Should MPs resign before entering a Nova Scotia municipal race?

When Halifax MP Andy Fillmore got up in the House of Commons last month to announce he was leaving federal politics, his resignation sounded "imminent" to Tom Urbaniak.

Urbaniak, a professor of political science at Cape Breton University, watched Fillmore talk at length on June 17 about what he'd achieved in his past nine years in Ottawa. Fillmore mentioned his work to reopen Georges Island to the public, and partnering with Halifax to stop infilling on the Northwest Arm.

Fillmore said the city's rapid growth has brought benefits and challenges, adding his sights were set "firmly on the future."

"He gave what was practically a campaign speech for the mayoralty of Halifax," Urbaniak said in a recent interview.

"I thought that his resignation as member of Parliament was imminent. That speech sounded very final."

A few weeks later, on July 2, Fillmore registered with Halifax Regional Municipality to run for mayor. He launched his campaign in front of a large crowd the next day.

But Fillmore has not yet resigned his seat. He continues to take a federal salary and work out of his riding office while also campaigning for mayor, and is eligible to collect donations for that race.

"What MP Fillmore has done is not illegal and is not in violation of a written code of conduct. But the optics aren't great," Urbaniak said.

He said because Fillmore signalled his federal career was over with that speech in Ottawa, it's now a legitimate question to ask what MP work Fillmore continues to do — other than showing up for federal funding announcements, "which could be perceived as actually feeding a municipal campaign" on the taxpayers' dime.

Fillmore delivered one of those funding announcements on behalf of the federal government at the Maritime Digital Art and Design studios on July 4.

He has also attended a number of community events outside his Halifax riding in recent weeks, including a South Indian festival in Dartmouth and one at an Eastern Shore museum, and has posted photos of himself knocking on doors in Sheet Harbour.

Although the province's Municipal Elections Act states no member of the legislature or House of Commons can be nominated or serve in municipal office, Fillmore is technically not yet a nominee.

He's said he will resign as MP before the municipal nomination period beginning Aug. 29. After Sept. 10, nominees are considered official candidates who will have their names placed on the ballot.

However, under Halifax's campaign finance rules, people who register any time after March 1 as unofficial candidates can start collecting and spending money.