CityTalk/Canada

Why Would Anyone Run for Municipal Office?

Recent Discussion

Panellists discussed the barriers to seeking elected office, the importance of local government, and ideas for boosting civic engagement.

5 Key
Takeaways

A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation

1. Electoral disengagement is a democratic crisis with dire consequences  

A CBC article titled “No Ballots Required” highlighted a concerning trend in municipal elections throughout Canada — the lowest candidate numbers in recent history.

Kate Graham, a professor at Huron University College, Senior Advisor at Colliers Project Leaders, and a former candidate in the June 2022 Ontario provincial election, stated that roughly one-third of the 400+ recent local elections in Ontario were uncontested, with 32 councils that were entirely acclaimed. Adding low voter turnout to the mix, this situation paints a grim picture for the future of local democracy. 

 2. Municipal government is closest to voters

Naheed Nenshi, the former Mayor of Calgary, offered a case for why people should run for municipal office: The systems that directly impact people every day — everything from roads, to recreational facilities, to water infrastructure, to emergency services — are led by local governments.  

He added that the relative lack of party politics ensures that local governments can do what they do best: keep communities happy and healthy.  

3. We must tell transformative stories to combat electoral cynicism and hostility 

All panellists discussed the atmosphere of cynicism and hostility that surrounds electoral politics across all orders of government. Combined with the force of online political radicalization, many people — particularly women, people of colour, and people from other equity-deserving backgrounds — may feel disincentivized from participating in public life.  

 4. Tackling systemic barriers to participation is key 

Tenille Bonoguore, City Councillor for the City of Waterloo, shared insights about the lack of racial diversity on councils, and the all-consuming nature of work as a councillor. Few people have the privilege of being able to afford the low salary and high workload, and fewer can afford the impacts on mental health and family life.

It is particularly important to find ways to address these systemic barriers which discourage participation from people of colour, low-income communities, and women — all of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the economic and social impacts of the pandemic. One way forward is for federal and provincial orders of government to contribute to more municipal funding.  

5. Political courage is a necessity 

Druh Farrell, a former City Councillor of 20 years for the City of Calgary, expressed that she has taken multiple bold stances throughout her political career and was always prepared to lose. She stressed the importance of finding the courage to connect with constituents and keep explaining, in the simplest terms, the rationale behind unpopular policy stances.