Information for candidates>
Nominations are closed
The deadline to file a nomination was 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022. Nominations are now closed.
Candidate information session
City Clerk Krista Power hosted a candidate information session on April 20, 2022, along with special guest Karen Bradica, Municipal Advisor with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Here are links to download the PowerPoint presentation and watch a recording of the information session.
Election sign information
By-law BL 56/2022, a by-law to manage and regulate election signs in the City of Thunder Bay, was approved by City Council on June 27, 2022.
The following are some highlights of the Election Sign By-law.
- Municipal election signs may be erected no earlier than August 23, 2022, the Tuesday following Nomination Day. However, election signs may be erected on a candidate’s campaign office, once the candidate has filed their nomination with the City Clerk.
- Election signs are permitted on private property, only, with permission of the property owner or tenant.
- No more than 3 election signs will be allowed per private property lot.
- For commercial or industrial properties, one election sign per candidate per 500 meters of frontage is allowed.
- Election signs are not permitted on public property, including City boulevards and highways.
- Candidates must not place an election sign in any ward that they are not officially nominated or registered in.
- Election signs must not interfere with the safe movement or visibility of any vehicle or pedestrian traffic, or where it is a general hazard to public safety.
- Election signs must not obstruct or impede any fire escape, fire exit, door, window, scuttle, skylight, flue, air intake, air exhaust, emergency water connection, or fire hydrant.
- Election signs must not be more than 1.2 meters wide, and not more than 2.0 meters high, except where a billboard sign or mobile sign is utilized under a valid permit.
- Election signs must not display any of the City’s official marks, or the City’s logo, or the City’s municipal election logo.
- On voting day and advance voting days, election signs and vehicles displaying election signs are not permitted on any grounds associated with any place being used as a voting location.
- Election signs must be removed within 72 hours following voting day, October 24, 2022. Election signs at a campaign office must be removed within 14 days following voting day.
For more details, please refer to By-law 56/2022 Election Sign By-law.
No landlord or person acting on a landlord’s behalf may prohibit a tenant from displaying signs in relation to an election on the premises to which the lease relates. (s.88.2 (1) of the Municipal Elections Act) Likewise, no condominium corporation or any of its agents may prohibit the owner or tenant of a condominium unit from displaying election signs on the premises of their own unit. However, reasonable conditions may be set relating to the size or type of election signs that may be displayed on the premises, and display of election signs in common areas of the building may be prohibited.
Use of Corporate Resources Policy
It is the policy of the City of Thunder Bay that no candidates in a municipal election or by-election shall utilize any resource of the Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay in support of an election campaign.
Policy 08-01-06 Use of Corporate Resources: Municipal Elections was updated on April 4, 2022 to further allow the City to balance the need for freedom of expression and assembly of candidates and its responsibility to ensure that no candidate or registered third party advertiser is provided with an unfair advantage.
The following are some highlights of the policy:
- Email addresses and telephone numbers issued to Members of City Council shall not be advertised or promoted as a means of contacting a member of Council as a candidate in an election.
- No member of Council shall conduct a Ward/Townhall meeting beyond June 30th in an election year.
- No members of Council shall use any portion of any budget to which they have access to in support of the election campaign activities of any candidate.
- At no time shall a candidate solicit the support of any member of the administrative staff of the City of Thunder Bay for any activity in support of their election campaign.
- The City’s media releases or materials will not reference the name of a Member of Council.
- The City’s logo, crest, slogans, etc., may not be printed, posted or distributed on any election-related campaign materials.
- No Member of Council may campaign while in attendance at City-organized events or events held at City facilities.
For more details, please refer to Policy 08-01-06 Use of Corporate Resources: Municipal Elections.
Accessibility
Candidates in the municipal election must consider the needs of electors with disabilities. Campaign offices, election materials and canvassing should all be reviewed in order to ensure that they are fully accessible. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario has released several quick reference documents to assist candidates with accessible elections considerations:
Accessible All Candidates Meetings
Accessible Campaign Information and Communication
Accessible Constituency, Riding Association, Central Party and Campaign Offices
What else do I need to know?>
Monday, May 2, 2022
First day to file a nomination paper for the offices of Mayor, City Councillor and School Board Trustee. Once the nomination paper is filed with the City Clerk:
- the candidate can start raising and spending money on their campaign
- preliminary spending limit provided to candidates
- preliminary contribution limit provided to candidates running for Mayor and City Councillor, does not apply to School Board Trustee candidates
Friday, August 19 at 2 p.m.
Deadline for candidates to file a nomination, withdraw a nomination or change office
Monday, August 22
Last day for the City Clerk to certify candidate nomination papers
Thursday, September 1
Voters’ List available to candidates
Friday, September 23
Final spending limits provided to candidates
Final self-contribution limit provided to candidates running for Mayor and Councillor, does not apply to School Board Trustee candidates
Monday, October 24
Election Day
Tuesday, November 15
New term of office commences
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
End of campaign period for candidates and third party advertisers
Last day to file a Notice of Extension, Form 6, to continue campaigning to erase a deficit
Friday, March 31 at 2 p.m.
