Municipal Government

In Canada we have various levels of government including:

• Federal
• Provincial and Territorial
• Municipal
• First Nation Self-Government – formed by a self-government agreement and Act.

The Canadian Constitution delegates responsibilities for municipalities to the provinces and territories. Municipal governments receive their authority from one of the following GNWT Legislations:

• Cities, Towns and Village Act
• Hamlets Act
• Tlicho Community Government Act
• Charter Community Act
• Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act

In the NWT there are 33 recognized municipal governments. Municipal governments are:

• authorized by the above Acts;
• governed by a council elected by residents;
• accountable to the electorate (voters); and
• accountable to the Minister for requirements in the Acts and policies.

It is the elected official’s responsibility to establish policy for their elected authority. It is the responsibility of administration to implement the policy that council has established.

Candidates - Who Should Run

There are many residents in a community eligible to run for municipal elections but a question could be ‘Who should run and what are some of the qualities most needed?’

• Municipal Councils are traditionally best served by residents who:
• Have a sincere desire to make a positive difference in their community;
• Have a willingness to talk to, listen to and understand the public and their interests;
• Bring energy and enthusiasm to Council and to the community;
• Are patient, as change takes time and the engagement and commitment of others;
• Have the time to commit to their responsibilities;
• Are team players who work well with others and accept various opinions; and
• Have passion for the community.

All candidates are advised to discuss with their current employers their intention to run and how this might affect their employment.

Time Commitment

If elected to your Council it does mean a significant commitment of time. It is important not to underestimate the amount of time required to be a dedicated and effective Council member.

When elected, you will serve a term of office and during this time you will need to attend:

• Regular and special council meetings;
• Meetings of council committees;
• Meetings of other organizations as a representative of council; and
• Community events.

Terms of office are found within the appropriate Acts; see also the Roles and Responsibility During Election section.

Preparing Yourself Before You Run

To better understand and prepare for the election and potentially the position of Councillor there are a number of activities you can undertake.

You can:

• Attend existing Council meetings and see how they operate;
• Review a copy of the Council’s strategic plan and annual budget;
• Speak to past Mayors and Councillors; and
• Research areas of importance and become more involved in the activities of the community.

You should also develop a platform when running for a position on Council. A platform consists of the ideas, goals and beliefs you are campaigning for. It lets the voters know what position you have on issues.

When developing your platform you can:

• Do research on prevalent issues;
• Talk and listen to the residents including youth and elders;
• Make only factual statements that you believe in;
• Take a stand on issues, but do not make promises;
• Do not limit yourself to one issue; and
• Commit to standing behind certain community or at times territorial or national projects and issues.