The Municipal of Kincardine reviewed its updated Pregnancy & Paternal Leave Policy at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
The policy, decided by general best practice comparing other Municipalities, is that a member of council can miss up-to 20 weeks with the leave.
Once 20 weeks is reached it would revert to a limit of 3 months absence without attending a meeting before their seat is declared vacant.
Councillor Bill Stewart says its not much of an issue.
“If you even show up to one meeting by Zoom you can go another 3 months [of absences]. You could literally do 4 meetings and be here the whole year. That’s the way the act says.”
Deputy Mayor Andrea Clarke acknowledged there is a long way to go with the policy but says it’s a start.
Councillor Beth Blackwell brought up an idea of an infant-in-arms policy for Council to permit children to be brought to meetings for new mothers who are on Council.
The Pregnancy & Paternal Leave Policy of 20 weeks was carried.
