Candidate FAQs

Who is qualified to run for Mayor, Council or Regional Council office?

A candidate for municipal office must, upon nomination, be a qualified municipal elector and fulfill all of the following requirements:

a resident of the municipality, non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant
a Canadian citizen
at least 18 years old
not legally prohibited from voting; and,
not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

Note: A candidate, if nominated, must remain qualified throughout the election and, if elected, throughout the term of office.

Who is NOT qualified to run for Mayor, Council or Regional Council?

The following persons are disqualified from being elected to municipal office:

any person not eligible to vote in the municipality
an employee of a municipality unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence before being nominated, and resigns, if elected to the office
a judge of any court
a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a Senator or a member of the House of Commons;
an inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment.

When can I file my nomination?

Nominations start on May 2, 2022, and end on August 19, 2022, at 2:00 pm. For more information about requirements, click here.

How can I apply to run for office?

Nominations must be filed in person with the City Clerk's Office during the nomination period (May 2 - August 19, 2022). Click here for more information regarding the required nomination forms.

Can I run for more than 1 office?

Candidates can only be nominated for one office on a municipal council or school board in the Province of Ontario at a time. If person is nominated for a second office, the first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn.

Who is qualified to run for School Board office?

A candidate for a school board must, upon nomination, be a qualified municipal elector and fulfill all of the following requirements:

a resident within the jurisdiction of the board;
a supporter of the board;
a Canadian citizen;
at least 18 years old;
Roman Catholic (if running for a separate school board);
not legally prohibited from voting; and,
not disqualified by any legislation from holding school board office.

Note: A candidate, if nominated, must remain qualified throughout the election and, if elected, throughout the term of office. School board candidates should confirm that they have the qualifications described in Section 219 of the Education Act.

Who is NOT eligible to run for School Board Office?

A candidate for school board office cannot be:

a clerk, deputy clerk, treasurer or deputy treasurer of a municipality within the jurisdiction of a board;
any person not eligible to vote in the municipality;
an employee of a school board unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence before being nominated, and resigns, if elected to the office;
a judge of any court;
a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, a Senator or a member of the House of Commons;
an inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment.

How can I withdraw my candidacy?

If a candidate decides to withdraw from the election, he or she must file a Withdrawal of Nomination Form - E2205, in person with the City Clerk's Office, no later than 2 pm on nomination day (Friday, August 19, 2022). A candidate who withdraws is still required to submit a completed financial statement covering all financial transactions made up to the date the nomination was withdrawn.

When can I start campaigning and accepting campaign funds?

Your campaign starts when you file your nomination. You cannot engage in any campaign activities or accept funds before filing your nomination.

I would like to run in the next election, but I am not eligible because I did not file my campaign financial statement after I ran in the last election. Can the Minister give me an exemption and allow me to run?

No. The Minister does not have authority under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, to extend the filing deadline or waive the penalties for failing to file.

Can I run in a different ward than the one where I live?

As long as you are eligible to vote in the municipality, you may run in any ward. If you do run in a ward where you do not live, you will not be able to vote for yourself.

Can I use my campaign office as my qualifying address so that I can vote for myself?

No. If you are a resident voter (you live in the municipality), you must vote in the ward where you reside. You cannot choose to vote in a different ward where you may own or rent another property.

Can I campaign on City property?

No, a candidate in any election (federal, provincial or municipal), is not permitted to campaign on City property. This includes distibution of campaign literature, filming campaign videos or taking pictures, and wearing campaign clothing or buttons. A candidate may accept an invitation to address a group that regularly meets at a City facility, but they are not permitted to wear any campaign clothing or buttons during the meeting. The candidate must not approach or distibute materials to other individuals enjoying the space. Click here for more information regarding campaigning on City property.

Can I campaign at City parks?

No, a candidate in any election (federal, provincial or municipal), is not permitted to campaign at City parks. This includes distibution of campaign literature, filming campaign videos or taking pictures, and wearing campaign clothing or buttons. A candidate may accept an invitation to address a group that regularly meets at a City park, but they are not permitted to wear any campaign clothing or buttons during the meeting. Limited distibution of campaign material is permitted when addressing the group, and the candiate must ensure to distribute material to the group that extended the invitation only. The candidate must not approach or distibute materials to other individuals enjoying the space. Click here for more information regarding campaigning on City property.

Who can contribute to my campaign?

a resident of Ontario
the candidate or the candidate's spouse (resident or non-resident of Ontario)

Note: a candidate cannot accept a contribution from a corporation or a trade union.

How much can a person contribute to my campaign?

A person can contribute a maximum of $1,200 to any one candidate in an election, and shall not exceed a total of $5,000 to two or more candidates for office on the same council. It is the responsibility of the candidate to make this information known to their contributors.

Do I need to issue receipts for my contributions?

Yes. Receipts must be issued for every contribution. Candidates shall ensure their receipts include the following information:

date the contribution was received
date the receipt was issued
value of the contribution
method of payment
full name and address of the contributor
a statement advising that a contributor shall not make contributions exceeding a total of $1,200 to any one candidate in an election, and a total of $5,000 to two or more candidates for offices on the same council

As part of the financial statement, candidates must disclose each contributor's name, mailing address, the amount of the contribution and the date it was received. The financial statement of every candidate is posted to the City's election webpage and becomes part of the public record. Candidates are advised to make this information known to their contributors.

When will I receive a copy of the Voters' List and ward maps?

The part of the Voters' List that contains the names of the electors who are entitled to vote for that office, and applicable ward maps, will be available to candidates on September 1, 2022.

Can I file a nomination if I am an employee of the municipality or a local board?

In accordance with Section 30 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, an employee of a municipality or local board must begin an unpaid leave of absence and provide written notice of their intention to take an unpaid leave to their council or local board prior to filing nomination papers.

Useful Links

Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Contact Election

Phone: Dial 3-1-1 (within City limits)

905.874.2424 (outside City limits)

Email: bramptonvotes@brampton.ca

Send us your questions