Information for third party advertisers

Nominations and registrations for the 2022 Municipal Elections will take place at the Elections Office by appointment only with the City Clerk or his designate. Candidates, third party advertisers, or their agents, will be permitted to attend their appointment with one guest.

Candidates, third party advertisers, or their agents, may contact the Elections Office by phone at 613-580-2660 or by email at elections@ottawa.ca to schedule an appointment. Appointments will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis.

When scheduling an appointment, staff will provide information on the health and safety protocols attendees can expect when visiting the Elections Office.

A third party advertisement refers to an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate in the election, or a "yes" or "no" answer to a question on the ballot.

Ontario residents, corporations and trade unions that will incur expenses for such advertisements must register as a third party advertiser with the City Clerk before they can begin advertising. They can begin filing their Notice of Registration on Monday, May 2, 2022, at 8:30 am.

For more information, we recommend consulting the Ministry of Municipal Affairs' 2022 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide. This guide was created to provide third party advertisers with general information in plain language concerning the rules and constraints of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other legislation and regulations.

In addition, the City of Ottawa’s Elections Office created a Becoming a third party advertiser in the City of Ottawa's 2022 Municipal Elections guide to provide information to those considering registering in the 2022 Municipal Elections.

Only the following persons and entities are eligible to become a third party advertiser:

• An individual who is normally a resident in Ontario.
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario.
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.

The following persons and entities that are not eligible register as a third party advertiser:

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed under section 33.
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party.
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act.
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

To register as a third party advertiser, eligible persons or entities must:

• File a completed Notice of Registration - Third Party - Form 7;
• File a completed declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be; and
• Provide proof of identity.
• There is no fee to register as a third party advertiser.

Note:  Notices of Registration are public documents and are available for inspection at the Elections Office.

Registration period

Monday, May 2, 2022, is the first day for third party advertisers can file their Notices of Registration at the Elections Office during regular office hours.

Registrations for the 2022 Municipal Elections will take place at the Elections Office by appointment only with the City Clerk or his designate. Third party advertisers, or their agents, will be permitted to attend their appointment with one guest.

In order to accommodate as many visitors as possible, the Elections Office will be extending its office hours to accept appointments from 8:30 am to 7 pm from Monday, May 2 to Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Friday, October 21, 2022, at 4:30 pm is the last day for third party advertisers to submit a Notice of Registration at the Elections Office.

Friday, October 21, 2022, at 4:30 pm is the last day for third party advertisers to withdraw their registration, in writing, at the Elections Office.

If a third party advertiser files nomination forms during the nomination period to run for the office of Mayor, City Councillor or School Board Trustee, their third party advertiser registration is deemed to be withdrawn and their advertising campaign automatically closes.

Campaign contributions

Campaign contributions are any money, goods or services that are given to a third party advertiser for use in their campaign, including money and goods that a third party advertiser contributes to their own campaign. Third party advertisers must issue a receipt for every contribution they receive. The receipt should show who made the contribution, the date, and the value of the contribution.

Third party advertisers can accept contributions from:

• Any person who is a resident of Ontario.
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario.
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
• The third party advertiser and, in the case of an individual, his or her spouse.

Third party advertisers cannot accept contributions from:

• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party.
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act.
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or a local board.

Campaign contribution limits

Contributors may contribute a total of $1,200 to a third party advertiser in relation to third party advertisements that appear during an election in the City of Ottawa. The maximum total amount that a contributor can give to third party advertisers in the City of Ottawa is $5,000.

Contributions greater than $25 may not be made in cash. All contributions above $25 must be made by cheque, money order, or by a method that clearly shows where the funds come from.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, third party advertisers are required to inform each of their contributors of these contribution limits.

Campaign contribution rebates

Third party advertisers are not eligible to participate in the City’s Contribution Rebate Program.

Campaign period

The campaign period for a third party advertiser begins on the day their Notice of Registration is filed and ends on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. On this date, the third party advertiser’s campaign is automatically closed. Third party advertisers cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses after the end of the campaign period.

If at the end of the campaign period a third party advertiser’s campaign expenses are greater than their campaign income, their campaign will be in deficit and they extend their campaign to fundraise.

If a third party advertiser’s campaign has a surplus, the third party advertiser must pay the surplus to the City Clerk when filing their financial statement.

Extending a campaign

If a third party advertiser has a deficit at the end of the campaign period, they can extend their campaign for an additional six months to attempt to erase the deficit.

To extend a campaign, a third party advertiser must:

• file a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6 on or before Tuesday, January 3, 2023.
• submit the form in person to the Elections Office during regular office hours.

The extended campaign period will continue until the earliest of the following:

• the deficit is erased;
• the third party advertiser notifies the City Clerk in writing they are no longer accepting any contributions; or
• the end of the Supplementary Campaign Period on Friday, June 30, 2023.

