Candidate campaign finances and contributions for 2025 Osgoode By-election

The campaign period for a candidate for City Councillor in the 2025 Osgoode By-election begins on the day their nomination forms are filed and ends on July 31, 2025. On this date, 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 in order to do some additional fundraising.

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

Extending a campaign

If a candidate 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 candidate must:

1. file a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6 on or before July 31, 2025, and
2. 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:

1. the deficit is erased;
2. the candidate notifies the City Clerk in writing they are no longer accepting any contributions; or
3. the end of the Extended Campaign Period on February 2, 2026.

Candidates 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 September 2, 2025, at 2 pm
• Supplementary financial statement must be filed on or before March 4, 2026, at 2 pm

Candidates are subject to two spending limits:

1. A general spending limit; and      
2. A separate limit for expenses relating to parties and other expressions of appreciation after Voting Day.

For the 2025 Osgoode By-election, the general spending limit is calculated based on the number of electors who are eligible to vote for the office of City Councillor Ward 20 Osgoode. The formula used to calculate the general spending limit is $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.

The initial spending limits for the 2025 Osgoode By-election were provided to candidates at the time of filing of their nomination forms. The final general spending limit and the spending limit for parties and other expressions of appreciation after Voting Day will be provided to candidates on or before May 26, 2026. The City Clerk’s calculation of the spending limits is final.

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

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 can accept contributions from:

• Individuals who are normally residents of Ontario; and
• 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. 

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.

Contributions to municipal and school board candidates are not tax deductible.

Initial financial statements

Candidates are responsible for filing a complete and accurate initial financial statement Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate - Form 4 by September 2, 2025, at 2 pm. The statement covers the period from the day the candidate filed their nomination forms until July 31, 2025.

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.

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

The candidate or the agent filing the initial financial statement will be required to present proof of identity.

A candidate must notify the City Clerk, in writing, of any Court extension by 2 pm on July 31, 2025.

Candidates will not receive a refund of their nomination fee unless they file their initial financial statement by the deadline.

Supplementary financial statements

The deadline for candidates who extended their campaign to file their supplementary Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate - Form 4 is March 4, 2026 at 2 pm. The supplementary financial statement covers the period from the day the candidate filed their nomination forms until February 2, 2026.

A candidate must notify the City Clerk, in writing, of any Court extension by 2 pm on March 4, 2026.

30-day grace period and late filing fee

Candidates who miss the financial statement filing deadlines (2 pm on September 2, 2025, for the initial filing; 2 pm on March 4, 2026, 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 October 2, 2025. Penalties will commence at 2:01 pm on October 2, 2025.

The grace period for the supplementary financial statement filing ends at 2 pm on April 7, 2026. Penalties will commence at 2:01 pm on April 7, 2026.

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