Municipal Elections

Oath of Office and Conflict of Interest

Oath of Office

If elected each council member shall, before taking office, take an oath or affirmation of office in the following words or in such other words as council may require by law:

‘I ________________, do solemnly and sincerely promise and (swear or affirm) that I will duly, faithfully and to the best of my skill and knowledge, execute the powers and perform the duties entrusted to me as a (name of office).

 

Conflict of Interest

If elected as a councillor you should become very aware of Conflict of Interest. A conflict of interest occurs when an elected official’s private interests or a closely connected person’s interests may, or may appear to be affected by a Municipal Council decision. A financial interest is always a conflict of interest.

As an elected official if you think you may have a conflict of interest, you should declare the nature and details of the interest, before discussion occurs. You must leave the council room and not vote or discuss the matter before, during, or after the matter is considered or decided. More information on conflict of interest can be found in ‘Now That You Have Been Elected You Should Know This’ – Conflict and Codes, Participant’s Guide.