Who can be a candidate? |
- a candidate must be a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
- a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old;
- not legally prohibited from voting; and not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.
- You must pay a fee of $100 ($200 for Mayor) by certified cheque, cash or debit.
When you think about candidates for federal or provincial elections, you usually think about the political party that each candidate represents. In municipal elections in Ontario, candidates are not elected to represent a political party.
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Who can vote in the municipal election? |
Anyone can vote in a municipal election who, on the day of the election, is:
- 18 years of age or older
- a Canadian citizen; and
- either a resident of the municipality or a property owner or tenant or the spouse or same sex partner of an owner or tenant in the municipality during a specified time just before the election.
Your name must be on the voters’ list in order for you to cast a ballot.
The voters’ list is prepared in several steps:
- A preliminary list is created by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) based on data it keeps on home ownership and tenancy.
- The preliminary list is sent to the municipal clerk after a by-election has been called or in advance of a regular election which occurs every 4 years. The clerk can correct any errors on the list, and the corrected list then becomes the voters’ list.
- If you are not on the voters’ list, or if your information is incorrect (for example, you have moved and may be listed at a former address), you may apply to have your name added or your information corrected. This may be done until the close of voting on voting day in a regular election or by-election. You may have your name added to the voters’ list at the voting place. You may be asked to show identification to establish that you are eligible to vote. For more information about getting on the voters’ list, you should contact your municipal clerk.
Note: Check your information by visiting voterlookup.ca or call 1-866-296-6722
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How Do I Vote?
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Voting for the 2022 municipal election will be conducted by vote-by-mail.
Eligible electors will be able to vote for their Municipal Council and School Board Trustees using vote-by-mail. Vote-by-mail is an accessible and convenient method of voting. It provides voters with flexibility and convenience, delivers quick and accurate results, and allows students and vacationers to vote from anywhere.
Mailing Kits will be sent to all eligible electors on September 26/27 via Canada Post. The last day for electors to return the kit by mail to have it arrive on time is Thursday, October 13th. Completed voting kits can be delivered to the municipal office October 14-21 during office hours (Monday, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 8:30am – 4pm). The ballots can also be delivered in person on Voting Day, Monday October 24, between 10am and 8pm.
Vote by Mail Tutorial
Acceptable identification is required to amend the Voters List - Learn more about Ontario regulation 304/13 for voter identification under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 as amended
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Where Do I Vote?
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As an eligible voter in Strong, you have the option to cast your vote by vote-by-mail method from the convenience of your home.
Mailing Kits will be sent to all eligible electors on September 26/27 via Canada Post. The last day for electors to return the kit by mail to have it arrive on time is Thursday, October 13th. Completed voting kits can be delivered to the municipal office October 14-21 during office hours (Monday, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 8:30am – 4pm). The ballots can also be delivered in person on Voting Day, Monday October 24, between 10am and 8pm.
Township of Strong Municipal Office 28 Municipal Lane Sundridge, ON P0A 1Z0
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Key Election Dates |
Monday May 2, 2022 Nomination and registration period begins. s.33(4), s.88.6(7)
Friday August 19, 2022 Nomination Day. s.31
- On Nomination Day, nominations may only be filed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. s.33(4)
- If a person is present at the clerk’s office on Nomination Day at 2 p.m. and has not yet filed a nomination, they may file the nomination as soon as possible after 2 p.m. s.33(4.1)
- A candidate who wishes to withdraw their nomination must notify the clerk in writing before 2 p.m. s.36
Monday August 22, 2022 All nominations to be examined and certified by 4 p.m. s.35(1)
- Declare the candidate(s) elected by acclamation. s.37(1)
Thursday September 1, 2022 Last day for reproducing the voters’ list and determining the revision procedures. s.23(2)
- On written request, provide copies of the voters’ list to those referred under subsection 23(3) of the MEA. s. 23(3)
- On written request, provide candidates with a copy of the part of the voters’ list that contains the names of the electors who are entitled to vote for that office. s.23(4)
Monday October 24, 2022 Voting Day s.5
- Voting places are to open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m., unless an earlier opening or reduced voting hours have been established by the clerk. s.46(1), (2), (3) Deadline for applications to have a name added to or removed from the voters’ list, or to have information on the voters’ list amended. s.44(6), s.24(1)
Tuesday October 25, 2022 As soon as possible declare the results and provide information to the public on a website or in another electronic format on the number of votes, declined and rejected ballots, and the number of votes for the affirmative or negative on a by-law or question. s.55(4), (4.1)
Tuesday November 15, 2022 New term of office commences. s.6(1) New Council deemed to be organized when the declarations of office have been made by a sufficient number of members to form a quorum. Municipal Act, 2001, s.231
The calendar is not inclusive of all key dates and all items should be verified independently by the legislation/regulations.
