Marlee Proulx decided not to run in an upcoming La Ronge byelection because Northlands College placed her on unpaid leave. (Facebook/Marlee Proulx)

By Derek Cornet

municipal election

Former Northlands College CEOs react to employee placed on unpaid leave to seek public office

Nov 7, 2022 | 5:17 PM

“This is simply wrong.”

Those are the words of former Northlands College CEO Toby Greschner in response to a candidate in the upcoming La Ronge byelection being placed on unpaid leave by the post-secondary institution.

Marlee Proulx, the college’s vice president of adult basic education and student affairs, was informed last week that as of Oct. 31, she was on unpaid leave under the Saskatchewan Employment Act. She did not request to be put on leave and, soon after, began informing La Ronge residents not to vote for her as it was too late to remove her name from the ballot.

Proulx explained in a letter to citizens that by running for council, she will be unable to work at the college and therefore be unable to support her family financially or focus on her career.

“There is absolutely no reason for Ms. Proulx to be forced onto an unpaid leave to run for local council,” Greschner, who was CEO of Northlands College from May 2012 to May 2019, wrote in a statement. “Many Northlands employees in the past and currently, sit on local councils and boards without sacrificing their livelihood to do so, as do hundreds of other government, and third party government (colleges, universities, Crowns etc.) employees across the province.”

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The Saskatchewan Employment Act states an employee is entitled to nomination, candidate and public office leave for a maximum of 52 weeks to seek or be a candidate for a municipal, provincial or federal election, or an election for a board of education, the Conseil scolaire fransaskois or a band council.

Toby Greschner was CEO of Northlands College seven years. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Greschner mentioned he doesn’t believe there is a policy in place at Northlands College when it comes to employees seeking public office. He noted the decision was likely made by one of two individuals in the organization but added the provincial government and the college board have the authority to “right this wrong.”

“Usually, we think of reconciliation as something that needs to happen high up at the government level, but it is much more than that,” Greschner wrote. “Reconciliation needs to happen at the individual level too. Everyday the lives of individual Indigenous people like Marlee are unfairly impacted by the decisions of other individuals who hold power over them, yet, understandably, they are hesitant to speak out for fear their actions will have further repercussion on their career and lives.”

Guy Penney, Northlands College CEO from August 2019 to June 2022, explained during his 10-year career there, employees were basically encouraged to run for councils or boards. He also said there was no such employee policy in place when he left just this past summer.

Guy Penney took over from Toby Greschner as CEO in 2019. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Karsten Henriksen has been CEO at Northlands College for less than two months. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“Historically, Northlands College was happy to support those who desire to serve our northern communities through serving on boards and councils,” Penney said. “Ultimately, we all benefitted from this service. Yours truly, served on the Northern Lights School Board for four years. It is often a very important part of professional life.”

larongeNOW reached out to Northlands College about the decision, rationale and if such an employee policy was in place. An email from current CEO Karsten Henriksen stated Northlands College does not comment on personnel matters in order to protect the privacy of all parties.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno