THUNDER BAY – Coun. Peng You will be absent from Thunder Bay’s city council for about a month in May and early June as he competes as a candidate in the upcoming provincial election.
The at-large councillor will take a leave of absence from May 1, shortly before the writ is expected to drop on May 4, until June 3, the day after election day. He has asked not to receive any pay during that time, he said in a memo to city council.
You announced last year he would run under the Progressive Conservative banner in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
You will face NDP candidate Lise Vaugeois, who came relatively close to toppling seven-term Liberal MPP Michael Gravelle in 2018. Gravelle announced Tuesday his own participation in the 2022 race is uncertain, disclosing he was beginning cancer treatment this week.
During his leave, You urged constituents to reach out to other city councillors or Mayor Bill Mauro with questions and concerns.
He was elected as one of the city’s five at-large councillors in 2018 with the most support of any candidate, receiving over 20,000 votes.
You would have to resign his seat on city council to become an MPP, if elected.
If that happens, city council will be required to consider appointing a replacement for the short period remaining in council's term before an Oct. 24 municipal election (Ontario's Municipal Act doesn't allow by-elections after March 31 of an election year).
Vacancies that occur within 90 days of a municipal election do not have to be filled under the Act , but the gap between the provincial and municipal elections will be 144 days.
Councillors are not required to provide notice of leave for absences of under three months, You noted, but said he wanted to be open with constituents.
Other councillors have previously taken leaves during their own campaigns for provincial or federal office.
While it’s not required, city clerk Krista Power said the step can help councillors “separate their work as a sitting member of public office from their campaign as a candidate running for election”
