The Town of Hanna council wants more information about how criminal background checks can be used in municipal elections. The discussion was held at the Apr. 14 regular meeting of council.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Norburn reported back to council on a proposed municipal election bylaw change that would require a background check for potential council candidates.

Norburn pointed out that a criminal record check only examines criminal convictions, while a police information check is broader and includes charges that may not necessarily have resulted in a conviction.

Norburn presented councillors with a draft revision of Hanna's election bylaw that would require a background check, but the CAO noted councillors would have to clarify which type of background check was required. The CAO noted he used the City of Calgary's bylaw as the basis for the proposed changes.

Coun. Angie Warwick stated several times during the discussion she felt election disqualifications are already handled by provincial election law and wanted to know why Hanna needed this change to its election bylaw. Warwick noted that background check information would be collected by and accessible to town staff and stated she was also unclear what effect the information would have.

Mayor Danny Povaschuk stated the intent was to give the town's returning officer the tools needed to ensure candidates meet eligibility requirements to run for council.

Coun. Brenda Karg, who originally suggested this change, stated a background check is considered a "best practice," is common in the private sector, and can act as a deterrent. Karg added that, for example, during the job interview process, an employer can ask an applicant to disclose the nature of their criminal record check.

As councillors discussed the issue, it was noted some Town of Hanna staff are required to have certain background checks, while some staff, such as senior management, are not.

It was also clarified that a background check related to municipal elections may only look for convictions that affect public office, such as corruption, embezzlement, or money laundering. Norburn clarified the proposed change, if in effect, would allow the returning officer to confirm a candidate is eligible to run for town council.

Coun. Paul Hunter stated he'd like to see exactly what the provincial Elections Act says about this subject. "I want to make sure that we are making a proper... bylaw with it as well too," said Hunter.

Coun. Erica Rorabeck noted media coverage in the community suggests the public supports this change. "I'd like to say that there was a news article written about the discussion of this (subject)," said Rorabeck. "It was beyond supported by the people in the community. I've actually had people come up to me and say, 'I think it's excellent you guys are looking into this.'"

Previous Rural Alberta Report coverage of this issue can be read online here.

Councillors discussed whether Hanna's proposed bylaw changes should specifically list the criminal convictions that may disqualify a candidate in a local municipal election.

Mayor Povaschuk stated he felt the proposed change had value for the community. "I think it's a great idea, myself," said the mayor, adding that the Town of Hanna didn't introduce this idea, as other municipalities have already passed bylaws requiring candidate background checks.

Both Coun. Warwick and Coun. Fred Crowle voiced hesitancy about voting on first reading of this proposed bylaw, owing to a lack of information.

To that end, councillors unanimously agreed to table first reading of the proposed bylaw until more information could be gathered.