Campaign Contributions
Are any money, goods or services that are given to you for use in your campaign including money and goods that you contribute yourself. You are only allowed to accept contributions or incur campaign expenses during your campaign period, after you file your nomination. There is a limit on the total amount that you and your spouse may contribute to your own campaign. The formula to calculate the limit is:
· for head of council candidates: $7,500 plus 20 cents per elector to a maximum of $25,000
· for other council offices: $5,000 plus 20 cents per elector to a maximum of $25,000
The municipal clerk will tell you your self-funding limit.
Contribution limits
· $1,200 limit that applies to each person who contributes to your campaign
· The maximum total amount that a contributor can give to candidates in the same jurisdiction (i.e., running for the same council or the same school board) is $5,000
Who can make contributions to municipal candidates?
· individuals who are normally a resident in Ontario
· yourself and your spouse
Ineligible contributors
· Corporation
· trade union
· a federal political party, constituency association, or a registered candidate in a federal election
· a provincial political party, constituency association, or a registered candidate or leadership contestant
· a federal or provincial government, a municipality or a school board
Ineligible contributions
· made outside your campaign period
· from an anonymous source (except for donations of $25 or less at a fundraising event)
· from an ineligible source (e.g., someone who doesn’t live in Ontario, a corporation or trade union, etc.,)
· greater than the $1,200 limit or the $5,000 total limit
· a cash contribution greater than $25
· from funds that do not belong to the contributor who gave them to you.
Ineligible contributions must be returned as soon as you learn that the contribution is ineligible. If you cannot return the contribution, you must turn it over to the clerk.
Campaign Expenses
Are costs incurred for goods and services for use in your campaign. Your spending limit covers expenses that you incur between the beginning of your campaign and voting day. Expenses that you incur between the day after voting day and the end of your campaign are not subject to the spending limit.
Expenses not subject to the spending limit:
· expenses related to holding a fundraising event or activity
· expenses relating to a recount
· expenses relating to a court action for a controverted election
· expenses relating to a compliance audit
· expenses incurred by a candidate with a disability that are directly related to the candidate’s disability and would not have been incurred if not for the election
· audit and accounting fees
Financial Statement
It is the responsibility of a candidate to file a complete and accurate financial statement to the clerk by the filing deadline which is 2:00 p.m. Friday March 30, 2027. If you filed a nomination form, you must file a financial statement.
Note: Candidates who file financial statement and auditors reports in accordance with s. 88.25(1) by 2:00 p.m. deadline are entitled to receive a refund of nomination filing fee s. 34.
Auditor’s report
If your campaign expenses or contributions total more than $10,000 you must have an auditor review your financial statement and provide a report.
A compliance audit committee is required to be established by each municipality and school board. An eligible elector who believes you have contravened the election finance rules may apply for a compliance audit of your campaign finances.
Bank Account
A bank account must be opened if you accept any contributions (including contributions of money from yourself) or incur any expenses. The nomination fee is considered to be a personal expense – not a campaign expense.
Remember: You are responsible for keeping records of the financial activities related to your campaign. The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 does not require you to use any specific accounting system. You may want to consult with an auditor or an accountant early in your campaign to make sure that you are using a bookkeeping and accounting system that will suit your needs.
Penalties
May apply if you are convicted of an offence:
· A fine of up to $25,000
· Ineligibility to vote or run in the next regular election
· Up to six (6) months imprisonment
· Forfeiture of your elected office, if the judge finds that you committed the offence knowingly
If you are convicted of exceeding the spending limit, you may also be fined the amount by which you exceeded the limit.
There are three contraventions of the Act where penalties apply automatically:
· If you fail to apply to the court for an extension by the filing deadline or file a financial statement by the end of the 30-day grace period
· If your financial statement shows that you exceeded a spending limit
· If you fail to turn over your surplus to the clerk when you file your financial statement
The penalty is that you forfeit your office (if you won the election) and you become ineligible to run or to be appointed to fill a vacancy until after the 2030 election.
