RDN board adopts parental leave policy for elected officials

Rachelle Stein-Wotten

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

A new parental leave policy adopted by the Regional District of Nanaimo board allows for up to six months paid parental leave for directors.

The board adopted the new policy and an amendment bylaw for board remuneration, expenses and benefits at their July 23 meeting.

The new policy covers board members expecting to give birth or adopt as well as board members who are the spouse, common-law partner or co-parent of a person who is expecting to give birth to or adopt a child. It allows for six months paid leave or until the end of a member’s term or appointment, whichever is the shorter period. Those on parental leave will receive base remuneration and be eligible for benefit programs to continue during the absence.

Up to four board or committee of the whole meetings per month are included in base remuneration; the total cost of an alternate director’s attendance at four meetings for six months would be $3,600. Some attendance by alternate directors for any circumstances was already budgeted for before the policy came into effect.

“The Regional District of Nanaimo board of directors recognizes the physical, emotional and psychological demands of both childbirth and adoption, and considers that a period of leave is important for the well-being of both the parent and the child,” the policy statement reads. “This policy has been created to support elected officials in their decision to become parents and in their work as elected officials.”

RDN directors directed staff to develop a policy back in June, following receiving a staff report on models in place in other regional district and municipalities in B.C. The Local Government Act does not address parental leave circumstances for elected officials. It does have a subsection on disqualification from holding office for leave of a certain length. If a board member is absent from board meetings for either 60 days or four consecutive regularly scheduled board meetings, whichever is longer, that board member would be disqualified. The act notes disqualification under the subsection does not apply if the absence is because of illness or injury or is with the leave of the board.

Without any policy in place, in June, the RDN board had to grant a leave of absence for Electoral Area C Director Lauren Melanson, who was pregnant at the time, from the end of June to October 1, just over 90 days.

“My primary concern was being able to take leave with or without compensation without losing my elected position,” Melanson said during committee of the whole discussions in May, noting not every board member would be guaranteed that other board members would grant an extended leave through a motion.