Notice from the Senior Election Official

Notice from the Senior Election Official

The Senior Election Official (SEO) is the person appointed by the municipality to exercise general direction and supervision over the conduct of municipal elections.

“Last week I was contacted by the St. Clements Municipal Office and made aware of information contained in a flyer distributed anonymously through Canada Post.

The flyer made claims there are currently ongoing investigations by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba Ombudsman involving abuse of power concerning some candidates for Mayor and Council in the current Municipal election.

The Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality was asked to contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba Ombudsman to determine if the claims made in the flyer were true.  Under the Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act, a person who, during an election, knowingly makes, distributes or publishes a false statement of fact about a candidate’s character or conduct for the purpose of influencing the election is guilty of an offence.

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba Ombudsman both informed the CAO that there is no such investigation going on involving the candidates for Mayor and Council in the current Municipal election, and further, that if such investigations were being conducted the CAO would have been informed. Based on this information, these claims in the flyer are false and should be disregarded.”

Ernie Epp
Senior Election Official
Rural Municipality of St. Clements