Quack, quack! What is a Lame Duck Council?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JULY 14, 2026
GORRIE, ON - As the 2026 Municipal Election is approaching, Howick Township staff are preparing for a possible situation with a strange name.
Howick Council could enter into what’s commonly referred to as the ‘restricted acts clause’ (or a “lame duck” council) once the nomination for municipal election candidates closes, depending on how many of the existing council members are seeking re-election. Lame duck is triggered when less than three-quarters of an outgoing council can be re-elected.
Howick Council has five members, so at least 4 of the existing members of council would need to seek re-election without running against each other for a single seat (reeve or deputy reeve) if lame duck is to be avoided.
It is possible that Howick Council can go into a lame duck period between nomination day (August 21) to election day (October 26), if less than three-quarters of existing council members put their name forward for nomination and/or between election day (October 26) to the end of the current term of council (November 15), if less than three-quarters of existing council members win their seat in the election.
As of today’s date, no current members of Howick Council have submitted their name for nomination to run again in the 2026 municipal election. Several existing council members have indicated that they do not plan to run in the 2026 municipal election, so a lame duck council in Howick is very likely.
Under the Municipal Act, 2001, lame duck provisions set out specific actions that council cannot act on after nomination day (August 21) and election day (October 26), depending on how many incumbent council members are intending to run for council.
The main purpose of the provisions is to prevent an outgoing council from operating in a manner that would unduly disadvantage the incoming municipal council.
“The legislation intends to limit any actions that would impose a disadvantage on the incoming council, like major decisions that could impact a future budget on the next set of democratically elected people who may be elected on entirely different platforms.” said CAO/Clerk Caitlin Gillis.
During a Lame Duck period, certain restrictions are placed on council. For example, officers of the municipality are not to be appointed or removed. Town employees can’t be hired or dismissed during this period, and property belonging to the municipality with a value more than $50,000 cannot be disposed. Lastly, council is not permitted to make any expenditures that exceed $50,000, unless it has been pre-approved through the budget or is an emergency situation.
Any delegated authority, being any person or body exercising any authority of a municipality that has been delegated prior to nomination day for the election of the new Council, remains in place during a lame duck period. The hiring and firing of any officer or employee of Howick Township is already the CAO/Clerk’s responsibility.
In preparation for the municipal election, at the February 24, 2026 Regular Council meeting, Howick Council delegated authority to CAO/Clerk Caitlin Gillis to take action, where necessary to perform the restricted actions listed in Section 275(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001 between August 21, 2026 and November 15, 2026 if a Lame Duck council is triggered in Howick Township.
“The everyday operations of the township can continue as normal until the new council is sworn in so that there is no interruption of service,” said Gillis.
Only time-sensitive projects or urgent business needs will be considered under the delegation of authority by-law, otherwise, business that can wait until the next council is sworn in will be held until after November 15, 2026.
Contact deputyclerk@howick.ca with any questions.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alana Dick, Deputy Clerk/Communications Coordinator
Township of Howick, 519-335-3208 ext. 102
deputyclerk@howick.ca