Joint Compliance Audit Committee

The Compliance Audit Committee is a legislated requirement established under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to help municipalities meet their election campaign finance compliance responsibilities. The Committee is responsible for considering compliance audit applications related to the campaign finances of candidates and registered third parties, deciding whether an audit should be granted, appointing an independent auditor where appropriate, and determining whether legal proceedings should be commenced following an auditor’s report or a Clerk’s report regarding contribution limit exceedances. 

For the 2026–2030 term of Council, Centre Wellington is participating in a joint committee model with the other lower-tier Wellington County municipalities, and has been doing so beginning in 2018. This shared approach is intended to provide a practical, cost-effective, and legislatively compliant way to administer compliance audit matters, while also giving the participating municipalities access to a broader pool of qualified individuals with expertise in areas such as law, accounting, auditing, academia, and municipal election campaign finance. 

The Compliance Audit Committee may be composed of between three to seven members and must operate at arm’s length from the municipal election process. Members cannot be municipal employees or officers, members of council, current candidates, certain recent candidates or registered third parties, or individuals with other disqualifying conflicts of interest. Committee meetings are called as required, are generally open to the public, and are supported administratively by the Clerk of the municipality initiating the request.

2026 Joint Compliance Audit Committee Terms of Reference