Deadline for candidates to file the initial financial statement
Friday, June 30
End of extended campaign period
Friday, September 29 at 2 p.m.
Deadline for candidates and third party advertisers to file the supplementary financial statement, applies only to those who extended their campaign period
A campaign bank account must be opened for election campaign purposes prior to spending money or accepting contributions. All contributions of money, including contributions from yourself, must be deposited in the campaign account. All campaign expenses must be paid from the campaign account.
You do not have to open a campaign bank account if you do not spend any money and do not receive any contributions of money. If you receive contributions of goods or services, but no contributions of money, you do not have to open a campaign bank account.
You cannot use your personal bank account for campaign finances, even if you are planning a very small campaign.
Candidates must keep records of:
- receipts issued for every contribution
- value of every contribution
- whether contribution is in form of money, goods or services
- contributor’s name and address
- every expense, including the receipts obtained for each expense
All campaign financial records must be retained until after November 15, 2026, when the next new council has been sworn in.
Money, goods or services given to a candidate for their campaign are considered to be contributions. Candidates can accept contributions from:
- individuals who normally reside in Ontario
- the candidate and their spouse
Contributions to candidates from trade unions and corporations are prohibited in municipal elections.
Cash contributions may be accepted up to $25. Contributions over $25 must be by cheque or money order, or by a method that clearly shows where the funds came from. Receipts must be issued for each contribution and should include the name and address of the contributor, the amount and date of the contribution.
'Pass the hat' donations of under $25 received at fundraising events, may be given anonymously and the candidate is not required to issue receipts. These donations are still considered campaign income and the total amount must be reported on the candidate's financial statement.
The ticket price for a fundraising event is a contribution and the candidate must issue a receipt for the full amount.
The maximum amount an individual can contribute to a candidate's campaign is $1,200. Contributors may donate up to an aggregate total of $5,000 to any number of candidates running for the same council or school board.
Candidates are required to inform contributors of contribution limits.
There is a limit on the amount that a candidate and their spouse can collectively contribute to the candidate's own campaign for a municipal council office.
The limit is based on the number of electors voting for the office, and is calculated as follows:
- $7,500 + $0.20 per elector for head of council, to a maximum of $25,000
- $5,000 + $0.20 per elector for other council offices, to a maximum of $25,000
Upon filing their nomination, a candidate will receive a certificate from the Clerk with a preliminary calculation of maximum self-funding amounts, based on the voters' list as of September 15, 2018. On or before September 26, 2022, the Clerk shall provide a final certificate. The number of electors used in the final calculation will be the greater of the number on the voters' list on September 15, 2018 or September 15, 2022.
A candidate's general spending limit applies only to expenses incurred until the end of Voting Day. The limit is based on the number of electors voting for the office, and is calculated as follows:
- Head of council: $7,500 + 85 cents per elector
- All other offices: $5,000 + 85 cents per elector
There is a separate spending limit for parties and expressions of appreciation after Voting Day, and that limit is 10% of the above calculated amounts.
The Clerk will provide candidates with two certificates of maximum campaign expenses:
- preliminary estimate – when filing a nomination form, based on the 2018 voters’ list
- final certificate, by September 26, with the higher of the calculated amount based on the 2022 voters’ list, or the amount on the preliminary certificate, noted above.
A candidate may appoint scrutineers to represent them during voting and counting of the votes. Each candidate may appoint one scrutineer per ballot box in a voting place. A candidate is not required to appoint that many scrutineers, or any scrutineers at all.
There is no requirement for a scrutineer to be a qualified elector. There are no age restrictions to be a scrutineer, nor any provision that a scrutineer cannot be related to the candidate.
Each scrutineers must be appointed in writing using Form EL12A - Appointment of Scrutineer by Candidate. Scrutineers will be required to show their appointment document to election officials at the voting place.
Scrutineers may observe, but they are not allowed to interfere with voters, attempt to influence how they vote, or ask a voter how they voted.
Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
Where can I find more information?
Below are links to Province of Ontario's guides for the 2022 municipal and school board elections. The guides contain information on registering as a candidate, campaign rules, financial filing requirements, and more.
2022 Candidates’ Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections
Guide 2022 à l’intention des candidats et candidates - élections municipales et scolaires en Ontario
You can contact the Office of the City Clerk at 807-625-2230 ext.9 or email Leanne.Lavoie@thunderbay.ca.
City of Thunder Bay
Office of the City Clerk
500 Donald St. E., 3rd Floor
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5V3
Phone: (807) 625-2230