Quispamsis says it has become the first municipality in New Brunswick to approve parental leave for councillors.
During Tuesday night’s regular meeting, council members voted 5-1 in favour of the new policy.
Councillors will be able to take up to six months of paid leave without having to seek council permission.
Leave can be taken during a pregnancy or within 12 months of a birth or adoption, according to the policy.
Deputy Mayor Mary Schryer, who pushed for the policy, said she feels this will make council more inclusive.
“Political life isn’t always the easiest so anything we can do to help a member through the welcoming of a child, whether it be by birth or by adopting, I believe that we’re being progressive,” Schryer told her fellow councillors.
Coun. Noah Donovan, one of the five who voted in favour, said finding ways for young people to get involved in municipal politics has always been important to him.
“It’s often touted that we need new ideas and fresh faces, but how do we expect to achieve these things with such obvious barriers,” said Donovan.
“This policy will begin to dismantle some of the barriers for women and men who want to get into politics but don’t want to sacrifice starting a family.”
Coun. Mike Biggar, who was the lone dissenting vote, said he supports removing barriers for councillors but has concerns with the policy.
He questioned whether it was even needed since council can already approve extended absences for members.
Under the province’s Local Governance Act, a councillor can seek authorization for council if they are going to be absent from council for more than two months or four consecutive regular meetings.
“We have no statistics or information to indicate that anybody is unwilling to offer themselves as a candidate on the basis of the absence of a [parental leave] policy like this,” said Biggar.
“Perhaps the thing I’m most concerned about is the idea that we create basically a block policy where we would continue to pay … somebody to not be part of the council for six months.”
Biggar said he would prefer that the maximum length of parental leave be reduced from six months.
The councillor also noted that a town bylaw allows councillors to join meetings electronically if they prefer, but Schryer said that should not be a consideration.
“We can’t assume that somebody might be up to par or wanting to attend a meeting virtually. We’re not there in that home and knowing how many other children are there and the needs,” she said.
