Information for Candidates
Anyone who wants to run as a candidate in the 2022 Municipal and School Board election must file a nomination paper with the Clerk. The first day to file a nomination paper is Monday May 2, 2022. Prospective candidates must book an appointment to file their nomination paper. To book an appointment, contact:
Margaret Wilton-Siegel
Deputy Clerk / Manager, Legislative Services
Phone: 519-538-1060 ext. 1100
A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until they have filed the nomination papers.
Upcoming Event for Prospective Candidates
What are the Qualifications for Mayor & Councillor? |
To run for mayor or councillor, on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:
Who cannot be a Mayor or council candidate The following people are disqualified from being elected as a member of council, or from holding office as a member of council:
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What are the Qualifications for School Board Trustee? |
To run for any of the four school boards on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:
Who cannot be a School Board Trustee candidate The following people are disqualified from being elected as a school board trustee, or from holding office on any school board:
School board employees
School Boards in the Municipality of Meaford The following is a list of the School Boards for which qualified electors will be entitled to vote unless there are acclamations. Non-resident electors will be entitled to vote for school boards if their qualifying property is residential. Non-residential commercial or industrial property electors are not eligible to vote for school boards but are entitled to vote for other municipal officers or questions.
If you wish to run for school board trustee, you must live in the jurisdiction. |
Nomination Period |
Candidates can begin filing their Nomination Papers on Monday May 2 at 8:30 am and can be submitted up until Friday August 19, at 2:00 p.m. Nominations must be filed in person at the Administration Office (21 Trowbridge Street West) as original signatures are required. Candidates are strongly encouraged book an appointment to file their nomination, and can do so by calling 519-538-1060, ext. 1100. |
Filing a Nomination |
To run for the office of mayor, councillor or school board trustee candidates must file a prescribed Nomination Paper. Candidates cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign until this nomination paper is filed. Nomination Papers must be filed by the candidate, in person, or by an agent acting on the candidate’s behalf at: Municipality of Meaford’s Administrative Office The following four documents are required at the time of filing:
In addition, photo identification is required and the prescribed filing fee ($200 for Head of Council or $100 for all other positions paid in cash, debit, certified cheque, or money order made payable to the Municipality of Meaford). The documents may be signed by you in front of the Returning Officer or delegate at the time of filing, or you may choose to have the Declaration signed elsewhere in front of a Commissioner of Oaths and filed by someone you have appointed in writing to be your agent. The agent will be responsible for providing proof of agency, all four documents listed above, the fee and the candidate’s identification. Nominations will be accepted at during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the Municipal Office from Monday May 2, 2022 to Thursday August 18, 2022 and between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday August 19, 2022 (Nomination Day) at 21 Trowbridge Street West, Meaford. Prospective candidates must book an appointment to file their nomination papers. To book an appointment, contact: Margaret Wilton-Siegel Note: Nomination Papers are public documents and are available for inspection in the Clerk’s Office. Please note the deadline for filing nomination papers is Friday, August 19, at 2:00 p.m., as well as the deadline to withdraw. The Clerk or designate will administer the necessary oaths. Endorsement of Nominations for Mayor or CouncillorThe nomination papers of a candidate running for the office of mayor or councillor must be submitted with a declaration of qualification from each of the eligible electors endorsing their nomination. At least 25 people must endorse a candidate’s nomination for the office of mayor or councillor. Those endorsing a nomination must be eligible to vote as of the day he or she signs the prescribed declaration of qualifications form. Filing FeesAs noted above, candidates must pay a filing fee when they submit their Nomination Papers. These fees must be paid at the time of filing - by cash, debit, credit card, certified cheque or money order.
