Becoming a Candidate

Becoming a Candidate​

​If a person wishes to run as a candidate in th​e upcoming 2022 Municipal Election, they must first file Nomination Papers with the City Clerk.  The first day to file Nomination Papers for the 2022 Municipal Election is May​ 2, 2022.

A person is not permitted to raise or spend money on an election campaign until they have filed their Nomination Papers.  (The Nomination Paper Form will be available​ online shortly before the Nomination Period opens as it is provided by the Province of Ontario).

Before running for a seat on Council, it is important ​for the individual to understand the role of Council.  The following information is being provided to assist individuals in understanding the roles of Council (as a collective)​, Mayor and Councillors.  A Guide will be provided by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs closer to the Nomination Period.

What is the R​​​​o​​le of Council?

​Key responsibilities of Council are to support the municipality and its operations while ensuring that the public and the municipality's interests are maintained.

In accordance with s.224 of the Municipal Act, it is the role of Council to:

• Represent the public and consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;
• Develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
• Determine which services the municipality provides;
• Ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of Council
• Ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of senior management of the municipality;
• Maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and
• ​Carry out the duties of Council under this Act or any other Act.

Municipal decisions are made by Council as a whole.  Generally, the Head of Council does not have any more power than any other member of Council to make decisions on behalf of the municipality.  Each member of Council only has one vote.

What is th​e rol​e of the Head ​​of Council?

In accordance with s.225 of the Municipal Act, it is the role of the Head of Council to:

• Act as Chief Executive Officer of the municipality
• Preside over Council Meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;
• Provide leadership to Council
• Provide information and recommendations to the Council with respect to the role of Council described​ in clauses 224(d) and (d.1)
• Represent the municipality at official functions; and
• Carry out the duties of the Head of Council under this Act or any other Act.

Further in accordance with s.226.1 of the Act, the Head of Council shall:

• Uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality;
• Promote public involvement in the municipality's activities;
• Act as the representative of the municipality both within and outside the municipality, and promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally; and
• Participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents.

What is th​e role of C​ouncillor?

Councillors have three main roles to play in a municipality:  representative,  policy-maker, and  steward.  

Councillors are called on to consider and make decisions on issues that will sometimes be complex and controversial.  Many of those decisions will have long-term effects on the municipality that extend beyond the four-year term of office, and should be made in the context of the municipality's plans for the long-term health and welfare of the community.​

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs provides a Candidate Guide for individuals interested in running for Council.  This Guide will be posted on our website when it becomes available.​​

Interested in Running for Council?

Filing a Nomin​at​ion

Nominations must be filed in person at the Administration Centre as original signatures are required.  To file a Nomination, you must provide the following:

• Nomination Paper
• Declaration of Endorsements with a minimum of 25 signatures (for Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor candidates only)
• Current acceptable identification
• Nomination Filing Fee 
• ​$200 for candidates running for Mayor
• ​​$100.00 for candidates running for Deputy Mayor or Councillor seats or school board trustee

If an agent is filing a nomination on your behalf, the agent is required to provide the above documents as well as their own identification.

Qualifications fo​​​r Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor

To run for Mayor, Deputy M​ayor or Councillor, on the day the Nomination pa​​pers are filed, the person must be:

• a C​anadian citizen;
• at least 18 years of age;
• a resident of the City of Thorold, or an owner or tenant of land in the City of Thorold, or the spouse of the owner or tenant;
• not legally prohibited from voting
• ​not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

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

• a judge of any court
• a member of Pr​ovincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations (proof of registration is required to 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 election or by-election

Municipal employees who wish to run for office must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing nomination papers.  The employee must provide a copy of the documentation showing that they have taken the leave of absence and the effective date.

Acceptable Identification

Candidates filing a nomination must present acceptable identification showing name, qualifying City of Thorold address and signature.  This can be one piece of ID or a combination of two pieces of ID.

A link will be provided closer to the opening of the Nomination Period to assist individuals in determining what identification is acceptable.

​Candidates' Guid​e for Municipal Elections

The Province of Ontario releases a guide with information on registering as a candidate, campaign rules, financial filing requirements and more.  The Province generally releases their new Candidates' Guide in early 2022.  The updated Guide will be posted once it is available.

Withdrawing a Nominati​​on

If you have submitted your Nomination Papers and are no longer wishing to run in the 2022 Municipal Election, you must file a Withdrawal of Nomination Form prior to the end of the Nomination Period.  Candidates cannot withdraw their nomination after the Nomination Period has closed.

Candidates that have withdrawn their nomination are still required to file a financial statement