MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Council has approved changes to Mountain View County's Municipal Elections Bylaw prohibiting any county candidate seeking election in the next municipal campaign from making any use of county logos.
The approval came by way of motion at a regularly-scheduled meeting last month
The county has made updates to the bylaw in the run-up to the October 20, 2025 election. The changes received first and second reading at a special council meeting on Feb. 5.
Section 7 of the updated bylaw reads: “Candidates must not use county resources, including property, equipment, services, supplies or staff time, for any election related activities. The county’s logo, branding or digital identity shall be used by any candidate for campaign purposes.”
Chris Atchison, director of legislative service, says a clause related to the use of county resources and logos already exists in the Council Code of Conduct.
“This clause however does not pertain to candidates that are not currently councillors. As such administration recommends for clarity and consistency that a clause be carried into the Municipal Elections Bylaw to provide the same regulation for non-councillor candidates,” he said.
A second amendment to the bylaw approved on Feb. 26 removes fax as an option for requesting special ballots.
“Administration recommends that due to the lack of efficiency, poor quality of documentation and limited accessibility of fax machines, that it is not an effective means for administration to handle special balloting,” he said.
“It is administration’s position that there are sufficient other manners that a request can be received and has identified that many other municipalities do not allow requests via fax.”
Under the updated bylaw, an elector can now request special ballots in writing, by telephone, in person, by email, or by secure website.
Councillors made no comments prior to giving Bylaw No. 01/25 third and final reading.
Council also granted third reading to the updated Establishing Committees of Council Bylaw No. 02/25.
Under that update, public members appointed to area structure plan review are now eligible to receive a per diem.
Section 14.03 now reads: “Members at large that are appointed to boards and committees not required by provincial legislation will be paid a mileage rate established by council unless explicitly noted within the approved committee terms of reference.
“Notwithstanding the above, members-at-large that are appointed to an area structure plan steering committee are eligible to be paid a per diem in addition to the mileage rate established by council.”
