If you are an individual, corporation, or trade union that plans to spend any money on advertising that promotes, supports, or opposes a candidate in the Conseil scolaire Viamonde – Ward 3 – Centre or the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir – Ward 4 –Toronto Est by-election, you must register as a third party advertiser.

The third party advertiser registration period opens on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 and closes on Thursday, January 20, 2023.

Notice of Registration must be filed in person during regular business hours Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Toronto Elections Office at City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.

For key dates, please visit French School By-Election Key Dates for Candidates and Third Party Advertisers.

Key Forms:

Contact Information:

What is Considered a Third Party Advertisement

A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing a candidate in an election.

Individuals, corporations, or trade unions who wish to conduct third party advertising in the Conseil scolaire Viamonde – Ward 3 – Centre or the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir – Ward 4 – Toronto Est by-election must be registered with the City Clerk.

What is Not Considered a Third Party Advertisement

Third party advertisements do not include:

  • Advertisements by or under the direction of a candidate
  • Issues-based advertising during the election period
  • Advertising that does not cost money to post or broadcast (such as comments made on social media)
  • Messages distributed by:
    • An individual to their employees
    • A corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees
    • A trade union to its members or employees

Requirements for Third Party Advertisers

Individuals, corporations, and trade unions can register as third party advertisers and can also make contributions to other registered third party advertisers.

All third party advertisers are required to register with the City Clerk of the municipality where they want to advertise. This registration must be certified by the Clerk before they can accept any contributions or spend any money on advertising. There is no cost to register as a third party advertiser.

There are limits to the amount of money that a registered third party advertiser can spend on their campaign.

Candidates cannot register as a third party advertiser, nor can they direct a third party advertiser.

The third party advertiser registration period opens on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 and closes on Thursday, January 20, 2023.

The Notice of Registration  must be filed in person, by appointment only, during regular business hours Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Toronto Elections Office, 100 Queen St W.

Eligibility

You are eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

  • 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

You are not eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

  • A candidate who has filed a nomination to run in the Conseil scolaire Viamonde – Ward 3 – Centre or the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir – Ward 4 –Toronto Est by-election
  • A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act 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
  • A group, association or business that is not a corporation
  • A registered third party advertiser who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded any of the spending limits in the last municipal election or by-election

Filing a Notice of Registration

To become a third party advertiser you must first file a Notice of Registration in person or by an agent. This Notice of Registration must be certified by the City Clerk before any money can be raised or spent on advertising. There is no fee required to register as a third party advertiser.

At the time of filing, the following documentation must be provided:

Filing as an individual registrant:

  • Completed Notice of Registration form
  • Acceptable identification showing your name, address with your Ontario residence and signature (see Acceptable Identification for Third Party Advertisers section)

Filing as an agent on behalf of an individual registrant:

  • Completed Notice of Registration  form
  • A copy of the individual registrant’s acceptable identification
  • Acceptable identification showing your name and signature (see Acceptable Identification for Third Party Advertisers section)

Filing as the official representative of a corporation or trade union registrant:

  • Completed Notice of Registration form
  • A board resolution from the corporation or trade union authorizing you to act on behalf of the corporation or trade union
  • Acceptable identification with your name and signature (see Acceptable Identification for Third Party Advertisers section)

If you are filing as an individual registrant, you must present original acceptable identification showing your name, qualifying Ontario address and signature.  This can be one piece of ID or a combination of two pieces of ID.

One piece of ID showing name, qualifying Ontario 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 Ontario 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)

If you are filing as an agent of an individual registrant, or, as the official representative of a corporation or trade union registrant, you must present original acceptable identification showing your name and signature.

  • Any of the documentation listed above showing name and signature
  • Any piece of government-issued identification showing name and signature

The campaign period begins on the day the City Clerk certifies the third party advertiser’s Notice of Registration and ends on March 9, 2023. A registered third party advertiser cannot raise or spend any money after this date unless they file a Notice of Extension of the Campaign Period – Form 6 to extend their campaign.

Extended/Supplementary Campaign Period

Registered third party advertisers who believe they will have a deficit can file a Notice of Extension of the Campaign Period – Form 6 by 4:30 p.m. on March 9, 2023 to extend their campaign to September 11, 2023 in order to continue raising money.

Third party advertisers who extend their campaign must file two financial statements: an initial statement and a supplementary statement.

If a third party advertiser’s initial filing is accompanied by the required Auditor’s Report, their supplementary filing must have a new Auditor’s Report attached. (see Auditor’s Report section).

Financial Filing Requirements and Deadlines

All registered third party advertisers must file an initial financial statement by 2 p.m. on April 11, 2023.

This statement details all campaign finances from the day their Notice of Registration was certified until March 9, 2023.

Registered third party advertisers who submitted a Notice of Extension of the Campaign Period – Form 6 to extend their campaign must also file a supplementary financial statement by 2 p.m. on October 11, 2023.

