Election Conduct Best Practices

Use of Municipal Resources for Election Campaigns

Local government elections will be held in October 2026. Based on the principle of political neutrality in local government administration and to ensure the democratic process is transparent and fair, some key principles regarding the use of municipal resources for election campaigns are outlined below.

Administration:

• All candidates will be treated equally.
• All candidates will have equal access to information. Information provided by the City to one candidate will be shared with all candidates.
• All requests for information from declared or registered candidates will be submitted to the Chief Election Officer (emailed to election-official@parksville.ca) and responses will be shared on the City’s election site, Let’s Talk Parksville

City Resources:

• City resources must not be used in any manner to further a campaign. This may include, but is not limited to staff time, using City equipment, supplies, or finances for items such as preparing, printing, distributing, or displaying signage, brochures, or related campaign material; using photos or materials commissioned and/or funded by the municipality in campaign materials, etc. 
• City facilities or property must not be used for candidate campaign meetings, events or activities. This includes public parks, roads and sidewalks.
• City facilities or property must not be used to post or display campaign advertising.
• City logo cannot be used on campaign material.

Note: These principles do not prevent a current member of Council who is also a candidate from performing their duties or representing the interests of their constituents during their term. 

Election Signs and Advertising Policy No. 3.40
Election Campaigning and Social Media Guidelines