Just the titles used, not the names of incumbents.
In a report that was approved on March 28th and ratified on April 4th, the updated Corporate Policy spells out the rules for the upcoming Thunder Bay election.
The draft policy was first rubber-stamped in April 2018 and has been updated for this campaign.
During the campaign, the city will no longer refer to elected officials by name in media materials, only the title, which will also be the case should there be a public meeting hosted by the individual in question.
Going forward, Acadia News will also adopt this practice for future on-air and web items until the conclusion of the election.
The change mirrors other municipalities across the province, which have made the shift to not include the benefit of name recognition.
Incumbent members of council will also not be allowed to use corporate resources, including social media accounts.
According to the Municipal Elections Act 1996, the penalty for breaching the policy can include fines, removal from office if elected, and even imprisonment depending on the nature and magnitude of the offence.
The election website is live and will be updated as new information becomes available.
Nomination papers can be filed Monday with the deadline set for Friday, August 19th at 2:00 p.m.
The four-year council term of office will begin on November 15, 2022.
