City councillors to get pregnancy/parental leave

Members of Sault Ste. Marie City Council will be entitled to 20 weeks of pregnancy/parental leave under a policy slated for approval Monday.

The paid leave won't extend beyond a councillor's term of office.

The mayor and members of council taking leave will not have their seats declared vacant and they will be allowed to attend and participate in any council, board or committee meetings they would normally be allowed to attend.

The following are details of the proposed city policy:

1. in accordance with section 259(1.1) of the Municipal Act 2001, a member of council is entitled to 20 consecutive weeks of pregnancy leave and parental leave, not to extend beyond a member’s term of office
    
2. a member of council’s pregnancy and/or parental leave does not require council approval, and will not result in a member’s seat being declared vacant under section 259(1)(c) of the Municipal Act due to the member’s absence from council meetings while on leave
    
3. the leave may start up to 10 weeks before the member of council’s date of delivery or before the date when a child has come into the care, custody or control of a parent for the first time
    
4. a member of council should notify the city clerk, in writing, of their intent to take leave at their earliest convenience but at least four weeks before the start of the leave, unless there is an extenuating circumstance
    
5. if a member of council wishes to seek a leave in excess of 20 consecutive weeks, a resolution of council is required. The member will advise the city clerk, in writing, of the request to extend the leave as soon as it is known with details as to the nature of the requested extension
    
6. a member of council will continue to receive council remuneration and all benefits afforded to them while on pregnancy or parental leave. In the event that a member of council seeks to extend a leave beyond 20 weeks, the council resolution referred to in Section 5 will address compensation if the extension is approved
    
7. the member of council may attend and participate, in person or by any other means permitted under the Municipal Act, 2001, any council, board or committee meetings which the member is entitled to attend
    
8. The member of council will advise the city clerk if they choose to attend council, board or committee meetings during the leave
    
9. the member of council will continue to be included in council, board and committee communications including notices, agendas and minutes of regular and special council, board and committee meetings
    
10. council may appoint an interim member of council to boards or committees to replace the member on leave if deemed necessary (and unless the member on leave has given notice to the city clerk that they wish to attend meetings of the board or committee to which they were appointed)
     
11. upon return from leave, the member of council will resume all appointments to boards or committees held before the leave unless council decides otherwise
     
12. council has the authority to waive sections of this policy due to special circumstance

Next week's City Council meeting will be teleconferenced because of the COVID-19 emergency.

The meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday.