Municipal Elections

 List of Candidates

List of Certified Candidates

Declaration of Acclamation to Office

 Candidate Information

Interested in running in the 2022 election. View our Candidate Information Session held April 21, 2022 for more information.

Candidate Qualifications – Municipal Office

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

• A resident of the Township of Centre Wellington, a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the Township of Centre Wellington, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant
• A Canadian Citizen
• At least 18 years old
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
• Candidates for school board trustees must be a resident with the board area and a supporter of that board

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 If a person is nominated for a second office, the first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to determine whether he or she is qualified to be elected to and hold office.

Candidate Qualifications – School Board

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

• A resident with in the jurisdiction of the board
• a supporter of the board
• A Canadian Citizen
• At least 18 years old
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

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 If a person is nominated for a second office, the first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to determine whether he or she is qualified to be elected to and hold office.

For further information regarding Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, please check with the City of Brampton the designated returning office.

Additional Information

The Province has prepared a 2022 Candidates' Guide - for the Municipal Council and School Board election.  This guide is not meant to replace provincial legislation. It provides general information about the rules contained in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other legislation and regulations.

More information about School Board Trustees has been provided by the Ontario Education Services Corporation or you may refer to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for additional information.

Nomination Process for Candidates

The nomination period for individuals to register as candidates has changed as a result of recent amendments to the Municipal Elections Act. The nomination period now begins May 2nd and ends on August 19, 2022.

Nomination forms (Form 1) must be accompanied by an Endorsement of Nomination signed by 25 individuals who are a Canadian citizen, aged 18 or older and have a qualifying address in the municipality.

Nomination forms (Form 1 and Form 2) including the Declaration of Qualification Form will be accepted at the Municipal Office, Legislative Services, 1 MacDonald Square, Elora from:

May 2, 2022 to August 18, 2022 between the hours of 8:30 am – 4:30 pm and on Nomination Day, August 19, 2022 between 8:30 am –2:00 pm.

The last date to file nominations will be until 2:00 pm on Nomination Day, August 19, 2022.

All nominations must be filed in person, or by an agent acting on behalf of the nominee, at the Township Municipal Office, Legislative Services, 1 MacDonald Square, Elora, Ontario.

Note: If filed by an agent, photo identification of the candidate is required. Facsimile transmissions, e-mail or mail-in nomination forms are not permitted.

All forms including Nomination Papers and Declaration of Qualification Forms are available from the Township Municipal Office, Legislative Services, located at 1 MacDonald Square, Elora, Ontario.

Candidates may begin campaigning, raising, and expending funds as soon as their nomination papers have been filed. For more information contact Legislative Services at 519.846.9691 x 242 or 243. 

 2022 Notice of Nomination

Filing Fees

Candidates who are qualified to file a nomination must complete the prescribed Nomination Paper - Form 1, the Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2, and a Declaration of Qualifications, together with the required filing fee.

The required filing fee is:

• $200 for the Office of the Mayor
• $100 for all other offices

Payment is accepted in the form of cash, debit, cheque, or money order made payable to The Township of Centre Wellington.

Additional Information

Candidate's are encouraged to review the Township 's Election Policies and Procedures. 

Please refer to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for additional information.

For a campaign period ending December 31, 2022, ​​Financial Statements must be filed by all candidates on or before 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023,  There is a 30 day grace period for late filing that includes a late filing fee of $500. If a candidate is not able to meet the deadline, he/she may apply to the Superior Court of Justice prior to the March 31st deadline for an extension. 

Please see the List of Candidates to view submitted financial statements. 

Each municipality and school board must appoint a Compliance Audit Committee (CAC). The role of the Compliance Audit Committee is to receive and make decisions on applications for compliance audits of candidates' and registered third party election campaign finances. The CAC is also responsible for reviewing reports submitted by the Clerk with respect to any contributor who appears to have contravened any of the contribution limits to a candidate's election campaign or to a registered third party election campaign.

Terms of Reference

Council Report

Nominations Open - May 2, 2022

Nomination Day - August 19, 2022

Voting Opens - October 14, 2022 at 10:00 am

Election Day - October 24, 2022

Election Results Declared - October 25, 2022

Third party Advertising

What is a Third Party Advertising?

Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate, or support, promote or oppose a “yes or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party advertising is separate from any candidate's campaign, and must be done independently from a candidate. Any advertisements or materials that are made and distributed by a candidate, or under a candidate's direction, are part of the candidate's campaign.

Third party advertising is a way for those outside of the candidate's campaign to express support or opposition to candidates and to try to persuade voters to vote a certain way.

A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate, or a “yes' or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Advertisements include traditional ads as well as materials such as brochures or signs.

What is not a third party advertisement?

Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate are not considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:

· Speaking to friends and neighbours
· Posting on social media, such as twitter, facebook or Instagram
· Sending an email to a group or mailing list. 

Who can be a third party advertiser?

Only those who have registered can spend money on third party advertising. The following are eligible to register as a third party advertiser:

· any person who is a resident in Ontario
· a corporation carrying on business in Ontario
· a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employee in Ontario 

Who cannot be a third party advertiser?

A candidate running for any municipal council or school board office cannot registered to be a third party advertiser in any municipality.

Groups, associations or businesses that are not corporations are not eligible to registered and may not spend money on third party advertising in municipal elections. For example, neighbourhood associations, clubs or professional associations cannot register and cannot make contributions to third party advertisers. Members may register as individual third party advertisers and may contribute individually.
Registration

An individual, corporation or trade union must registered with the Municipal Clerk to be a third party advertiser in a municipality by completing a Notice of Registration – Third Party – Form 7. Being registered in a municipality allows the third party to advertise to the voters in that municipality. A third party advertiser can support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school trustee and candidates running for offices on an upper tier council.

The Province has prepared the 2022 Third Party Advertisers' Guide. This guide provides information to those who want to register as third party advertisers for the 2022 municipal council and school board elections. It is not meant to replace provincial legislation. It provides general information about the rules contained in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other legislation and regulations

2022 Notice of Third Party Registration

Voter Information

Qualified electors must be: 

• 18 years of age or older;
• A Canadian Citizen;
• A resident of the Township of Centre Wellington, or an owner or tenant of land in the Township or the spouse of an owner or tenant; and
• Is not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Act or any other legislation.

The Township of Centre Wellington will use Internet and Telephone Voting for the 2022 Municipal Election.  The videos below show how to vote online using both methods.

How to Vote Online 
How to Vote by Phone

Voter Help Centres

Voting opens on October 14, 2022 at 10:00am online and by telephone.  If you require assistance in the voting process, please visit us at one of the Voter Help Centres:

October 18 (10 am - 12 noon) Victoria Park Senior’s Centre, Fergus
October 20 & 21 (9 am – 7 pm) Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus & Municipal Office, Elora
October 22 & 23 (11 am - 2 pm) Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus & Municipal Office, Elora
October 24 (9 am - 8 pm) Voting Day Centre Wellington Sportsplex, Fergus & Municipal Office, Elora