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Requirements and Rights to Participate in a Campaign

Civil Servants

All civil servants, with the exception of Deputy Ministers, have the right to be active politically as long as they do not reveal any information or matter concerning the Department, Branch or Agency in which they are employed, or information, which comes to their knowledge solely by virtue of their employment.

Provisions under The Civil Service Act permit a person to...

The provisions exclude or prohibit a person from soliciting funds for a political party or candidate;coercing or intimidating an employee into supporting or not supporting a candidate or political party.

Summary:

If, as a civil servant, you choose to exercise your political rights, you must do so outside of regular working hours or on your own time. You may use approved vacation, banked overtime/compensatory leave or leave of absence without pay for this purpose.

If you intend to become a candidate for an election, you must apply to your Minister for a leave of absence without pay. If you are successful in your nomination bid, you are entitled to leave of absence from the date the election writ is issued up to 90 days after the day on which the election results are officially declared.

If you are unsuccessful in securing the nomination, you are required to take a leave of absence for a period not shorter than that commencing on the day on which the writ for the election is issued and ending on the day fixed by law for the nomination of candidates.

If elected, you will be granted a leave of absence without pay for a period not exceeding 5 years from the date of the election.If you are not elected, you may apply for reinstatement within 90 days of the date election results are officially declared and shall be reinstated to the position held immediately prior to the leave of absence.

More information can be found in The Civil Service Act. Questions may be referred to the Civil Service Commission: 945-2332 (Winnipeg callers); or toll free: 1-800-282-8069, ext. 2332 (outside Winnipeg).

Campaign Supporters

Employers must give unpaid leave to employees who are volunteers working for political parties or candidates. The supporter must be named as an election volunteer by a candidate (not more than 2 per candidate), or a registered political party (during a general election not more than 20).