Candidate Eligibility
To be eligible to run as a candidate, you must be:
- A Canadian citizen
- 18 years of age or older on Election Day
- resident in the subdivision (ward) of the municipality on Election Day and for 6 consecutive months immediately before Nomination Day
A person is ineligible to be nominated as a candidate in any election under the LAEA if:
- the person is the auditor of the local jurisdiction;
- the person is an employee of the local jurisdiction for which the election is to be held, unless the person has taken a leave of absence;
- the person is indebted to the municipality for taxes in default exceeding $50 (excluding indebtedness on current taxes, and indebtedness for arrears of taxes for which the person has entered into a consolidation agreement with the municipality);
- the person is indebted to the local jurisdiction for any debt equalling or exceeding $500 and is in default for more than 90 days;
- the person has, within the previous 10 years, been convicted of an offence under the LAEA, the Election Act, the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, or the Canada Elections Act (Canada).
- the person, on nomination day, is employed by the Office of the Ombudsman, unless the person takes a leave of absence It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure they meet all the qualifications of candidacy and are eligible to run in the election as per the LAEA.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure they meet all the qualifications of candidacy and are eligible to run in the election as per the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA).
Nomination Requirements
Candidates who seek nomination for office are required to complete the Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance (FORM 4), Candidate Information (FORM 5), and Notice of Intent (FORM 29). These forms are required to be fully completed and submitted.
Form 4 requires the Candidate to sign an affidavit confirming:
- That they are eligible to be elected;
- will accept the office if elected; and
- have reviewed the Local Authorities Election Act.
The Candidate must swear or affirm the affidavit before the Returning Officer or a Commissioner for Oaths and return the form to the Returning Officer.
The nominated Candidate is responsible for ensuring that the nomination paper filed is fully completed and meets the requirements of the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA). If a nomination is challenged, the courts will assess eligibility. In accordance with Section 151 of the LAEA, it is an offence for a Candidate to sign a Candidate’s Acceptance Form that contains a false statement, which is subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
What’s included in Nomination Form?
Your nomination paper must be signed by at least five (5) voters eligible to vote in the election. The signatures collected must be of people who are resident in the municipality on the date of signing the nomination, and include the voter’s name, address (street address or legal description of residence) and signature.
If you are seeking election in a municipality with a division or ward system, the voters signing your nomination form must be residents in the ward or division that are you running in.
Other information
Nomination papers are to be filed at the local District Office during the nomination period. For byelections, one (or more) District Offices may be designated to accept nomination papers.
All candidates are required to officially register with the municipality before they accept any campaign contributions prior to Nomination Day. All nominated candidates are required to submit a Campaign Disclosure Statement and Financial Statement (FORM 26)
