CAMPAIGN FINANCE 101 (or getting your financial ducks in a row)

If you’re thinking of running as a candidate in the Ontario Municipal council and school board elections this fall, nomination and registration begin May 2nd and end August 19, 2022 at 2 p.m. The council and school board term of office will run from November 15, 2022 to November 14, 2026. Lead Where you Live: A guide on running for municipal council is a great guide for candidates.

Anyone interested in running for office must take special care to follow the financial guidelines laid out by the provincial government, but for now, here are some of the highlights:

  • Candidates for school board trustee and candidates for municipal council in communities with 4,000 or fewer electors (like Billings), do not have to submit endorsement signatures. You will, however, have to pay a fee of $200 to run for Mayor or $100 to run for Councillor.
  • There is nothing in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 that would prevent like-minded candidates from campaigning on the same platform or identifying themselves as a group or slate. However, each candidate must keep their campaign finances separate and any joint expenses (for example, signs with two candidates’ names on them) must be divided between the campaigns.
  • You must open a bank account exclusively for your campaign if you accept any contributions of money (including contributions from yourself or your spouse) or incur any expenses.
  • If you are running for municipal council, there is a limit on the total amount that you and your spouse may collectively contribute to your own campaign. The clerk will tell you what your self-funding limit is.
  • There is a $1,200 limit to contributions from other individuals. A contributor can give to multiple candidates in the same jurisdiction (same council or school board), but the maximum total amount is $5,000.
  • Only contributions $25 or less can be made in cash. Contributions over $25 must be made by cheque, money order, or method that clearly shows where the funds came from (certain debit, credit, or electronic transfer transactions).
  • You are required to inform every contributor of the contribution limits. An easy way to make sure that this is done is to include the contribution limits on the receipt that you provide for each contribution.
  • You will be required to file a campaign financial statement disclosing contributions and expenses for your campaign. Read through the document closely to ensure you are keeping record of all the information that must be included.

Don't be intimidated by the paperwork! Taking time to review the guides will help you get all your financial ducks in a row! 



via GIPHY