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Fauquier-Strickland is now without a single candidate to fill any of the five seats on its next municipal council in northern Ontario.
The small township northeast of Timmins has a population of fewer than 500.
Two residents initially put their names forward, but withdrew their nominations for the Oct. 26 Ontario municipal election before last Friday’s deadline.
That means no one’s running for mayor or the four councillor positions.
The nomination period has been extended, giving those pondering a political career until 2 p.m. ET Wednesday to file papers.
The unusual situation comes as the tiny township continues to deal with the fallout from a financial crisis that has left residents frustrated and the municipality facing difficult decisions.
Last year, the township had a big operating deficit, but a shutdown of municipal services was avoided after Fauquier-Strickland accepted $300,000 in interim funding from the province.
A difficult few years
Current Coun. Pierre Lamontagne, who is completing his first term, said he understands why residents have been unhappy with the township’s recent financial troubles.
The municipality was dealing with roughly $5 million in debt while facing water treatment system costs, he said.
The situation forced the township to significantly raise taxes.
“There was some bad decisions made years ago, and now we have to deal with it,” Lamontagne said, referring to the previous council’s approval of costly infrastructure projects.
Lamontagne said he was surprised no one had initially stepped forward to run for the fall vote.
Residents have attended council meetings and expressed frustration over the township’s direction, he said, leading him to expect there would be more interest in serving on council.
He said the township is now trying to get its finances back on track and is operating with tighter spending controls.
“Gotta find ways to be healthy again.”
A steep learning curve
Lamontagne said he hopes at least some people with experience on the current council decide to run again, because significant work has already begun.
If an entirely new group takes over, he said, members could face a steep learning curve as they try to understand the township’s financial situation.
The financial problems may also help explain why the job ahead could be daunting for potential candidates.
But Zach Spicer, an associate professor in York University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, said extending the nomination period could encourage people to put their names forward.
“There could be people who are at least somewhat interested in serving as a councillor or as mayor, but may not particularly be interested in running in a full election,” he said.
Some residents might not have wanted to commit the time and money required for a traditional election campaign, he explained.
‘Fairly uncharted territory’
Spicer said Fauquier-Strickland election situation is highly unusual.
“I can’t recall where an instance where this happened before,” Spicer said, referring to a municipality receiving no candidates for its entire council.
While vacancies on individual council seats can be filled through appointment, he said, that process depends on having an incoming council in place.
If residents don’t step forward before the extended deadline, the next steps become more complicated.
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said in a statement to Radio-Canada that a five-member council needs at least three members to reach quorum — the minimum number of members that must be present for an election to be carried out.
If at least three candidates are acclaimed or elected, the new council can appoint people who agree to fill the remaining vacancies.
If fewer than three seats are filled, a byelection must be held.
The new council cannot take office until it has enough members to form a quorum, meaning the outgoing council’s term would continue until a new council is organized, according to the ministry.
Who steps in?
Spicer said municipal staff would continue doing much of the day-to-day work required to keep the community running. But major decisions, including approving spending and creating a budget, require direction from council.
He said the ministry could ultimately have to provide direction if the township remains without a functioning council.
Spicer said he expects the province will likely wait until the extended nomination period ends before deciding whether further intervention is necessary.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has also emphasized the importance of people putting their names forward for municipal office.
“Local democracy thrives when people are willing to put their names on a ballot and work to strengthen the places we call home,” AMO executive director Lindsay Jones said in a statement to CBC News after nominations closed.
For Fauquier-Strickland, the immediate question is whether anyone will do that.
If no one or too few people step forward, the township’s already difficult path to financial recovery could enter another period of uncertainty.
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