Public servants approved to run in municipal elections

Summary#

The Public Service Commission has granted permission under the Public Service Employment Act for four federal employees to run in upcoming municipal elections. The permissions let them seek nomination and be candidates in municipal votes held on October 2, 2025 and November 2, 2025.

What it does#

• Grants permission to Christine Doré ( Employment and Social Development Canada ) to be a candidate for Councillor, Chicoutimi Borough – district 12, City of Saguenay, Quebec, in the municipal election on November 2, 2025.
• Grants permission to Jonathan Fortier ( Shared Services Canada ) to be a candidate for Councillor, District Pointe‑Gatineau, City of Gatineau, Quebec, in the municipal election on November 2, 2025.
• Grants permission to Sheldon Handcock ( National Defence ) to be a candidate for a Councillor position, Town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the municipal election on October 2, 2025.
• Grants permission to Eric Harrington ( Environment and Climate Change Canada ) to be a candidate for Mayor, Municipality of Bryson, Quebec, in the municipal election on November 2, 2025.
• These permissions were issued by the commission in August 2025 (notices dated August 19, 2025 and August 14, 2025).

Who's affected#

• The four named federal employees: Christine Doré, Jonathan Fortier, Sheldon Handcock, and Eric Harrington.
• Their employers: Employment and Social Development Canada, Shared Services Canada, National Defence, and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
• Voters and local communities in the City of Saguenay, City of Gatineau, Town of Gander, and Municipality of Bryson — these are the municipal contests where the candidates will appear on the ballot.
• Other colleagues and managers in the listed departments may notice routine workplace impacts (scheduling, conflicts of interest management, etc.). The notice does not detail those practical arrangements.

Why it matters#

• This is a routine administrative step that lets public servants run in local elections while respecting federal rules about political activity.
• For local voters, it means these federal employees will appear on ballots in their communities on October 2, 2025 and November 2, 2025.
• For the public service, it signals the Commission is allowing these specific employees to participate in municipal politics; it does not itself describe any changes to their employment status or workplace arrangements.