Fact Sheet
July 21, 2022
Key dates
- July 25 to August 4: Applications available at Toronto City Hall and on the City’s Ward Vacancies webpage: www.toronto.ca/wardvacancies.
- August 2: An online Information session for interested applicants will be hosted by the City Clerk’s Office.
- August 4, 4:30 p.m.: Deadline to file the required forms with the City Clerk’s Office at Toronto City Hall.
- August 8: The agenda for the special meeting of City Council will be published on the City’s website: toronto.ca/council
- August 15: City Council will hold a special meeting to consider the applications and will make its decision for the appointment; candidates may address City Council.
- November 14: the end of the current term of City Council and the duration of this appointment.
Information session
An information session will be held on Tuesday, August 2, 7 to 8 p.m., online:
- Staff will provide an overview of the appointment process for interested persons and answer questions about the process.
- The event will be hosted online using Webex and a recording of the event will be posted after the event for anyone who cannot attend. The meeting link and the recording will be available on the City’s Ward Vacancies webpage.
- Attendance is optional for candidates.
Eligibility to apply
To apply to fill a vacant Council seat a person must be:
- 18 years of age or older
- A Canadian citizen
- A resident of the Toronto; or an owner or tenant of a land in Toronto; or the spouse of and owner/tenant of land in Toronto
- Not legally prohibited from holding municipal office.
- Employees of the City of Toronto and its agencies and boards as well as public appointees must be on a leave of absence.
Required documentation
Applications must include:
- Personal identification showing name, signature and qualifying address
- Completed Consent of Nominee and Declaration of Qualification form.
Supplemental documentation
- Candidates may submit additional information about themselves to City Council such as a resume, biography or letter. Submissions can be sent to the City Clerk: councilmeeting@toronto.ca.
- Any information submitted, including a candidate’s personal information, becomes part of the public record. Candidates should not submit documents that they do not want shared with the public, including media.
- Submissions from candidates received by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 will be posted online as communications in the agenda for the Monday, August 15 special meeting of Council.
- Submissions received after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 will be made available to Members of Council, relevant City officials, the media and the public in accordance with usual protocols.
- A full set of submitted documents will be available for public inspection at the special meeting of Council.
Deadline to file
The deadline to file is Thursday, August 4 at 4:30 p.m. Applications must be filed in person at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., main floor.
Withdrawing an Application
- Applications can be withdrawn at any time up to the start of the meeting on Monday, August 15.
- Candidates can do so in writing to the City Clerk at councilmeeting@toronto.ca from the email address used by the applicant on their form or in person at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., main floor.
Contact with Members of City Council
- The Lobbyist Registrar advises that there is no requirement to register as a lobbyist to have contact with Members of City Council between now and the Monday, August 15 special meeting of Council.
- However, if a candidate is already registered with the City for communications on other matters, the Lobbyist Registrar recommends that the candidate speak with an advisor in her office at 416-338-5858 (TTY: 1-800-855-0511) before making contact with Members of Council.
City Council meeting
City Council will meet Monday August 15, 1:30 p.m. Council Chamber, Toronto City Hall
- Applicants may address City Council:
- Speaking order will be determined by random draw
- Speaking time is limited to five minutes
- Each member may ask one question of each candidate
- Voting is by ballot:
- Successful candidate must receive more than 50 per cent of all votes
- Subsequent balloting rounds will be held, if needed
- Ties are determined by random draw.
More information, including the application form, is available on the City’s Ward Vacancies webpage.
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