Third party advertisers that extend their campaign must submit two financial statements by the statutory deadline dates as follows:

• Initial financial statement must be filed on or before Friday, March 31, 2023 at 2 pm
• Supplementary financial statement must be filed on or before Friday, September 29, 2023 at 2 pm

Initial financial statements

Third party advertisers are responsible for filing a complete and accurate initial Financial Statement - Auditor’s Report Third Party - Form 8 by Friday, March 31, 2023 at 2 pm. The initial financial statement covers the period from the day the third party advertiser filed their Notice of Registration until Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

Any third party advertiser that filed a notice of registration form must file a initial financial statement. This includes third party advertisers who withdrew their nomination.

All financial statements must be filed by the third party advertiser or by an agent acting on their behalf, in person at the Elections Office. Financial statements may not be faxed, mailed or emailed, as an original signature is required. If an agent of the third party advertiser is filing the financial statement, the forms must be fully completed by the third party advertiser prior to filing.

The third party advertiser or the agent filing the financial statement will be required to present proof of identity.

A third party advertiser must notify the City Clerk, in writing, of any Court extension by 2 pm on Friday, March 31, 2023. Penalties will commence at 2:01 pm on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Supplementary financial statements

The deadline for third party advertisers who extended their campaign to file their supplementary Financial Statement - Auditor’s Report Third Party - Form 8 is Friday, September 29, 2023 at 2 pm. The supplementary financial statement covers the period from the day the third party advertiser filed their registration forms until Friday, June 30, 2023.

A third party advertiser must notify the City Clerk, in writing, of any Court extension by 2 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023. Penalties will commence at 2:01 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023.

30-day grace period and late filing fee

Third party advertisers who miss the financial statement filing deadlines (2 pm on Friday, March 31, 2023, for the initial filing; 2 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023, for the supplementary filing) can still submit their statement up to 30 days later provided that they pay a $500 late filing fee.

The grace period for the initial financial statement filing ends at 2 pm on Monday, May 1, 2023.

The grace period for the supplementary financial statement filing ends at 2 pm on Monday, October 30, 2023.

The $500 late filing fee can be paid via cash, debit/credit card, certified cheque or money order payable to the City of Ottawa.

The City of Ottawa will have new ward boundaries for the 2022 Municipal Elections and 2022-2026 Term of Council. There will be one new ward and new names for six existing wards.

During its Wednesday, October 13, 2021 meeting, City Council considered the Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020 - Implementation Report regarding the implementation of the new ward boundary structure established through the Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020 and subsequent order from the Ontario Land Tribunal.

With the new 24-ward structure set to take effect for the 2022 Municipal Elections, Council approved renaming six existing wards to reflect geographical areas and community names. Council also established a name and number for the new ward (Ward 24 – Barrhaven East). All of the City’s current wards will keep the same ward numbers for the 2022 Municipal Elections.

The ward boundaries, names and numbers set out below will serve as the basis for administering the municipal elections on Monday, October 24, 2022, and will be effective as of Tuesday, November 15, 2022. As outlined in the Ward Boundaries and Council Composition By-law, the 2022-2026 Term of Council will be composed of the Mayor, elected by general vote, and 24 other members, elected on the basis of one Member for each of the 24 wards.

New ward boundaries for the 2022 Municipal Elections

Ward number	NEW Ward name (effective November 15, 2022, and to be used for the 2022 Municipal Elections)	Current ward name
Ward 1	Orléans East-Cumberland	Orléans
Ward 2	Orléans West-Innes	Innes
Ward 3	Barrhaven West	Barrhaven
Ward 4	Kanata North	Kanata North
Ward 5	West Carleton-March	West Carleton-March
Ward 6	Stittsville	Stittsville
Ward 7	Bay	Bay
Ward 8	College	College
Ward 9	Knoxdale-Merivale	Knoxdale-Merivale
Ward 10	Gloucester-Southgate	Gloucester-Southgate
Ward 11	Beacon Hill-Cyrville	Beacon Hill-Cyrville
Ward 12	Rideau-Vanier	Rideau-Vanier
Ward 13	Rideau-Rockcliffe	Rideau-Rockcliffe
Ward 14	Somerset	Somerset
Ward 15	Kitchissippi	Kitchissippi
Ward 16	River	River
Ward 17	Capital	Capital
Ward 18	Alta Vista	Alta Vista
Ward 19	Orléans South-Navan	Cumberland
Ward 20	Osgoode	Osgoode
Ward 21	Rideau-Jock	Rideau-Goulbourn
Ward 22	Riverside South-Findlay Creek	Gloucester-South Nepean
Ward 23	Kanata South	Kanata South
Ward 24	Barrhaven East	Not applicable – New ward

Who is running in my ward?

From Monday, May 2, 2022, to Monday, October 24, 2022, voters can use their address to verify their ward number, name and the candidates running in their ward, by using the Who is running in my ward? tool.

For more information on the new ward boundaries, please visit the Ottawa Ward Boundary Review 2020, page.

May 2, 2022

• First day for candidates to file their nomination forms for the office of Mayor, Councillor, or School Board Trustee. A candidate’s campaign period begins once their nomination forms have been filed, meaning they may begin accepting contributions and spending money on their campaign.
• First day for an individual, corporation, or trade union to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser. The campaign period for a third party advertiser begins once their registration form has been filed, meaning they may begin accepting contributions and spending money on their campaign.
• The Who is running in my ward? search tool is available, allowing electors to find their ward and which candidates are running in their ward, until Voting Day on October 24, 2022.

