Elections for municipal government are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. The last municipal election was held on October 22, 2018. The next municipal election will be held Monday, October 24, 2022.
2022 Municipal Election
Candidate Qualifications – Municipal Office
A candidate for municipal office must, upon nomination, be a qualified municipal elector and fulfil all of the following requirements:
- A resident of the Township of Chatsworth, a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the Township of Chatsworth, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant
- A Canadian Citizen
- At least 18 years old
- Not legally prohibited from voting
- Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
- Candidates for school board trustees must be a resident with the board area and a supporter of that board
Candidates can only be nominated for one office on a municipal council or school board in the Province of Ontario at a time. If a person is nominated for a second office, the first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to determine whether he or she is qualified to be elected to and hold office.
Candidate Qualifications – School Board
A candidate for school board trustee must, upon nomination, be a qualified municipal elector and fulfil all of the following requirements:
- A resident within the jurisdiction of the board
- A supporter of the board
- A Canadian Citizen
- At least 18 years old
- Not legally prohibited from voting
- Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office
Candidates can only be nominated for one office on a school board in the Province of Ontario at a time. If a person is nominated for a second office, the first nomination is deemed to be withdrawn.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to determine whether he or she is qualified to be elected to and hold office.
Additional Information
The Province has prepared a 2022 Candidates’ Guide – for the Municipal Council and School Board election. This guide is not meant to replace provincial legislation. It provides general information about the rules contained in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other legislation and regulations.
More information about School Board Trustees has been provided by the Ontario Education Services Corporation or you may refer to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for additional information.
Nomination Process for Candidates
The nomination period for individuals to register as candidates has changed as a result of recent amendments to the Municipal Elections Act. The nomination period now begins May 2nd and ends on August 19, 2022.
Nomination forms (Form 1) must be accompanied by an Endorsement of Nomination signed by 25 individuals who are a Canadian citizen, aged 18 or older and have a qualifying address in the municipality.
Nomination forms (Form 1 and Form 2) including the Declaration of Qualification Form will be accepted at the Municipal Office, 316837 Highway 6, RR 1 Chatsworth, Ontario from:
- May 2, 2022 to August 18, 2022 between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and on Nomination Day, August 19, 2022 between 9:00 am –2:00 pm.
The last date to file nominations will be until 2:00 pm on Nomination Day, August 19, 2022.
All nominations must be filed in person, or by an agent acting on behalf of the nominee, at the Township Municipal Office, 316837 Highway 6, RR 1 Chatsworth, Ontario.
Note: If filed by an agent, photo identification of the candidate is required. Facsimile transmissions, e-mail or mail-in nomination forms are not permitted.
All forms including Nomination Papers and Declaration of Qualification Forms are available from the Township Municipal Office, located at 316837 Highway 6, RR 1 Chatsworth, Ontario.
Candidates may begin campaigning, raising, and expending funds as soon as their nomination papers have been filed. For more information contact the Clerks Department at 519-794-3232.
Filing Fees
Candidates who are qualified to file a nomination must complete the prescribed Nomination Paper – Form 1, the Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2, and a Declaration of Qualifications, together with the required filing fee.
The required filing fee is:
- $200 for the Office of the Mayor
- $100 for all other offices
Payment is accepted in the form of cash, debit, cheque, or money order made payable to The Township of Chatsworth.
Additional Information
Please refer to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for additional information.
For a campaign period ending December 31, 2022, Financial Statements must be filed by all candidates on or before 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023, There is a 30 day grace period for late filing that includes a late filing fee of $500. If a candidate is not able to meet the deadline, he/she may apply to the Superior Court of Justice prior to the March 31st deadline for an extension.
Each municipality and school board must appoint a Compliance Audit Committee (CAC). The role of the Compliance Audit Committee is to receive and make decisions on applications for compliance audits of candidates’ and registered third party election campaign finances. The CAC is also responsible for reviewing reports submitted by the Clerk with respect to any contributor who appears to have contravened any of the contribution limits to a candidate’s election campaign or to a registered third party election campaign.
Nominations Open – May 2, 2022
Nomination Day – August 19, 2022
Election Day – October 24, 2022
Election Results Declared – October 25, 2022
What is a Third Party Advertising?
Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate, or support, promote or oppose a “yes or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.
Third party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign, and must be done independently from a candidate. Any advertisements or materials that are made and distributed by a candidate, or under a candidate’s direction, are part of the candidate’s campaign.
Third party advertising is a way for those outside of the candidate’s campaign to express support or opposition to candidates and to try to persuade voters to vote a certain way.
A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate, or a “yes’ or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Advertisements include traditional ads as well as materials such as brochures or signs.
What is not a third party advertisement?
Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate are not considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:
- Speaking to friends and neighbours
- Posting on social media, such as Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
- Sending an email to a group or mailing list.
Who can be a third party advertiser?
Only those who have registered can spend money on third party advertising. The following are eligible to register as a third party advertiser:
- Any person who is a resident in Ontario
- A corporation carrying on business in Ontario
- A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employee in Ontario
Who cannot be a third party advertiser?
A candidate running for any municipal council or school board office cannot register to be a third party advertiser in any municipality.
Groups, associations or businesses that are not corporations are not eligible to register and may not spend money on third party advertising in municipal elections. For example, neighbourhood associations, clubs or professional associations cannot register and cannot make contributions to third party advertisers. Members may register as individual third party advertisers and may contribute individually.
Registration
An individual, corporation or trade union must register with the Municipal Clerk to be a third party advertiser in a municipality by completing a Notice of Registration – Third Party – Form 7. Being registered in a municipality allows the third party to advertise to the voters in that municipality. A third party advertiser can support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school trustee and candidates running for offices on an upper tier council.
The Province has prepared the 2022 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide. This guide provides information to those who want to register as third party advertisers for the 2022 municipal council and school board elections. It is not meant to replace provincial legislation. It provides general information about the rules contained in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other legislation and regulations.
Qualified electors must be:
- 18 years of age or older;
- A Canadian Citizen;
- A resident of the Township of Chatsworth, or an owner or tenant of land in the Township or the spouse of an owner or tenant; and
- Is not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Act or any other legislation.
The Township of Chatsworth will use Vote by Mail for the 2022 Municipal Election.
Check if you are on the Voter’s List!
The Province has prepared the 2022 Voters’ Guide to provide information to voters for the 2022 municipal council and school board elections. It provides general information about the rules contained in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and other legislation and regulations.
Patty Sinnamon
CAO Clerk
316837 Highway 6, RR 1
Chatsworth, Ontario, Canada
N0H 1G0
519-794-3232 ex. 124
patty.sinnamon@chatsworth.ca
______________________________________________________
Tyler Zamostny
Deputy Returning Officer
316837 Highway 6, RR 1
Chatsworth, Ontario, Canada
N0H 1G0
519-794-3232 ex. 133
tyler.zamostny@chatsworth.ca
Grey County Compliance Audit Committee (GCCAC 2022)
Notice of Nomination
2022 Municipal Election, Candidate and Third-Party Advertiser Information Session
Thinking of running for municipal council? On Wednesday, April 20, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM Grey County and member municipalities from across Grey County will be co-hosting a virtual candidate information session to help you understand what it means to be a municipal councillor. There is no cost to attend this event. Click the link below to register today.
2022 Municipal Election, Candidate and Third-Party Advertiser Information Session Registration
Have you moved or changed your address within Ontario in the last four years?
To make sure you’re on the list to vote in the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections on October 24, visit voterlookup.ca and check that your information is accurate.
Here, you can also easily make updates for yourself and those in your household.
