Do You Know the Rules?

In case you haven’t looked at the date yet, I’m about to drop a truth bomb on you:

The nomination period begins on May 1st, 2022.

All that means is that as of May 1st (maybe the 2nd, if you live in a municipality that isn’t open on weekends), you’ll be able to drop off your nomination forms.

No panic, though! You have until Friday, August 19th, 2022, by 2 PM to file your nomination paperwork. So if you’re not quite sure yet, you’ve still got time. While some parts of filing earlier help you (for example, you get to start collecting donations), there isn’t a significant focus on the municipal election until after the provincial election has happened – and that’s on June 2nd.

So breathe in. Breathe out. And don’t let anybody talk you into filing until you feel ready to do so.

If you decide to file early and withdraw, that’s okay too. You can withdraw your nomination by notifying the municipal clerk in writing by August 19th. Remember that if you cancel your nomination, you are still required to file all required paperwork at the end of the campaign period.

What You’ll Need

The Ontario government has released the 2022 Candidates’ Guide to Ontario municipal council and school board elections. Take a look through it and absorb it. It has all the rules and regulations for running, which will be essential on your journey.

Here, we’ll cover the highlights.

To be eligible to run for municipal office in Ontario, you must:

• be eligible to vote in the municipality you’re running in.

• as a resident elector (you live in the municipality).

• as a non-resident elector (you own or rent property in the municipality, but it’s not where you permanently live).

• as the spouse of a non-resident elector (if your spouse owns or rents property in the municipality, but it’s not where you permanently live).

• be a Canadian citizen.

• be 18 years or older.

• be free of conflicts of interest (see the election guide for more info on this, as it differs per elected position)

If your municipality has wards, you can run in whichever ward you want (but remember: if you run in a ward you don’t live in, you won’t be eligible to vote for yourself).

To file your nomination with the municipal clerk, you’ll also need:

• a completed nomination form.

• the nomination fee.

  • $200 to run for head of council.

  • $100 to run for all other positions.

• a completed endorsement of nomination forms.

Candidates living in a municipality with more than 4,000 electors must submit 25 original signatures endorsing your nomination, which are collected on this form. Endorsement signatures must be from people considered eligible voters in the municipality you are running in. You must collect these signatures in person.

If you’re looking for more comprehensive information, make sure that you go through the 2022 Candidates’ Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections and that you confirm all of these things with the municipality that you’re planning on running in.

And if you want more support as you figure out whether or not you are ready to run for office, don’t forget our Run For Office workbook. The theme of the first workbook is Exploring Your Run, which will help you explore every single aspect of running for office to make sure that you make the best decision for yourself and give your campaign a fantastic foundation.