I want to become a candidate

Thinking about becoming a candidate in a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal election? Remember, as a federal public service employee, you must obtain permission from the Public Service Commission of Canada before publicly declaring your intention. Let’s walk through the process:

1. Get informed

Speak with your manager, your organization’s designated political activities representative or the Public Service Commission.

2. Complete the form

Fill out and sign the request for permission to be a candidate in an election form, and include the required documents.

3. Submit your request to the Public Service Commission

The decision process may take up to 30 days.

So… if you’re considering becoming a candidate in an election…

Get informed! Start the process early!

How to request permission to be a candidate

If you are an employee of an organization subject to the political activities provisions of the Act:

• you must obtain permission from the PSC to seek nomination as, or be, a candidate before or during the election period;
• you must obtain the permission from the PSC before you make public your intention to be a candidate and undertake political activities.;
• to seek nomination as, or be, a candidate for federal, provincial or territorial elections, you must also request and obtain a leave without pay from the PSC for the duration of the election period. You will cease to be an employee of the public service if you are elected.

For municipal elections, the PSC may make your permission conditional on being on leave without pay before and during the election, and if you are elected, for the duration of your mandate.

The Public Service Commission's permission

The PSC may grant permission only if it is satisfied that being a candidate during the election period will not impair or be perceived as impairing the employee’s ability to perform his or her duties in a politically impartial manner. The PSC may grant a leave without pay if a risk to political impartiality is identified. The PSC’s decision will be published in the Canada Gazette.

Requesting permission or leave for an election

Please complete the request for permission to be a candidate in an election form for federal, provincial, territorial or municipal elections. The completed form must be sent to the PSC and your organization’s Designated Political Activities Representatives and Organizations Subject to the Political Activities Provisions of the Public Service Employment Act.

Roles and responsibilities of a Designated Political Activities Representative

The Designated Political Activities Representative in each organization is the resource person responsible for:

• providing advice, guidance and information to managers and employees;
• acting as liaison between the PSC and the organization;
• raising awareness of political activities among managers and employees.

Request for permission to be a candidate in an election form

• Request for permission to be a candidate in an election – PDF (Portable Document Format) Format (1,117 Kb (kilobyte))