Administrative Procedure 416
EMPLOYEE CAMPAIGNING FOR HOLDING POLITICAL OFFICE Background The district recognizes that employees may wish to campaign as a candidate for, and to hold, political office. Political involvement by employees in federal, provincial and municipal levels of government is permitted on the clear understanding that employees are acting personally and not as representatives of the district. Time committed to political activities cannot interfere with the time or attention necessary to ensure proper performance of the employee's duties to the district. Procedures 1. An employee of the district who wishes to be nominated as a candidate for election to the office of school board trustee anywhere in the province, including the district, may apply to the chief superintendent or designate, for a leave of absence, without pay, as early as possible, but no later than the employee’s last working day prior to nomination day. The chief superintendent or designate, shall grant all such applications, at no cost to the district, to allow employees to campaign as a candidate for election to the office of school board trustee. Applications must be made, submitting leave requests using the Human Resource Peoplesoft System. In the event that an employee is declared elected to the office of school board trustee, that employee must resign, effective no later than on the day on which the employee takes the official oath of office as an elected official. In the event that an employee is not elected, the employee may return to work, in the position that the employee had before the leave of absence commenced, on the fifth day after Election Day or, if the fifth day is not a working day, on the first working day after the fifth day. 2. An employee of the district who wishes to be nominated as a candidate for election to the office of member of parliament, member of the legislative assembly, mayor or municipal councillor, may apply to the chief superintendent or designate, for a leave of absence, without pay, as early as possible, but no later than the employee’s last day prior to nomination day. The chief superintendent or designate, in their sole discretion, may grant such applications, at no cost to the district, on such terms determined in their sole discretion for both the election campaign and, the term of political office. 3. In granting any leave of absence without pay to teachers wishing to campaign as a candidate for and to hold political office in non-school board trustee elections, consideration will be given to the responsibility they have for their students, and the students’ legitimate expectation of an unbroken teaching and learning relationship. 4. In granting any leave of absence without pay to non-certificated employees wishing to campaign as a candidate for and to hold political office in non-school board trustee
Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 Administrative Procedures Manual
April 2016 Page 1 of 2
elections, consideration will be given to the overall impact their absence will have on the district, including, but not limited to, the district’s ability to replace the individual employee. 5. In the case of all elections, unless otherwise authorized by the chief superintendent or designate, no political campaigning of any nature, at any time, shall occur on district property or at district events or activities. 6. Notwithstanding the above, if a leave of absence is approved, such a leave of absence from any certificated administrative position will only be granted for a maximum of one year, after which time the person remains an employee of the district until otherwise provided notice, but must reapply for a certificated administrative position. Approval Date:
April 12, 2016
Reference:
School Act, Section 60, 61, 111, 113 Employment Standards Code Labor Relations Code Section 248L, Canada Tax Act Canada Income Tax Regulation Collective Agreements CUPE, Local 520
Unifor, Local Union No. 1990 The Alberta Teachers' Association, Local 55 Local Authorities Election Act, RSA 2000
Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1 Administrative Procedures Manual
April 2016 Page 2 of 2