HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says a section of the province’s Elections Act has been changed to allow political candidates to earn a salary while running for office.
The move comes after a single mother who planned to run as an independent candidate in the Dartmouth South byelection was told she would not be allowed to work during the campaign because her salary would be considered an illegal campaign contribution.
An amendment to the province’s Elections Act was recently passed in the Nova Scotia legislature exempting salaries from the campaign contribution rules, but the change wasn’t slated to take effect until Jan. 1.
In light of Charlene Gagnon’s case, Premier Stephen McNeil asked that the section of the law for employment remuneration be proclaimed immediately.
McNeil says in a news release the section was not fair and was prohibitive and deterrent for candidates who do not have financial support from a political party.
Gagnon, a single mother who works for a non-profit group and only makes around $24,000 per year, says the move is a weight off her shoulders and she’s excited to hit the campaign trial ahead of the July 14 byelection.
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