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Please refer to the Municipal Elections Act for complete and accurate information at:
Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32, Sched. | ontario.ca
What are the maximum contributions amounts that can be made to candidates?
As per 88.9 (1) of the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, a contributor shall not make contributions exceeding a total of $1,200 to any one candidate in an election. 2016, c. 15, s. 51; 2017, c. 10, Sched. 4, s. 8 (8).
(2) If a person is a candidate for more than one office, a contributor’s total contributions to him or her in respect of all the offices shall not exceed “$1,200. 2016, c. 15, s. 51; 2017, c. 10, Sched. 4, s. 8 (9).
Exception, mayor of City of Toronto
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), for the purposes of those subsections the maximum total contribution that a contributor may make to a candidate for the office of mayor of the City of Toronto is $2,500. 2016, c. 15, s. 51.
Multiple candidates
(4) A contributor shall not make contributions exceeding a total of $5,000 to two or more candidates for office on the same council or local board. 2016, c. 15, s. 51.
Exception, candidates and spouses
(5) This section does not apply to contributions made to a candidate’s own election campaign by the candidate or his or her spouse. 2016, c. 15, s. 51.
How can candidates determine which addresses are in which wards?
The clerk shall provide copy of voters’ list to certified candidates on or before September 1, 2026, who have made a written request. The list will provide only the part of the voters' list that contains the name of the electors who are entitled to vote for that office
Will the list of electors provide the electors’ addresses and phone numbers?
The list will provide the electors names and qualifying addresses but not their mailing address or phone numbers.
For the installation of election campaign signs, what's the first day we can put them up and how long do we have to take them down?
No election campaign advertisements shall be erected prior to 8:00 a.m. on September 1, 2026. All election campaign advertisements shall be removed prior to 4:00 p.m. on October 31, 2026.
Do candidates have to wait until September 1st to leave door hanger / pamphlets at elector residences?
No. The September 1st date applies to signs.
What is the process if a candidate decides to withdraw and/or change the position they have submitted their nomination for?
Since our councillor offices are elected by ward (not at large), the two campaigns would need to remain completely separate. The Municipal Elections Act does not allow campaign finances to be transferred between the campaigns when one or both of the offices are elected by ward.
This means:
Any contributions received while you were a ward councillor candidate cannot be transferred to the mayoral campaign. Any expenses incurred for the councillor campaign cannot be transferred either. The first campaign ends when the second nomination (for mayor) is filed, because the first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn.
You would need to also:
Pay a new nomination fee for the mayoral nomination.
File two separate campaign financial statements:
one for the ward councillor campaign (from the original nomination date until the mayoral nomination is filed), and one for the mayoral campaign (from the date the mayoral nomination is filed until the end of that campaign).
You would not be allowed to use the councillor contributions for the mayoral campaign. The contributions remain part of the ward councillor campaign and must be accounted for in that campaign’s financial statement. If there is a surplus after all eligible expenses and liabilities for that campaign are paid, it must be dealt with under the Municipal Elections Act (typically by being paid to the municipality), not carried over to the new campaign.
Is the Alfred and Plantagenet Township located in sector 4 or sector 5 of the French-language public school board?
The Township of Alfred and Plantagenet is in sector 4.
Can candidates claim fuel as an election campaign expense?
Possibly. Follow this link for details:
Are the nomination fee and other campaign expenses tax deductible?
No. The nomination fee is a personal expense rather than a campaign expense. It should not be reported on your campaign financial statement.
What were the average amounts of campaign expenses being spent during the last municipal elections? Is this information public? (Answer pending)