A northwestern Ontario council is appointing mayor and deputy mayor replacements. Is that allowed?

A small township in northwestern Ontario is looking to fill two of its five council seats, but instead of calling a byelection, the remaining councillors are appointing the replacements.

While a spokesperson for the communications company hired by the township says the move isn't "unique" in Ontario, one policy researcher is calling it "an unusual situation."

Ignace, about 250 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, is enduring "unfortunate times" — as interim Mayor Kim Baigrie put it — after Bill Gascon, mayor at the time, and Coun. Al Zimmer resigned April 3.

The resignations came less than six months after the municipal election brought in an entirely new slate of councillors and a new mayor for the 2022-2026 term. With a voter turnout of 69 per cent, Gascon achieved 81 per cent of the vote over his only competitor, former councillor Peggy Lucas.

Ignace has a population of about 1,200.

"Today, myself and Mr. Zimmer decided to resign our positions on council of Ignace due to which we feel is the irresponsible behaviours of our colleagues and administration this past month," Gascon said.

"I cannot in good [conscience] work alongside people who are ignoring their responsibility to this community in which they serve and were elected," Gascon posted April 3 on the Ignace Discussion Group on Facebook.

Neither Baigrie nor Rhonda Smith, the township's municipal administrator, responded to interview requests by CBC News at time of publication.

However, in a news release April 3, Baigrie and remaining Councillors Jodie Defeo and John Taddeo called the resignations "warranted and accepted."

The township issued a statement April 5 saying an investigation would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the resignations, which involve township staff, councillors and others. 

Gascon and Zimmer were not available for interviews by time of publication.

Expertise for Municipalities Non-Profit Association, known as E4M, is aiding Ignace township through the process of filling Gascon's and Zimmer's seats. E4M is run by Wishart Law Firm LLP, based out of Sault Ste. Marie.

"Ignace council, after review and professional advice on municipal matters, carefully and efficiently decided to pursue this process instead of conducting a costly byelection in the township to replace the two vacancies," said a news release Wednesday from the township.

An expression of interest was issued Wednesday, and the timeline is as follows: