable to the upcoming election, the advice and insights offered by outgoing councillors Barry Cullen, Kris Desjarlais and Glen Parker were also helpful.

In particular, Parker emphasized that the demands of being a city councillor often come into conflict with councillors’ jobs, while Cullen spoke of the complexity and fiscal implications of many of the issues that council is required to grapple with. Desjarlais spoke about the conflict that a councillor can feel when their responsibility to represent the interests and concerns of their particular ward appears to be at odds with interests of the city generally.

Ewasiuk and Sigurdson deserve credit for attempting to take the mystery out of running in an election and knocking down many of the informational barriers that prevent citizens from running as candidates. Whether that results in more candidates and fewer acclamations than occurred in the 2022 elections remains to be seen.