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What is a Third Party Advertiser? |
Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate, or support, promote or oppose a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. The meaning of “third party” in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate.
Third party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign, and must be done independently from a candidate. Any advertisements or materials that are made and distributed by a candidate, or under a candidate’s direction, are part of the candidate’s campaign.
Third party advertising is a way for those outside of the candidate’s campaign to express support of or opposition to candidates (or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot) and to try to persuade voters to vote a certain way.
A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate, or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Advertisement includes traditional ads as well as materials such as brochures or signs.
Third party advertisement Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate (or an answer to a question on the ballot) are not considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:
- speaking to friends and neighbours;
- posting on social media, such as Twitter, Facebook or Instagram;
- sending an email to a group or mailing list Internal communications from an employer to their employees, a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees or by a trade union to its members or employees are not considered to be third party advertising.
Advertising about an issue, rather than a candidate or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot is not considered third party advertising. For example, signs saying “Support local businesses” or “Keep the waterfront green” would not be third party advertising, even if a candidate has made those issues part of their campaign.
To register as a third party advertiser check the list below.
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Understanding the rules of campaigning |
Campaign Contributors
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The maximum campaign contribution to any one candidate is $1,200.
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The maximum campaign contribution to all candidates is $5,000.
Candidate Access
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Candidates are allowed access to apartment buildings, condominiums, non-profit housing co-ops or gated communities between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to campaign. Landlords may not prohibit tenants from displaying campaign signs in their windows.
Signage
Finances
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Candidates must open a separate campaign account if they are receiving donations or campaign dollars from outside sources.
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Businesses may not contribute to candidates, however business owners may contribute under their own name.
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Campaign expenses for mayoral candidates may not exceed $7,500 plus .85 cents per eligible voter. For council candidates, this drops to $5,000 plus .85 cents per eligible voter.
Municipal Resources
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Candidates may not use any municipal space for meetings or campaign work and furthermore may not post-election campaign advertising at municipally owned or leased facilities.
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The use of municipal electronic devices or supplies or staff time/assistance by candidates or third-party advertisers for campaign purposes is not permitted.
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Candidates and third-party advertisers are requested to not ask questions directly of municipal staff regarding the operations of the municipality for campaign purposes.
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All questions should be posed in writing directly to the Clerk via email
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No candidate or third-party advertiser shall compel staff to engage in partisan political activities or subject staff to threats or discrimination for refusing to engage in such activities.
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Request for Membership - Terms of Reference: Resume Submission by September 29th at 4 pm
- Remuneration shall be in the form of an honorarium of $500.00 per year for active members, plus a fee of $75.00 per meeting. Mileage shall be reimbursed at a rate of 0.64/km upon receipt of a reimbursement receipt from the committee member.
The Joint Compliance Audit Committee has full delegation of the authority in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, to address applications requesting an audit of a candidate’s and a registered third party advertiser’s election campaign finances. This authority includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Review applications and grant or reject audit requests
- Where an audit is granted, appoint an auditor and review the audit report
- Where indicated, decide whether legal proceedings shall be commenced
The Joint Compliance Audit Committee will consist of members that must have the ability to understand and apply the election campaign finance provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and should be considered impartial with respect to their ability to fulfill their responsibilities. Preference shall be given to candidates that have applicable experience in accounting, law, law enforcement and academics from related fields. Preferred Qualifications: (a) Accounting and audit – accountants or auditors with experience in preparing or auditing the financial statements of municipal candidates; (b) Academic – college or university professors with expertise in political science or local government administration; (c) Legal; and (d) Other individuals with knowledge of the campaign financing rules of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
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