A Conmee Township councillor hopes to stop known felons from running for office.
11-year councillor Grant Arnold tells us there is nothing in the municipal elections act from stopping this. “I know as a fact, over the last 11 years, there have been people of dubious character, convicted of federal offenses, that did get on a council.”
The township councillor says they are applying to the provincial government for the change, but does not expect action until after the next provincial election.
He wants this for anyone who has not applied to have their record cleared by the RCMP.
“If a person had a criminal record, say 10 or 20 years ago and the limitations have expired, and is removed, there is nothing prohibiting them from running for council seat,” says Arnold.
The municipal councillor adds elected officials must be above reproach, and conduct themselves with integrity, truth, justice, transparency, honesty and courtesy.
