Norfolk County > Government > Elections > 2022 Municipal Election > Candidate Information

Candidate Information

Candidate Information Session Has been Updated With New Information

 

If a person wishes to run as a candidate in a Norfolk County municipal election, they must file nomination forms with the County Clerk. The nomination shall:
  • Be in the prescribed form and signed by the person being nominated;
  • Be accompanied by the prescribed filing fee of $200.00 for the office of Mayor and $100.00 for all other offices. This fee shall be paid in cash, certified cheque, money order, debit, Visa or Mastercard.
Nominations may be filed during the following times:
  • During normal working hours of the Clerk’s Office, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from May 2, 2022 to August 18, 2022;
  • From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Nomination Day – August 19, 2022.
All candidates are encouraged to make an appointment to submit nomination forms by contacting [email protected].  Nomination forms may be obtained on this webpage or at the Robinson Administration Building located at 185 Robinson Street, Simcoe. Walk-in appointments may be accommodated based on staff availability, however appointments are strongly encouraged. The following offices will be elected in the 2022 Municipal Election:
  • May​or:​​
    • one to be elected by all voters of the municipality​
  • Ward Coun​c​​illors:
    • one to be elected for Ward 1
    • one to be elected for Ward 2
    • one to be elected for Ward 3
    • one to be elected for Ward 4
    • two to be elected for Ward 5
    • one to be elected for Ward 6
    • one to be elected for Ward 7
  • School B​oard​ Trustees: ​
    • The number of trustees for each of the following school boards will be determined in the spring of 2022:
      • Grand Erie District School Board
Council Member Qualifications: Sect​ions 256 and 257 of the Municipal Act, 2001 state:
  1. Every person is qualified to be elected or to hold office as a member of a council of a local municipality,
  1. who is entitled to be an elector in the local municipality under section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996; and
  2. who is not disqualified by this or any other Act from holding the office.
 
