Ward 20, Scarborough Southwest By-Election: Become a Candidate

Toronto City Council declared the Council seat in Ward 20, Scarborough Southwest vacant and has opted for a by-election to fill the vacancy. Nominations opened Thursday, September 7 and close at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 16.

Nominations are accepted between Thursday, September 7, 2023 and Monday, October 16, 2023 during regular business hours of Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays). On October 16, 2023 nominations will be accepted between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All in-person candidate services are provided at Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 1st floor, west (Permit Alley).

To file a nomination for Councillor, you must provide:

  1. Nomination paper 
  2. At least 25 signed endorsements, with original signatures, on Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2 
  3. Current acceptable identification, as outlined in the section below
  4. Nomination filing fee (paid by cash, credit or debit card, certified cheque or money order, payable to ‘Treasurer, City of Toronto’)
    • The filing fee is $100
    • Nomination fees are refunded after candidates file the required financial statement(s)

Please note that original signatures are required on all forms.

If an agent is filing a nomination on your behalf, the agent must provide the above documents as well as their own identification.

To run for Councillor, on the day the nomination paper is filed, a person must be:

  1. A Canadian citizen
  2. At least 18 years of age
  3. A resident of the city of Toronto, or an owner or tenant of land in the city of Toronto, or the spouse of the owner or tenant
  4. Not legally prohibited from voting
  5. Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office


Who Cannot be a Councillor Candidate

The following people are disqualified from being elected as Councillor:

  • A judge of any court
  • A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations
  • A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election, or failed to provide their surplus to the Clerk in the last municipal election or by-election


City of Toronto Employees

  • Employees of the City of Toronto who wish to run for Councillor must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper. Documentation proving the leave of absence is required at the time of filing.

Candidates filing a nomination must present current acceptable identification (ID) showing name, qualifying Toronto address and signature. One piece of ID or a combination of two pieces of ID as specified here will meet the ID requirement.

One piece of ID showing name, qualifying Toronto address and signature:

  • Ontario driver’s licence
  • Ontario Health Card (photo card with address)
  • Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate portion)
  • Cancelled personalized cheque
  • Mortgage, lease or rental agreement
  • Insurance policy
  • Loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
  • Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
  • Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
  • Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

OR

Two pieces of ID, first piece of ID showing name and signature:

  • Ontario driver’s licence
  • Ontario Health Card
  • Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate portion)
  • Canadian passport
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Certificate of Indian Status
  • Veterans Affairs Canada Health Card
  • Social Insurance Number Card
  • Old Age Security Card
  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • Employee Identification card
  • Student Identification card issued by a post-secondary institution
  • Union Identification card or professional licence card
  • Cancelled personalized cheque
  • Mortgage, lease or rental agreement for property in Ontario
  • Insurance policy
  • Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
  • Any other document issued by the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
  • Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

Second piece of ID showing name and qualifying Toronto address:

  • Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion)
  • Income tax assessment notice
  • Child Tax Benefit Statement
  • Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
  • Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
  • Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P)
  • Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions
  • Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works
  • Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program
  • Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007
  • Property tax assessment
  • Insurance statement
  • Mortgage, lease or rental statement for property in Ontario
  • Credit card, bank account, RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement
  • CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization which provides services to persons with disabilities
  • Hospital card or record
  • Document showing campus residence issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
  • Utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a  public utilities commission
  • Cheque stub, T4 or pay receipt issued by an employer
  • Transcript or report card from a post-secondary school
  • Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario
  • Any other document issued by the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government
  • Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

The name used on the Nomination Paper will be the name that will appear on the ballot.

The following rules apply:

  • The person’s last name or single name on the nomination paper must exactly match the name shown on the acceptable identification.
  • The person’s first name may be shortened or modified subject to agreement by the City Clerk (e.g., Neethan for Navaneethan, Mike for Michael).
  • A person’s middle name, as shown on their acceptable identification, may be used in place of their first name if they demonstrate they are commonly known by that name.
  • Nicknames, slogans, initials, occupations, degrees, titles, honours or decorations are not permitted to replace or to be added to the name when filing a nomination.

If you no longer wish to be a candidate, you must file a Notice of Withdrawal of Nomination in person on or before 2 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023. Candidates cannot withdraw after the nomination period has closed.

Candidates who have withdrawn their nomination are still required to file a financial statement.

The City Clerk’s Office requires payment for certain election-related purposes, including but not limited to:

  • Filing a nomination to become a candidate
  • Paying surplus funds to the City Clerk at the time of financial filing

The following payment methods will be accepted:

  • Cash
  • Credit card (VISA, MasterCard and American Express)
  • Debit card
  • Certified cheque
  • Money order
  • Bank draft

Certified cheques, money orders and bank drafts must be payable to the “Treasurer, City of Toronto”.

Note: Surplus funds paid to the City Clerk cannot be paid by credit or debit card.

Nomination papers, endorsements of nomination, and other public documents that are filed with the City Clerk can only be viewed at the Toronto Elections Office, City Hall (100 Queen St., West), 1st floor, Permit Alley, during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays).

Financial Statements

  • Filed financial statements are public documents and will be posted on the City’s website in their entirety, including the names and addresses of all those who contributed over $100.

The candidates listed below are in default of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. This means that they cannot run or be appointed to any municipal office until after the next general election.

Last Name/Single Name First Name Reason for Default
Abdulla Wafi Did not file required initial financial statement
Arrobas Avraham Did not file required initial financial statement
Balaskas Nick Did not pay the late filing fee of $500
Berardinetti Lorenzo Did not file required initial financial statement
Captutolan Elvira Did not file required initial financial statement
Champagne Michael Did not file required initial financial statement
Courtney Alistair Did not file required initial financial statement
Din Waqar Did not file required initial financial statement
Francis Theresa Did not file required initial financial statement
Gasperlin Branko Did not file required initial financial statement
Gordon Randall Did not file required initial financial statement
Gorham Andrew Did not file required initial financial statement
Gupta Arjun Did not file required initial financial statement
Hassan Kaamil Did not file required initial financial statement
Herelle Cornelius Did not file required initial financial statement
Knott Justin Did not file required initial financial statement
Ksiazek Stephen Did not file required initial financial statement
Lester Ryan Did not file required initial financial statement
Malek Ferin Did not file required initial financial statement
Mantas Antonios Did not file required initial financial statement
Marcy Brian Did not file required initial financial statement
Ng Terry Did not file required initial financial statement
Nikolareizi Laura-Maria Did not file required initial financial statement
Noor Christopher Did not file required initial financial statement
Nouren Hashim Did not file required initial financial statement
Parker Vivian Did not file required initial financial statement
Paul Serge Did not file required initial financial statement
Ramsumair Dev Did not file required initial financial statement
Randhawa Avtar Did not pay the late filing fee of $500
Rizzo Domenic Did not file required initial financial statement
Rousseau Valérie Did not file required initial financial statement
Simms John Did not file required initial financial statement
Syed Zuhair Did not file required initial financial statement
Tranter Jasmine Did not file required initial financial statement
Valle Marco Did not file required initial financial statement
Wood Mary Did not file required initial financial statement