Municipal Election 2022

May 2, 2022

• First day for candidates to file a nomination paper for the office of Mayor, Councillor, or School Board Trustee. A candidate’s campaign period begins once their nomination paper has been filed, meaning they may begin accepting contributions and spending money on their campaign.
• First day for an individual, corporation, or trade union to file a notice of registration as a Third Party Advertiser. The campaign period for a registered third party begins once their registration paper has been filed, meaning they may begin accepting contributions and spending money on their campaign.

August 19, 2022

• Candidates have until 2 pm to file their nomination papers.
• A candidate who has filed their nomination papers and wishes to change office has until 2pm to file a nomination for a different office.
• A candidate who wishes to withdraw their nomination has until 2 pm to notify the Clerk by filing a written withdrawal.
• Nominations or withdrawals cannot be accepted after 2 pm.

August 22, 2022

• Last day for the Clerk to certify candidate nomination papers.

September 1, 2022

• Copies of the Voters’ List are available to certified candidates upon written request.
• The Am I on the Voters’ List? search tool is available, allowing electors to check if they are registered to vote and see how their information is currently presented on the Voters’ List. Electors may use this tool from September 1 to September 15 to submit an application requesting that their information be updated or that their name be added or removed from the Voters’ List.

September 25, 2022

• Certified candidates that received a copy of the original Voters’ List will be provided with the interim list of changes to the Voters’ List by this date.
• Final expense limits certificate to be provided to candidates and third parties by this date.

October 21, 2022

• Last day for an individual, corporation, or trade union to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser.
• Individuals, corporations, and trade unions have until 4:30 pm to file their notice of registration.

October 24, 2022

• Voting Day: with the exception of institutions and retirement homes that may have reduced opening hours, voting places will open at 10 am and close at 8 pm. Additional information regarding voting events will be available in the spring of 2022.

January 3, 2023

• Campaign period ends for candidates and registered third parties, meaning they cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses. Candidates or registered third parties that wish to extend their campaign, due to a deficit, must file a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period, Form 6 by this date.

March 1, 2023

• Last day for the Clerk to provide candidates and registered third parties with notice of the financial filing requirements and penalties.

March 30, 2023

• Last day for a candidate or registered third party to apply to Superior Court of Justice to extend the time to file the financial statement.

March 31, 2023

By 2 pm:

• Last day for candidates and registered third parties to file a financial statement and auditors’ report, if required, for the reporting period ending January 3, 2023. (Note: An auditor’s report is not required if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or less than $10,000.)
• Last day for a candidate or registered third party to notify the Clerk in writing of a filing extension received from the Superior Court of Justice.

May 1, 2023

• Last day (by 2 pm) for a candidate or registered third party to file a primary financial statement and auditor’s report, if required, and pay $500 late filing fee. (Note: An auditor’s report is not required if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or less than $10,000.)
• Penalties take effect at 2:01 pm.

June 29, 2023

• Last day for an elector to apply for a compliance audit of a candidate or registered third party’s campaign finances.

June 30, 2023

• Campaign period ends for candidates and registered third parties that extended their campaign, meaning they cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses.

August 30, 2023

• Last day for the Clerk to provide candidates and registered third parties with notice of the filing requirements and penalties for supplementary financial statements and auditor’s reports.

September 28, 2023

• Last day for a candidate or registered third party to apply to Superior Court of Justice to extend the time to file the financial statement.

September 29, 2023

By 2 pm:

• Last day for those who filed a Form 6 to extend the campaign period to file a financial statement and auditors’ report, if required, for the reporting period ending June 30, 2023. (Note: An auditor’s report is not required if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or less than $10,000.)
• Last day for a candidate or registered third party to notify the Clerk of a filing extension received from the Superior Court of Justice.

October 30, 2023

• Last day (by 2 pm) for a candidate or registered third party to file a supplementary financial statement and auditor’s report, if required, and pay $500 late filing fee. (Note: An auditor’s report is not required if the total contributions received, and total expenses incurred in the election campaign up to the end of the relevant reporting period are each equal to or less than $10,000.)
• Penalties take effect at 2:01 pm.

December 28, 2023

• Last day for an elector to apply for a compliance audit on a candidate or registered third party’s supplementary financial statement.

The next regular municipal election to elect a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors, and School Board Trustees will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022. Eligible electors will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for the following offices:

• Mayor - one elected at large
• Deputy Mayor - one elected at large
• Councillor – five elected at large
School Board Trustee 
• Trustee – Protestant Separate School Board (7)
• • Membre - Conseil scolaire Viamonde
  • Membre - Conseil scolaire de district Catholique Centre-Sud
  • Trustee - English Separate School Board
  • Trustee - English Public School Board

Who can vote?

A person is entitled to vote in a municipal election if they are a qualified elector. That means, on voting day, you must be:

• a resident of the Town of Penetanguishene, or an owner or tenant of land in the Town, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant;
• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old; and
• not prohibited from voting by law.

If you are not a resident of the Town of Penetanguishene, to vote for a School Board Trustee, you must be:

• an owner or tenant of residential property in the area of jurisdiction of the school board, who does not support any other board.

Who cannot vote?

The following are prohibited from voting in a municipal election:

• serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution
• a corporation
• acting as executor or trustee or in another representative capacity, except as a voting proxy
• convicted of a corrupt practice described in section 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
  

Voting for students

If you are a student and consider your "home" to be the place where you live when you are not attending school, which means you plan on returning there, then you are eligible to vote in both your "home" municipality and in the municipality where you currently live while attending school.

