MOOSE JAW — Holy Trinity Catholic School Division has scheduled a byelection for mid-June to replace trustee Christine Boyczuk, a long-time education and literacy supporter who died unexpectedly in February.
The division, in partnership with the City of Moose Jaw, plans to hold the byelection on Wednesday, June 11, with an advance poll held on Saturday, May 31. The call for nominations will start on Wednesday, May 7.
Division administration expects the byelection to cost $35,000.
Trustees received the byelection report during their recent March meeting and voted to:
- Establish polling locations in Moose Jaw
- Name Curt Van Parys, the chief financial officer, as the returning officer
- Pay election officials the same remuneration rate that municipalities pay their election workers
- Use vote-counting machines
- List the occupation of the candidates on the nomination form and ballot
- Include a criminal record check with the nomination form
Members also had the option — but did not choose it — to approach the Ministry of Education about operating with one fewer trustee until the next school board election in 2028. There are currently five trustees on the board, with one spot open.
Van Parys told trustees during the meeting that division administration reviewed the Local Government Election Act after Boyczuk’s death to assess the implications of holding a byelection. Furthermore, administration met with Moose Jaw’s election officials to assess the logistics and implications of conducting this vote.
“We are definitely working with our municipal counterparts in terms of making sure this election is done properly,” he said. “And the election officials at the City of Moose Jaw are very grateful … of this process.”
For the process to proceed, Holy Trinity must approach city council and ask it to officially approve the byelection, Van Parys added. Division administration expected council to review — and hopefully approve — that request on April 7.
The board report noted that Holy Trinity has until Aug. 10 at the latest to hold the byelection, based on clauses in the Local Government Election Act. Also, council has until April 16 to approve the byelection date.
The next Holy Trinity board meeting is Monday, April 14.
