This B.C. municipality is asking residents to cast ballots for ‘Dog Mayor.’ Yes, really.

Kitimat Dog Mayor candidates Gus, left, and Koko, will be on the ballot this October. (kitimat.ca)

Municipal elections in B.C. are still months away, but Gus and Koko are already in campaign mode.

The candidates have been visiting local schools and making plans to march in the Canada Day parade, and they’re developing their platforms.

Gus wants to introduce universal pet health care and build more fire hydrants, while Koko is focused on lowering property taxes for dog owners and ensuring emergency vehicles have pet-friendly sirens.

In case it wasn’t obvious, Gus and Koko are dogs. But they are also candidates running in a real election.

On Oct. 17, while the eligible voters of Kitimat, B.C., cast their quadrennial ballots for the district’s human mayor and council, residents of all ages will have the opportunity to vote Gus or Koko for Dog Mayor.

The idea, according to the District of Kitimat, is to encourage youth engagement in local politics and improve turnout in this year’s municipal election.

In 2022, only 21.7 per cent of eligible voters in the district cast ballots.

During school visits, municipal staff—alongside Gus and Koko, when permitted—explain how the district’s government works, including the roles and responsibilities of mayor and councillors, the frequency of meetings and the issues that get debated.

Regardless of which candidate comes out on top in the Dog Mayor race, it’s unlikely that the district will see the winner’s agenda implemented.

“These platforms are to promote the dog mayor campaign only and do not represent actual campaign promises,” reads a disclaimer on the district’s website.