Voter identification

All electors will be required to present a piece of identification in order to receive a ballot at their voting place. The identification must show your name and address. Photo identification is not required. Electors who cannot present an acceptable proof of identity may make a statutory declaration by filling out a Declaration of Identity form (Form 9).

Many documents can be used to show a person’s name and address. You may present one of the following:

• An Ontario driver’s licence.
• An Ontario Health Card (photo card).
• An Ontario Photo Card.
• An Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion).
• A cancelled personalized cheque.
• A mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario.
• An insurance policy or insurance statement.
• A loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution.
• A 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).
• An income tax assessment notice.
• A Child Tax Benefit Statement.
• A Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E.
• A Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS).
• A Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P).
• A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions.
• A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works.
• A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program.
• A Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007.
• A property tax assessment.
• A credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement.
• A CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities.
• A hospital card or record.
• A document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution.
• A document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, issued by the Administrator for the home.
• A utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission.
• A cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer.
• A transcript or report card from a post-secondary school.

Please note that your Voter Notification cannot be used as a piece of identification.

The voters’ list is a list of eligible electors in the Town of Penetanguishene. During non-election years the Town of Penetanguishene does not maintain a voters’ list.

During an election cycle, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)(link is external) is responsible for preparing the preliminary list of electors for each municipality and school board in Ontario. It is MPAC’s Municipal Property Assessment database of both property owners and tenants that is used to prepare this preliminary list, which aids in the preparation of the final voters’ list for Voting Day. Once municipalities have the preliminary list of electors, the revision period begins and electors may add their name or make changes directly with the municipality.

You are encouraged to use MPAC’s online tool, voterlookup.ca, to confirm whether you are on the preliminary list of electors for the upcoming municipal elections. Allowing you to take an active role in maintaining accurate and up-to-date electoral information, this tool can be used to make updates to your information where incorrectly recorded, to add a name to the enumeration and/or to change your school support for electoral purposes.

The next municipal election to elect a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors, and School Board Trustees will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022. Individuals may consider running for one of the following offices:

• Mayor - one elected at large
• Deputy Mayor - one elected at large
• Councillor – five elected at large
• School Board Trustee 
  • Trustee – Protestant Separate School Board (7)
  • Membre - Conseil scolaire Viamonde
  • Membre - Conseil scolaire de district Catholique Centre-Sud
  • Trustee - English Separate School Board
  • Trustee - English Public School Board

A person is eligible to be a candidate in a municipal election if they are an eligible elector. A candidate must be eligible as of the day they are nominated and must remain eligible throughout the election period and, if elected, throughout the term of office. An individual may file their nomination papers to become a candidate in the 2022 Municipal Elections from 8:30 am on Monday, May 2, 2022 until 2 pm on Friday, August 19, 2022. Additional information regarding the nomination process and requirements will be available in early 2022.

Who can be a candidate for Mayor, Deputy Mayor or Councillor?

A person is eligible to be a candidate if they are,

• a resident of the Town of Penetanguishene, or an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Penetanguishene, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant;
• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old; and
• not legally prohibited from voting.

Who cannot be a candidate for Mayor, Deputy Mayor or Councillor?

The following people are disqualified from being elected as a Member of Council, or from holding office as a Member of Council:

• an employee of the municipality unless they take an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated and resign if elected to the office.
• a judge of any court.
• a member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations or the Clerk will not certify the nomination.
• a candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election.

Town of Penetanguishene employees

Employees of the Town of Penetanguishene who wish to run for Councillor must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing their nomination papers. The employee must provide the Clerk with a copy of the documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

Who can be a School Board Trustee candidate?

A person is eligible to be a candidate for School Board Trustee if they are,

• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old;
• a resident within the board's area of jurisdiction;
• a supporter of that school board; and
• not legally prohibited from voting.

Who cannot be a School Board Trustee candidate?

The following people are disqualified from being elected as a School Board Trustee or from holding office on any school board:

• an employee of the school board unless they take an unpaid leave of absence beginning the day they are nominated and resign if elected to the office.
• a clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except those on an unpaid leave of absence.
• a member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations.
• a candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement(s) in the last municipal election or by-election.

School board employees

Employees of any school boards (including supply teachers) are disqualified from being elected as a School Board Trustee or from holding office on any school boards, except during a leave of absence. The employee must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing their nomination papers.

The employee must give written notice to the school board, in advance of their intention to take unpaid leave. This notice should be forwarded to the appropriate school board’s Director of Education who should endeavour to ensure that it is forwarded to the Board of Trustees before the date upon which the unpaid leave is to commence.

What is a third party advertisement?

A third party advertisement refers to an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate in the election, or, a "yes" or "no" answer to a question on the ballot.

Ontario residents, corporations and trade unions that will incur expenses for such advertisements must register as a third party advertiser with the Clerk before they can begin advertising. Registration to be a third party advertiser for the 2022 Municipal Elections will begin at 8:30 am on Monday, May 2, 2022 and end at 4:30 pm on Friday, October 21, 2022. Additional information regarding the registration process and requirements will be available in early 2022.

Who can register as a third party advertiser?

Only the following persons and entities are eligible to file a notice of registration:

• 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.

Who cannot register as a third party advertiser?

Persons and entities that are not eligible to file a notice of registration include:

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed under Section 33 of the Municipal Elections Act.
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) 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.