  1. Every person is qualified to be elected or to hold office as a member of a council of an upper-tier municipality,
  1. who is entitled to be an elector in a lower-tier municipality within the upper-tier municipality under section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996; and
  2. who is not disqualified by thi​s or any other Act from holding the office.
  Council Member Ineligible:
  1. (1) The following are not eligible to be elected as a member of a council or to hold office as a member of a council:
  1. Except in accordance with section 30 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as follows:
    1. an employee of the municipality,
    2. a person who is not an employee of the municipality but who is the clerk, treasurer, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman or registrar referred to in section 223.11 or an investigator referred to in subsection 239.2 (1) of the municipality, or
    3. a person who is not an employee of the municipality but who holds any administrative position of the municipality.
  2. A judge of any court.
  3. A member of the Assembly as provided in the Legislative Assembly Act or of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada.
  4. Except in accordance with Part V of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 and any regulations made under that Part, a public servant within the meaning of that Act.
  Council Member Disqualification (2) A member of council of a municipality is disqualified from holding office if, at any time during the term of office of that member, he or she,
  1. ceases to be a Canadian citizen;
  2. is not a resident, the owner or tenant of land or the spouse of an owner or tenant of land in the municipality, in the case of a member of council of a local municipality, or in a lower-tier municipality within the upper-tier municipality, in the case of a member of council of an upper-tier municipality; or
would be prohibited under this or any other Act from voting in an election for the office of member of council of the municipality if an election was held at that time.
Qualifications of Members 219​. (1) A person is qualified to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person is qualified to vote for members of that district school board or that school authority and is resident in its area of jurisdiction. (2) A person who is qualified under subsection (1) to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority is qualified to be elected as a member of that district school board or school authority for any geographic area in the district school board’s or school authority’s area of jurisdiction, regardless of which positions on that district school board or school authority the person may be qualified to vote for.   Eligibility for re-ele​ction (3) A member of a district school board or school authority is eligible for re-election if otherwise qualified. Disqualification of S​chool Bo​ard Members Section 219 of the Education Act, 1990 states: Disqualification of S​chool Bo​ard Members Section 219 of the Education Act, 1990 states:   Disqualifications​
  1. (4) Despite subsection (1), a person is not qualified to be elected or to act as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person is,
  1. an employee of a district school board or school authority;
  2. the clerk or treasurer or deputy clerk or deputy treasurer of a municipality or an upper-tier municipality, all or part of which is included in the area of jurisdiction of the district school board or the school authority;
  3. a member of the Assembly or of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada; or
  4. otherwise ineligible or disqualified under this or any other Act.
Note: An employee of any school board is ineligible to run for school board trustee. Leave of absence​ (5) Despite subsection (4), none of the following persons is ineligible to be a candidate for or to be elected as a member of a district school board or school authority if he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence, beginning no later than the day the person is nominated and ending on voting day:
  1. An employee of a district school board or school authority.
  2. The clerk, treasurer, deputy clerk or deputy treasurer of a municipality or upper-tier municipality, all or part of which is included in the area of jurisdiction of a district school board or school authority
(5.1) Subsections 30 (2) to (7) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 apply with necessary modifications to an individual referred to in subsection (5). Qualification to act as ​a member​ (9) A person is not qualified to act as a member of a district school board or school authority if the person ceases to hold the qualifications required to be elected as a member of the district school board or the school authority. Person not to ​be candidate for more than on​e seat (10) No person shall run as a candidate for more than one seat on a district school board or ​school authority and any person who does so and is elected to hold one or more seats on the district school board or the school authority is not entitled to act as a member of the district school board or the school authority by reason of the election.
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH) has published a document called, "The Municipal Councillor's Guide." This guide provides an overview of the many duties and challenges elected officials at the municipal level face.
  • Mayor
    • to act as the municipality's chief executive officer;
    • to preside over council meetings such that business is carried out both efficiently and effectively;
    • to provide leadership to the council;
    • to provide information/recommendations to council on policies, practices, procedures, to ensure transparency and accountability; and,
    • to represent the municipality at official functions.
  • Councillors
    • to represent the public and to consider the well- being and interests of the municipality;
    • to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
    • to determine which services the municipality provides;
    • to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality;
    • to ensure that administrative policies practices are in place to implement the decisions of council; and,
    • to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality.
Municipal councillors also sit as members of a number of Standing Committees. These committees carry out much of the work of council and then report back to council with recommendations. As a member of municipal council, you would be required to attend meetings of the Standing Committees on which you are a member, and also to attend meetings of the full City Council.

The Province of Ontario releases a candidate guide for every municipal election. The link below is the guide for the 2018 municipal and school board elections. The Province will release their new candidates’ Guide for the 2022 municipal and school board election in early 2022.

2022 Candidates’ guide for Ontario municipal council and school board elections

 

https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-municipal-councillors-guide

New Candidates ​

The Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO) provides a guide for Candidates considering running for council. The guide includes key steps for running for office, expert advice, a feel for life on municipal council, and links to important resources. The guide is now available on AMO's e-learning portal. For more information, please visit ​https://municipaleducation.skillbuilder.co/catalog/35/1​.​

By-law 2022-30 - Election Sign By-law
Use of Corporate Resources for Purposes of Municipal Elections Act
A third party advertisement is a message in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing:
  • a candidate, or
  • a "yes" or "no" answer to a question on the ballot.
Third party advertising does not include an advertisement,
  • made by or under the direction of a candidate
  • for which no expense is incurred
  • when it is transmitted by an individual to its employees, by a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees, or by a trade union to its members or employees
Third party advertising does not include issues-based advertising so groups that do public outreach can continue their issues-based advocacy work throughout the municipal election period. Third party advertisers must register with the municipality before conducting advertising. To register to be a Third Party Advertiser the prescribed nomination form shall be filed in-person filed during the following times:
  • During normal working hours of the Clerk’s Office, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from May 2, 2022 to October 21, 2022.
Third Party Advertisers are encouraged to make an appointment to submit registration forms by contacting [email protected]. Please refer to the 2022 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide for more information.
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