Candidate campaign finances and contributions

In a regular municipal election, the campaign period for a candidate for Mayor, City Councillor and School Board Trustee begins on the day they file their nomination forms with the City Clerk and ends on December 31.

On December 31 the candidate’s campaign is automatically closed. Candidates cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses after the end of the campaign period.

If at the end of the campaign period a candidate’s campaign expenses are greater than their campaign income, their campaign will be in deficit. Candidates with a deficit may extend their campaign to fundraise.

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

Candidates are subject to two spending limits:

1. A general spending limit.      
2. A separate limit for expenses relating to parties and other expressions of appreciation after voting day.

The general spending limit is calculated based on the number of electors who are eligible to vote for the office the candidate is running for. The formula to calculate the limit is:

• Candidate for Mayor: $7,500 plus $0.85 per eligible elector.
• Candidate for City Councillor or School Board Trustee: $5,000 plus $0.85 per eligible elector.

The spending limit for expenses relating to parties and other expressions of appreciation after voting day is calculated as ten percent of the amount of the general spending limit.

Candidates cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign until they have filed their nomination forms with the City Clerk and opened a bank account exclusively for the purposes of the election campaign.

Candidates are responsible for keeping records of the financial activities related to their campaign and are required to keep these records until the next council or school board takes office.

Campaign contributions

Campaign contributions are any money, goods or services that are given to a candidate for use in their campaign, including money and goods that a candidate contributes to themselves. Candidates 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.

Candidates can accept contributions from:

• Individuals who are normally residents of Ontario.
• The candidate and their spouse. Note: if a candidate’s spouse is not usually a resident of Ontario, they can still contribute to their spouse’s campaign.

Candidates 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.
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario.
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or a local board.

Campaign contribution limits

• Individuals may contribute a maximum of $1,200 to a single candidate. This includes the value of any goods or services donated to the campaign.
• Individuals may not contribute more than $5,000 in total to candidates running for offices on the same council or school board.
• 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, candidates are required to inform each of their contributors of these contribution limits.

Campaign contribution limits by candidate and their spouse

There is a limit on how much a candidate running for municipal council and their spouse can contribute to their own campaign.

The contribution limit is calculated based on the number of electors who are eligible to vote for each office. The following formula is used to calculate the limit that a candidate running for municipal council, and their spouse, can contribute to their own campaign:

• Candidates running for Mayor: $7,500 plus 20 cents per elector, to a maximum of $25,000.
• Candidates running for City Councillor: $5,000 plus 20 cents per elector, to a maximum of $25,000.

Campaign contribution rebates

Candidates for Mayor or City Councillor may participate in the City’s Contribution Rebate Program and contributors may receive a rebate in accordance with the By-law No. 2022-76. 

Candidates for School Board Trustee and third party advertisers are not eligible to participate in the City’s Contribution Rebate Program.

Initial financial statements

Candidates are responsible for filing a complete and accurate initial Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate - Form 4 by 2 pm on the last Friday in March following a regular election. The statement covers the period from the day the candidate filed their nomination forms with the City Clerk until December 31 in a regular election year.

Any candidate that filed a nomination form must file an initial financial statement. This includes candidates who withdrew their nomination, candidates who were not certified and did not appear on the ballot, and candidates who were acclaimed.

Supplementary financial statements

If at the end of the campaign period a candidate’s campaign expenses are greater than their campaign income, their campaign will be in deficit. Candidates with a deficit may extend their campaign to fundraise.

Candidates who extend their campaign are responsible for filing a complete and accurate supplementary Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate - Form 4 by 2 pm on the last Friday in September following a regular election. The supplementary financial statement covers the period from the day the candidate filed their nomination forms with the City Clerk until the earliest of the following dates in a regular election:

• the deficit is erased.
• the candidate files nomination forms for another office in a subsequent election or by-election.
• the candidate notifies the City Clerk in writing that they are no longer accepting any contributions.

• June 30.

30-day grace period and late filing fee

Candidates who miss the initial or supplementary financial statement filing deadlines can still submit their financial statement up to 30 days later if they pay a $500 late filing fee.