Nomination filing fees are refundable if the candidate’s financial statement and auditor’s report are filed on or before Friday, March 31, 2023, at 2 p.m. Nomination Papers for School BoardsNomination papers for school boards must be obtained and filed at the appropriate Municipal Office for the following offices: (1) School Board Trustee – English Public (Municipality of Meaford) (1) School Board Trustee – English Separate (City of Owen Sound) (1) School Board Trustee – French Public (City of Barrie) (1) School Board Trustee – French Separate (City of Sarnia) |
Withdrawing a Nomination |
If you no longer wish to run in a municipal election, you must file a Withdrawal of Nomination (Form CAN04) in person before Friday August 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Candidates cannot withdraw after the nomination period has closed. The candidate will still be required to submit a financial statement (due no later than Friday, March 31, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.) covering all financial transactions up to the time of the withdrawal. |
Changing Office |
If, after filing a nomination for an office on Council or any of the school boards, you wish to run for a different office, you must:
*For mayor, deputy mayor or councillor candidates, you are not required to submit additional declaration of endorsements – the ones you submitted for the first office are transferred to the second office. If the nomination filing fee is the same for the new office, no extra payment is required. If the nomination filing fee is different for the new office, the difference must be paid, if applicable. Note: the filing fee is not refunded until you file the financial statement by the deadline date
Campaign finances The two offices (campaigns) are separate and contributions and expenses cannot be transferred from one to the other. If you plan to incur expenses or accept contributions, you must open a separate bank account for each campaign. A contributor’s total contribution cannot exceed $1,200 for both campaigns for councillor or school board trustee candidates or $2,500 for mayoralty candidates. Financial statement You will be required to file a financial statement for each campaign. The withdrawn campaign will show all financial activity from the day the nomination paper is filed until the day the withdrawal is filed. The current campaign will show all financial activity from the day the nomination paper is filed until the end of the campaign period. |
Scrutineers |
Appointment of Scrutineers A candidate may appoint scrutineers to represent them at polling stations, during the verification of vote by mail ballots and during the counting of the ballots. The appointment shall be made using the “Appointment of Scrutineer” (Form CAN05). The forms to appoint scrutineers must be signed by the candidate in person at the Municipal Office. The candidate shall provide this signed form to their scrutineer.
Rights and Prohibitions of Scrutineers Each scrutineer shall be responsible for his/her conduct, rights and prohibitions as set out on the applicable appointment form. A person appointed as a scrutineer, before being admitted to the polling station or count centre, shall show his/her applicable appointment form and provide proof of identity and residence as prescribed in O. Reg. 304/13 to the Election official. Not more than one scrutineer representing each candidate may attend a polling station at one time, including at the opening and the closing of the poll. The scrutineer/candidate must take an “Oral Oath of Secrecy” (Form POLL01) at the polling station. Not more than one scrutineer representing each candidate may attend the verification of vote by mail ballots at one time. Each candidate or scrutineer present at the verification of vote by mail ballots must take an “Oral Oath of Secrecy” (Form POLL01). Not more than two scrutineers representing each candidate may attend the count centre at one time. Additional scrutineers may be in the public areas of the building where the count centre is located. |
Campaigning |
Election Signs Candidates should refer to the Municipality’s Election Sign By-law 2018-50 and Grey County Corporate Procedure MS-TS-005-001, Advertising Sign Permit for specific details. A sign permit or a permit application is not required for election signs. Signs can be displayed no sooner than Friday, August 26, 2022. All election signs must be removed by the candidate or the candidate’s representative by Saturday, October 29, 2022. No person shall display a logo, trademark or official mark on any election sign. The name of the candidate responsible for the sign must be clearly visible on the sign.
Vandalism The investigation or prosecution for any acts of vandalism to the posters or campaign material of the candidates should be referred to the local police force by the complainant. The Municipality or any of its municipal officers, employees or agents will not be responsible. |
Key Dates |
Monday May 2
Friday, August 19 at 2 p.m.
Monday August 22
Friday, September 23
Monday, October 24
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Additional Resources for Candidates |
For each municipal general election, the Province of Ontario releases a guide with information on registering as a candidate, campaign rules, financial filing requirements, and more.
2022 Candidates’ Guide for Ontario Municipal Council & School Board Elections
On April 22, 2022, Grey County and its member municipalities hosted an information session for prospective candidates and third party advertisers. The session presentations and recording are available at the links below: |
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