This supplementary statement details all campaign finances from the day their Notice of Registration was certified until September 11, 2023.

Registered third party advertisers who miss a filing deadline can still submit their statement up to 30 days later provided that they pay a $500 late filing fee.

Auditor’s Report

An auditor’s report must be attached to the registered third party advertiser’s financial statement at the time of filing if their campaign raised or spent more than $10,000. This is required for your initial and supplementary financial filings. The auditor must be licensed under the Public Accounting Act, 2004.

Campaign Surplus

If a registered third party advertiser’s campaign ends with a surplus, they can withdraw the value of contributions that they made to their own campaign. If the registered third party advertiser is an individual, they can also refund the value of any contributions made by their spouse.

Any remaining surplus must be paid to the City Clerk when the financial statement is filed. The surplus can be paid via cash, certified cheque or money order payable to ‘Treasurer, City of Toronto’.

Correcting Errors on a Financial Statement

Registered third party advertisers who submit a financial statement and later identify an error may withdraw their original statement and submit a new one by 2 p.m. on the filing deadline date.

If the withdrawn financial statement was accompanied by an auditor’s report, the corrected financial statement must be accompanied by a new/updated auditor’s report.

If the corrected financial statement identifies an additional surplus amount, the difference must be paid to the City Clerk at the time the corrected financial statement is filed. If the surplus amount is lower, the City Clerk will remit any difference owing with interest.

Penalties

Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, an individual, corporation, or trade union will not be eligible to register as a third party advertiser until after the 2026 municipal if:

  • The registered third party advertiser fails to file a financial statement by the end of the 30-day grace period or fails to apply to the court for an extension by the filing deadline.
  • The financial statement shows that the registered third party advertiser has exceeded a spending limit.
  • The registered third party advertiser fails to turn over their surplus to the City Clerk when they file their financial statement.

Other penalties are listed in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 

Campaign Bank Account

  • You must open a bank account before raising or spending any money.
  • Your campaign bank account must be used exclusively for campaign purposes.
  • Banks may require you to provide a copy of your nomination paper and the Letter to Banks  to open a campaign bank account.
  • You do not need to open a bank account if you do not accept any contributions or spend any money on your campaign.

Contribution Limits

Registered third party advertisers can accept contributions from individuals, corporations, and trade unions. However, there are limits to the amount of money that these contributors can give.

  • A contributor cannot contribute more than $1,200 to an individual candidate.
  • A contributor cannot contribute more than a combined total of $5,000 to multiple candidates running in the Conseil scolaire Viamonde – Ward 3 – Centre or Trustee, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir – Ward 4 – Toronto Est by-election.

Third party advertisers should make sure that their contributors are aware of these contribution limits.

There is no limit on how much a registered third party advertiser (and, if the third party advertiser is an individual, their spouse) can contribute to their own advertising campaign.

MyCampaign and the Electronic Financial Filing System

Third party advertisers have access to a portal called MyCampaign that allows them to access campaign information. Third party advertisers can also provide contact information through MyCampaign that will be posted on the City’s website.

The Electronic Financial Filing System (EFFS) is a system that allows third party advertisers to input and track all contributions and expenses. The system will provide contribution receipts and can produce the required financial statement. An EFFS manual is available in MyCampaign.

Election Signs

Election signs and campaign office signs are subject to rules under the City’s Election Sign By-law  and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 . Election signs can be erected starting December 29, 2022.

For information about when, where and how signs may be displayed, visit the Municipal Licencing and Standards web page Election Signs.

For questions or complaints relating to election signs call 311.

Advertisement Requirements

Third party advertisers must identify themselves and provide mandatory information on all advertising beginning the date of certification of their registration until the close of voting on Election Day. Third party advertisements must contain the following information:

  • Name of the registered third party advertiser
  • Municipality where the third party advertiser is registered
  • Telephone number, mailing address, or email address at which the registered third party advertiser may be contacted regarding the advertisement

Candidate Involvement in Third Party Advertising

Third party advertising must be done independently of candidates, who are not able to direct a third party advertiser. If a candidate wishes to purchase or direct their own election campaign advertising, they must follow rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996  at identify themselves on their advertisements.

Use of City Symbols and Logo

Registered third party advertisers are prohibited from using the City of Toronto’s logo, graphics or any other item of City intellectual property for any campaign-related purpose or material including, but not limited to, signs, printed or electronic publications, flyers, brochures, e-mails, websites, posters, and promotional items.

Privacy and Personal Information

It is the responsibility of the registered third party advertiser to protect any personal information collected from the purpose of filing election forms (e.g., financial statements) until such time the forms are filed with the City Clerk. Once filed, all documents and materials submitted to the City Clerk are subject to access and privacy provisions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other applicable legislation.