Rural Municipality of Springfield

Interested in Running for Council?

The 2022 election will have five elected positions: one Mayor and four Councilors. The Mayor is elected at large and Councilors are elected by ward. For a map of the municipal wards, please click here.  

To qualify as a Mayor or a Councilor, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age on Election Day
• A voter in the municipality (you are a resident or own property for six months prior to the date of the election, April 26, 2022, and are on the voters list)

You may want to be the Mayor or a Councilor if:

• You care about your community
• You want to make your community better
• You want to serve and give back
• You want to make a difference
• You want to help set direction for the community

Please fill out the following forms if you wish to be registered as a candidate in the 2022 Municipal Election and return them to the Municipal Office at 100 Springfield Centre Drive, Oakbank, Manitoba. 

Download forms here:

Candidate Registration

Candidate Resources

AMM municipal elections resource hub

The AMM has developed this hub with helpful resources and information for both new and returning municipal candidates.

Candidate guidebook

The 2022 Candidates Guidebook, found on the AMM elections hub, is your source for everything you need to know as a candidate. It is designed to assist anyone who is interested in seeking election or re–election to municipal office. It provides an overview of the election process in Manitoba, and outlines the steps you need to take to run as a candidate in a municipal election.   

The information in this Guidebook is general and has been prepared as a reference for municipal
candidates. Candidates are responsible to know the rules and comply with the legislation.
Candidates should refer to The Municipal Act and The Municipal Councils and School Boards
Election Act for specific legislative requirements. You may obtain a copy of the legislation from
the MB Gov website.

Key Dates at a Glance

Key Contacts

Senior Election Official – the election in the RM is handled by a Senior Election Official or SEO, with assistance from office staff. Council has appointed Gloria Widerski as SEO. She can be reached by email at Elections

Frequently asked questions

What are the responsibilities of council?

Council sets direction for the municipality. Council develops and approves by-laws and policies that help in the decision-making process in a consistent and transparent manner. Duties also include being present at hearings for various initiatives, such as the annual financial plan hearing, and to make decisions on subdivision and variation applications.

Administratively, the Chief Administrative Officer is the main contact with council members. The senior staff team includes;

• Manager of Administration and Finance
• Director of Public Works
• Manager of Water and Waste
• Director of Planning and Development
• Planner of Economic Development
• Director of Community Services
• Manager of Facilities and Special Projects
• Manager of Human Resources
• Fire Chief
• Police Chief

What are the time demands to be a mayor or a councilor?

As a member of council, you will serve a four-year term to 2026. Your term officially begins at noon on October 27, 2022.

Meetings of Council

Each council member is expected to attend two formal council meetings, two committee of the whole, and one planning meeting each month. Currently meetings have been scheduled as follows;

• Council meeting, Regular – First and second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
• Council meeting, Planning – Fourth Thursday of the month, 6 pm until approximately 9 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole – Second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. 

Council members are expected to prepare for the meetings by reading the agenda package and reports prior to the meeting. This can take between 2 to 4 hours per council meeting.

Please note that the council meeting schedule is set by municipal by-law, and a new council is able to change the meeting dates and times to accommodate new council members if needed.

Committee meetings

Each council member is typically appointed to 5 or more of 24 committees that have RM representation. These committees may meet monthly or quarterly or on an as needed basis. These meetings can often be in the evenings Monday through Thursday.

Other time commitments

Council members often feel obligated to support community events such as parades, Christmas parties, and staff/volunteer recognition events as well. Speaking with the public is an important responsibility of council members. Council members will receive phone calls and direct emails, but are just as likely to be approached at the grocery store or a sporting event. 

The demands on the time of a council member ebbs and flows throughout the year and throughout the four-year term. Orientation, monthly committee of the whole and council meetings, long-term planning, public hearings and budget meetings are all examples of an additional time commitment. A Council members monthly compensation covers these meetings when held within the Municipality.

Conferences and training workshops play an important role in training new council members and developing a network of contacts to help council discover the various “best practices” used by other municipalities in Manitoba. Council members claim compensation for these meetings.

How much time does that add up to on a monthly basis?

Excluding conferences, which are optional, meetings of council and committees and conversations with citizens have historically taken between 40 to 50 hours a month. A typical council member attends between 7 and 20 days away annually for conferences. All attendance at conferences must be approved by resolution of council.

Do I get paid to be mayor or a councilor?

Annual compensation for a Council member is $36,000 and $45,000 for the Mayor. Committee and conference work is compensated at a rate of $25.00 per hour up to a maximum of $200 per day. These rates are outlined in By-law No. 19-02 to establish the indemnities and expenses for Council.  This by-law is to be reviewed at least once per term.