Information for Candidates

Thinking of running for municipal office?

If you wish to run as a candidate in the City of Timmins' municipal election, you must file a nomination paper with the City Clerk. The Nomination Package can be picked up starting May 2, 2022 at Service Timmins in City Hall during regular business hours, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m.

Important: You cannot fundraise or spend money on an election campaign until you have filed your nomination paper. The Nomination Paper (Form 1) will be available online shortly before the nomination period opens.

The City of Timmins is divided into 5 wards. If you are not sure of your ward, check the City's ward map.

Candidate Guides

The Province of Ontario through the The Ministry of Municipal Affairs produces a Candidates' Guide, which provides information on registering as a candidate, campaign rules, financial filing requirements, and more.

2022 Candidates' Guide

Eligibility - Mayor & Council

You are responsible for determining whether or not you are eligible to run for and hold a municipal office. The City of Timmins is not able to provide advice to those individuals who are proposing to run for office, and encourages all potential candidates to obtain a copy of and review the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) and consult with their own independent legal counsel for more information with respect to candidate eligibility, obligations and responsibilities.

You may run for municipal office if you are eligible to vote in the election and fulfill all of the following requirements:

A Canadian citizen;
At least 18 years old;
A resident of the municipality, a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
Is not legally prohibited from voting; and
Is not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

You cannot be elected as a member of council, or hold office as a member of council if you are:

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 or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election.

City of Timmins employees who wish to run for Mayor or Councilor must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper and provide a copy of the documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

Eligibility - School Board Trustee

You may run for school board trustee if you are eligible to vote in the election and fulfill all of the following requirements:

A Canadian citizen;
At least 18 years of age;
A resident within the district school board's area of jurisdiction and qualified to vote for members of that district school board;
- In the case of the District School Board Ontario North East, a public school elector;
- In the case of the Northeastern Catholic District School Board, a separate school elector;
- In the case of the Conseil Scolaire Public du North-Est, a public school elector who fits into one of the following criteria:
  - First learned and still understands French;
  - Received his or her elementary school instruction in Canada in French (This does not include French immersion or French as a second language.); or
  - Whose children received, or are now receiving, elementary or secondary school instruction in Canada in French (this does not include French immersion or French as a second language.).
- In the case of the Conseil Scolaire Catholique de District des Grandes Rivieres, a separate school elector who meets ONE of the above criteria for French-language public school electors and who chooses to be a French-language separate school elector.

Candidates can only qualify for one district school board seat. Candidates for the office of Trustee, cannot change their school support after Nomination Day.

You cannot be elected as a school board trustee or hold office on any school board if you are:

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 or the Clerk will not certify the nomination;
A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election.

School Board Employees (including supply teachers) must on or take a leave of absence before filing their nomination paper and provide a copy of the documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

Filing a Nomination

Nominations for Municipal and School Board Election opens May 2, 2022. Nominations must be filed in person at City Hall with the Clerk of the City of Timmins.

To file a nomination, you must provide:

Nomination Paper (Form 1)
At least 25 declaration of endorsements for the position of Mayor or Councillor
Current acceptable identification ( available in the 2022 Candidate Guide provided by the Province of Ontario)
A nomination filing fee (paid by by cash, debit, certified cheque or money order payable to the "City of Timmins"). The filing fee is $200 for Mayor and $100 for Ward Councillors and School Board Trustees. Nomination filing fees are refunded to candidates once they file the required financial statements

A nomination must be signed by the candidate and may be filed in person or by an agent during regular business hours between May 2 and August 19, 2022 (Nomination Day) before 2:00 p.m. Only documents with original signatures will be accepted. A nomination fee must also be paid at this time and can only be made by cash, debit, certified cheque or money order payable to the "City of Timmins".

Note: If an agent is filing the nomination paper on behalf of a candidate, they must provide the above documents and personal identification.

Personal information collected on the nomination form is obtained under the authority of sections 33 and 95 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Under section 88 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (and despite anything in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) documents and materials filed with or prepared by the clerk or any other election official under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 are public records and, until their destruction, may be inspected by any person at the clerk's office during regular business hours.

Withdrawing a Nomination

If you no longer wish to run in a municipal election, you must file a Withdrawal of Nomination form in person before the end of the nomination period on August 19, 2022 before 2:00 p.m. You cannot withdraw after the nomination period has closed and you are still required to file a financial statement for refund of your nomination filing fee.

Campaign Period

Your campaign period can begin on the day on which you file your nomination. The earliest date possible is May 2, 2022 or the start of the nomination period. Your campaign period ends December 31, 2022 or on the date your nomination is withdrawn or on August 19, 2022 (Nomination Day) if your nomination is rejected.

Those who have campaigned for municipal and school board office are required to file a complete and accurate Campaign Financial Statement (Form 4) as required under the MEA by March 31, 2023. If your campaign will have a deficit as of the election campaign end-date, you may request an extension of the campaign period by submitting a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period (Form 6) with the City Clerk on or before December 31, 2022.

Campaign Signs: There are rules governing the use and placement of campaign signs. A $200.00 deposit is also required as per City of Timmins Sign By-law No. 2012-7223, Section VI.

Expenses and Financial Statements

Now that you have filed your Nomination Papers and they have been certified by the Clerk, you are officially able to begin campaigning for office and incurring campaign expenses. If you plan to incur expenses or accept contributions, you must open a separate bank for your campaign and plan on submitting a Campaign Financial Statement (Form 4). You are responsible for keeping records of the financial activities related to your campaign.

Please refer to the MEA, the 2022 Candidates' Guide prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (available in early 2022), or consult with you own independent legal counsel with respect to your obligations as a candidate under the sections relating to campaign expenses and contributions.