Minister exempts town from holding
mayor byelection

Vote for mayor will be during
Oct. 20, 2025 general election

By Kaicheng Xin
Staff Reporter

RWith the resignation of mayor Debbie Baich on August 13, the town’s mayoral position has been left vacant. Acting mayor Marley Capraro has stepped in, and the council has decided not to hold a byelection at this time.

On Sept. 18, Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver issued Ministerial Order No. MSD:069/24, granting the town’s request to defer filling the chief elected official vacancy until the next general election. This decision was announced in a public notice from the town on the same day.

According to the Municipal Government Act, a byelection is typically required if the vacancy occurs more than 12 months before the next general election. However, the next general election is scheduled for Oct. 20 of next year. The act also provides the minister with the authority to extend the time for filling council vacancies until the next general election.

Capraro told the Mountaineer that the council was pleased with the Ministerial Order, stating that Minister McIver understood the council’s request and agreed that a second byelection would be “unnecessarily costly” given the proximity to the exemption period.

In a letter to the minister, the council highlighted the financial strain a second byelection would impose on the town, noting that funds are not readily available to support another election this year.

The letter also mentioned that the town’s deputy mayor will continue to serve on an eight-month rotational schedule until the next general municipal election. The council has redistributed mayoral duties among its members, including committee meetings, public engagement and administrative responsibilities.