August 19, 2022

• Candidates have until 2 pm to file, change office, or withdraw their nomination forms.

August 22, 2022

• Last day for the City Clerk to certify candidate nomination forms.

September 1, 2022

• Copies of the Voters’ List are available to certified candidates upon written request.
• The Am I on the voters’ list? search tool is available, allowing electors to check if they are registered to vote and see how their information is currently presented on the Voters’ List. Electors may use this tool from September 1 to September 16 at 4:30 pm to submit an application requesting that their information be updated or that their name be added or removed from the Voters’ List.
  • Electors may also submit a paper application requesting that their information be updated or that their name be added or removed from the Voters’ List.
  • Electors may still submit applications to update or add their name to the Voters’ List at their voting place.
• The Application for special mail in ballot tool is available. Electors may use this tool from September 1 to September 16 at 4:30 pm to submit an application requesting to vote by special mail-in ballot.
  • Electors may also submit an application form by mail or email requesting a special mail-in ballot.
• The Where do I vote? search tool is available, allowing electors to check the voting dates, times, and locations that are available.

September 9, 2022

• First day an election sign can be placed on private property and public property.

September 16, 2022

• The online Revision Period for the Voters’ List ends at 4:30 pm.
• The Application Period to receive a special mail-in ballot ends at 4:30 pm.

September 25, 2022

• Certified candidates that received a copy of the original Voters’ List will be provided with the interim list of changes to the Voters’ List by this date.
• Final expense limit certificates to be provided to candidates and third party advertisers by this date.
• The Elections Office will begin mailing Special Mail-in Ballot Voter Kits to the electors who have registered to receive a special mail-in ballot. Completed special mail-in ballots must be received at the Elections Office or Client Service Centres by 4:30 pm on October 24.

September 24, 25, 26, and 27, 2022

• Special Advance Vote Day opportunities for electors to cast their ballot between 10 am and 8 pm.

October 7, 2022

• Advance Vote Day opportunity for electors to cast their ballot between 10 am and 8 pm.

October 14, 2022

• Advance Vote Day opportunity for electors to cast their ballot between 10 am and 8 pm.

October 21, 2022

• An individual, corporation, or trade union has until 4:30 pm to file or withdraw their notice of registration as a third party advertiser.

October 24, 2022

• Voting Day.
• With the exception of institutions and retirement homes that may have reduced opening hours, voting places will open at 10 am and close at 8 pm.
• Completed special mail-in ballots must be received at the Elections Office or Client Service Centres by 4:30 pm.

October 27, 2022

• All election signs on private and public property must be removed (72 hours after Voting Day) by 11:59 pm.

October 28, 2022

• The City Clerk is expected to declare the results of the 2022 Municipal Elections official.

January 3, 2023

• Campaign period ends for candidates and third party advertisers, meaning they cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses.
• Candidates or third party advertisers that wish to extend their campaign, due to a deficit, must file a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period – Form 6 by 4:30 pm.

March 1, 2023

• Last day for the City Clerk to provide candidates and third party advertisers with notice of the financial filing requirements and penalties.

March 30, 2023

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to apply to Superior Court of Justice to extend the time to file their initial financial statement.

March 31, 2023

By 2 pm:

• Last day for candidates and third party advertisers to file an initial financial statement and auditor’s’ report, if required, for the reporting period ending January 3, 2023.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.
• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to notify the City Clerk, in writing, of a filing extension received from the Superior Court of Justice.

May 1, 2023

By 2 pm:

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to file an initial financial statement and auditor’s report, if required, and pay the $500 late filing fee.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.

• Penalties take effect at 2:01 pm.

June 29, 2023

• Last day for an elector to apply for a compliance audit of a candidate or third party advertiser’s campaign finances.

June 30, 2023

• Campaign period ends for candidates and third party advertisers that extended their campaign, meaning they cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses.

August 30, 2023

• Last day for the City Clerk to provide candidates and third party advertisers with notice of the filing requirements and penalties for supplementary financial statements and auditor’s reports.

September 28, 2023

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to apply to Superior Court of Justice to extend the time to file their supplementary financial statement.

September 29, 2023

By 2 pm:

• Last day for those who filed a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6 to extend the campaign period to file a supplementary financial statement and auditors’ report, if required, for the reporting period ending June 30, 2023.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.
• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to notify the City Clerk of a filing extension received from the Superior Court of Justice.

October 30, 2023

By 2 pm:

• Last day for a candidate or third party advertiser to file a supplementary financial statement and auditor’s report, if required, and pay $500 late filing fee.
  • Note: An auditor’s report is required if the candidate is participating in the Contribution Rebate Program. An auditor’s report is also required for candidates and third party advertisers if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or more than $10,000.

• Penalties take effect at 2:01 pm.

December 28, 2023

• Last day for an elector to apply for a compliance audit on a candidate or third party advertiser’s supplementary financial statement.