Saskatoon city council to be sworn in Monday

A clean slate stands before Saskatoon’s newly-elected city council as they prepare to be sworn in Monday night.

There will be both new faces and familiar ones around the table, including former Ward 6 Coun. Charlie Clark replacing Don Atchison in the mayor’s chair.

Atchison leaves public office as the city’s longest-running mayor, holding the position for 13 years. 

The three new faces at council after last Wednesday’s civic election include Hilary Gough for Ward 2, Cynthia Block for Ward 6 and Sarina Gersher for Ward 8.

While also new this year, Coun. Bev Dubois is more veteran than rookie. The former three-term representative for Ward 10 is now the voice at city hall for Ward 9.

Five councillors won re-election: Darren Hill for Ward 1, Ann Iwanchuk for Ward 3, Troy Davies for Ward 4, Randy Donauer for Ward 5, Mairin Loewen for Ward 7 and Zach Jeffries for Ward 10.

The mayor and 10 councillors are set to be sworn in at 6 p.m.

Monday’s ceremony will also make official the first female-majority city council in Saskatoon.

Terms in municipal government last four years.

The next Saskatoon civic election will be held in October 2020.

New Oath of Office

Monday’s swearing in ceremony will be the first in Saskatoon where elected officials use a new oath of office.

The oath came into effect last Wednesday – civic election day – as part of reforms created to curb further conflict of interest cases such as what happened in the rural municipality of Sherwood.

Council members will swear they have not – and will not – receive “payment or reward, or promise of payment or reward, for the exercise of any corrupt practice or other undue execution or influence of this office.”

A code of ethics has also been instituted that council members are required to follow.

The 2016 Municipal Oath of Office

I DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND DECLARE THAT:

1 I will truly, faithfully and impartially, to the best of my knowledge and ability, perform the duties
of this office;

2 I am qualified to hold the office to which I have been elected;

3 I have not received and will not receive any payment or reward, or promise of payment or reward, for the exercise of any corrupt practice or other undue execution or influence of this office;

4 I have read, understand and agree to abide by the code of ethics, rules of conduct and procedures applicable to my position as a member of council required of me by The Cities Act and any other Act and by the council;

5 I will:
(a) perform the duties of office imposed by The Cities Act and any other Act or law and by the council;
(b) disclose any conflict of interest within the meaning of Part VII of The Cities Act; and
(c) comply with the code of ethics, rules of conduct and procedures applicable to the office I now hold that are imposed by The Cities Act and any other Act and by the council.