Welcome to the City of Toronto website

• Date changes
• Time changes

Date changes

Election Day has moved from the second Monday in November (November 8) to the fourth Monday in October (October 25, 2010).

Nomination Day is the last day candidates may file a nomination paper. This day is now September 10, 2010.

The last day to withdraw a nomination has moved from the Monday after Nomination Day to Nomination Day (September 10, 2010).

The last day for candidates to file their financial statement has moved from March 31 to the last Friday in March (March 25, 2011).

The supplementary financial filing (submitted by those candidates who have extended their campaign to erase a deficit) has moved from 60 days after the end of the supplementary reporting period to the last Friday in September (September 30, 2011).

Time changes

On Nomination Day (September 10, 2010), nominations and withdrawals will close at 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. Nomination and withdrawals will only be accepted at Toronto City Hall, Council Chamber from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on this day.

Financial statements are now due by 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. on the last day of filing.

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Candidates

Candidates will be required to produce identification showing their name, qualifying address and signature when filing a nomination paper (See Becoming a candidate - Documentation provided by the candidate).

Electors

Electors will be required to produce identification showing their name, qualifying address and signature before receiving a ballot. Those without identification will be permitted to complete an application which will include a statutory declaration of identity.

Proxy

An elector may appoint another person as his or her voting proxy, using the Voting Proxy Appointment form. Both the elector and the person appointed as a voting proxy must provide identification showing their name, qualifying address and signature (See Voter information - Proxy voting).

Voters' List

People who wish to add their names to the voters' list or correct information showing on the voters' list must provide identification showing their name, qualifying address and signature (See Voters' list - Revision to the voters' list).

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• Campaign period
• Prohibition of contributions from corporations and trade unions
• Maximum contributions to candidates
• Maximum campaign expense limit
• Expenses not included in the maximum campaign
  expense limit
• Fund-raising functions
• Surplus
• Financial statements

Campaign period

Candidates with a campaign deficit will be permitted to extend their campaign for only one 6-month period instead of two.

Prohibition of contributions from corporations and trade unions

The City of Toronto by-law prohibits corporations or trade unions from making a contribution to or for any candidate for an office on the Toronto City Council. School board trustee candidates can continue to accept contributions from corporations carrying on business in Ontario and from trade unions holding bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.

Maximum contributions to candidates

The maximum amount a contributor can give to any one candidate remains the same ($2,500 to mayoralty candidates and $750 to councillor and school board trustee candidates). However, a contributor cannot contribute more than $5,000 to all candidates within a single council or school board jurisdiction.

Maximum campaign expense limit

There are limits on the amount a candidate may spend during the candidate's campaign period. The limit on campaign expenses is based on a formula related to the number of electors entitled to vote for the office.

Mayoralty candidates	$7,500 + 85 cents per elector
Councillor candidates	$5,000 + 85 cents per elector
School board trustee candidates	$5,000 + 85 cents per elector

The Clerk must provide each candidate with an estimated expense limit when they file their nomination paper. The estimate is calculated based on the number of electors in the previous election.

Within 10 days after the close of nominations, the Clerk must provide each candidate with a final expense limit. The final maximum campaign expense limit will be calculated based on the number of electors on the voters' list for the current election. If the final limit is lower than the estimate, the higher amount becomes the candidate's official expense limit. (See Campaign expenses - Campaign expense limits)

The preliminary maximum campaign expense limits for the 2010 municipal election.

Expenses not included in the maximum campaign expense limit

The following expenses are also excluded from the maximum campaign expense limit:

• For candidates with disabilities, any election expenses incurred as a result of a disability
• Compliance audit expenses
• Recount expenses
• Controverted election expenses

The nomination filing fee and interest on loans are no longer excluded from the maximum campaign expense limit.

Fund-raising functions

The definition of a fund-raising function has been changed to 'an event or activity held by or on behalf of a candidate for the purpose of raising funds for his or her election campaign'.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 the cost of holding fund-raising functions does not include costs related to the following:

• 'events or activities that are organized for such purposes as promoting public awareness of a candidate and at which the soliciting of contributions is incidental; or
• promotional materials in which the soliciting of contributions is incidental'

Surplus

Candidates will be required to submit any surplus to the Clerk at the time of filing the financial statement.

Candidate campaign surpluses will be available to candidates for expenses related to recounts, controverted election proceedings or compliance audits but will otherwise become the property of the municipality.

Financial statements

Candidates will be required to include more detail in the financial statements (See Financial reporting - Financial statement).

Candidates will be required to file a court application for an extension of the filing deadline before the deadline itself rather than within 91 days after the deadline.

After the filing date, candidate's financial statements, including the names and addresses of contributors who contributed over $100, will be posted on the City's website.

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The new maximum fines for conviction of an offence under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 are set out below:

• $25,000 for individuals
• $50,000 for corporations and trade unions

Note: under the City of Toronto by-law prohibiting corporate and trade union donations, corporations or trade unions can be fined up to $50,000 for contravention of the by-law.

If a person has been elected to office and fails to file their financial statement by 2 p.m. on the last day of filing, the person will immediately be removed from office.

A candidate may have charges laid against them regarding their campaign finances.

The deadline for commencing a prosecution for an offence under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, in relation to a regular election, is now December 1, 2014.

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• Schedule of key dates

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By-laws, forms & procedures

Before Election Day