2022 Municipal Election

For more information on important dates respecting the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election, please review the following:

• Municipal and School Board Election Key Dates
• Advance Voting Dates and Polling Stations

• Candidate nominations and third party advertiser registration opens today - May 2, 2022
• Niagara Votes 2022 - Notice of Nomination for Office 
• Third Party Advertising Information for Broadcasters and Publishers 
• Niagara Votes 2022 - Notice of Nominations

Information on each of the registered 2022 Candidates is included here as it becomes available. The Nomination Period extends from May 2, 2022 until August 19th, 2022 at 2:00 pm. 

Offices for Election 

Council Reports

• Restricted Acts Provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, Section 275 (Lame Duck) - April 19, 2022
• Municipal and School Board Election - Policies and Procedures - April 19, 2022
• Policy Update - Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes - April 4, 2022
• 2022 Municipal and School Board Election Update - January 10, 2022
• 2022 Municipal and School Board Election - Alternative Voting Methods - October 18, 2021

Registered Third Party Advertisers

The registration period for a third party advertiser for the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election will be between May 2, 2022 to October 21, 2022. Once registered, details will appear below:

Third Party Advertising 

The Municipal Elections Act includes rules for third party advertising. A third party advertisement is any ad that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate in an election.

If a person, corporation or trade union intends to spend money between May 2, 2022, and voting day on advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate in the municipal election, or a question on the ballot, they are required to register as a third party advertiser with the Clerk.

Registration Period

The registration period for a third party advertiser for the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election will be between May 2, 2022 to October 21, 2022. Registration must be filed in person at the Clerk's Office, 20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill. Appointments are preferred. Please contact Holly Willford, Town Clerk: hwillford@pelham.ca or at 905-892-2607 ext. 315.

It is important to note that you may not spend money on your campaign, accept contributions or begin advertising until the Clerk certifies your registration.

Eligibility

You are eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

• An individual who is normally resident in Ontario;
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario; and
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
  
  

You are not eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed under section 33 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996;
• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act 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; and
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board.

Advertisement Requirements 

Third party advertisers must identify themselves and provide mandatory information on all advertising beginning May 2, 2022 until the close of voting on October 24, 2022. Third party advertisements must contain the following information:

• Name of the registered third party advertiser;
• Municipality where the third party advertiser is registered; and
• Telephone number, mailing address or email address at which the registered third party advertiser may be contacted regarding the advertisement.

 
Information on Third Party Advertiser(s)/ Advertisement(s) is included here as it becomes available. 

• Provincial Third Party Advertiser 
• Town of Pelham Third Party Advertiser Guide
• Form 7 - Notice of Registration - Third Party
• Form 8 - Financial Statement Auditors Report - Third Party
• Third Party Advertiser Declaration of Qualifications 

Election Maps

Electoral Ward Map

Fenwick Inset

Fonthill Inset

North Pelham Inset 

Compliance Audit Committee

Coming soon.

External Resources

Please visit the links below for additional helpful information on the 2022 Municipal Election:

• Municipal Elections Act, 1996
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Municipal Elections
• e-laws Ontario
• Municipal Education: A Guide on Running for Municipal Council
  • Note: This is a course for individual purchase ($55.00) 
• Provincial Candidates Guide 
• Provincial Third Party Advertiser Guide
• 2022 Candidates Night PowerPoint Presentation from April 28, 2022

• Preliminary Notice of Election
• Provincial Voters' Guide
• Identification Requirements 

More to follow.

Voterlookup.ca is an online service used to collect and confirm information that will be used in the preparation of the final voters’ lists across Ontario. You can also change your school support for electoral purposes and add names of other eligible voters to your property address.

To confirm your information is accurately recorded for the upcoming municipal elections, log on to voterlookup.ca using your property address or assessment roll number and your full name and date of birth. Updating this information will help to ensure that municipal Voters’ Lists are accurate and up-to-date in preparation for municipal and school board elections occurring this October.

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) at 1-866-296-6722.

Additional Resources

Voterlookup Explanatory Video

Voterlookup Toolkit Webinar Presentation

Each qualified elector wishing to utilize this alternative voting method must register with the Clerk. On Demand Special Ballot registration begins September 1, 2022 and concludes September 26, 2022. Registration information and procedure will be available on this webpage in August 2022.

Advanced Voting, 10 am - 8 pm (All Wards, All Polls): 

Voting Day, October 24th, 2022, 10 am - 8 pm: 

 Institutional Voting Only, October 24th, 2022: 

Please click here for an inclusive list in PDF: Advance Voting Dates and Polling Stations

• Serving as the Mayor or Town Councillor - Frequently Asked Questions
• Town of Pelham Election Sign By-law 3987(2018)
• Niagara Region Sign By-law 122-2013
• Policy S201-11 - Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes
• Guide to Accessible Elections
• Provincial Candidates' Guide
• Town of Pelham Candidates' Guide

Nominations for Mayor, Pelham Regional Councillor, Ward Councillor, School Board Trustee - DSBN: Nominations can be filed in-person or through an agent. Faxed or electronic submissions are not acceptable. Nominations will be received by the Town Clerk from May 2nd, 2022 to 2:00 pm on August 19, 2022, at:

Office of the Town Clerk
Town of Pelham Municipal Office
20 Pelham Town Square
Fonthill ON

*Appointments preferred. Please contact Holly Willford, Town Clerk: hwillford@pelham.ca or at 905-892-2607 ext. 315.

Qualifications and Nominations Requirements

NOTE: Nomination forms will be made available spring of 2022 or sooner, once released by the Province.

• Every person is qualified to be elected or hold office for the Mayor, Ward Council and School Board Trustee, if on the day the nomination paper is filed, the person is:
  • At least 18 years of age; 
  • A Canadian Citizen; 
  • A resident of the Town of Pelham, or an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Pelham, or the spouse of an owner or tenant;
  • Not legally prohibited from voting;
  • Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office; 
  • Entitled to be an elector within the Town of Pelham. 
• A nomination paper must be signed by 25 eligible voters supporting the nomination. The individuals providing signatures must sign a declaration stating they are eligible to vote in the municipality on the day they sign the endorsement. This endorsement becomes a public record. 
• Each candidate must provide proof of Canadian citizenship in a form acceptable to the Town Clerk. It is the responsibility of the candidate to file a bona fide nomination paper. 
• Employees of the Town of Pelham or its local boards who wish to run for office must take an unpaid leave of absence as of the day the employee is nominated and ending on voting day, before submitting the nomination paper. Employees must provide a copy of the documentation showing this leave of absence and effective date are complete, and must resign their position if elected. 

The following are disqualified from being elected or holding office on a municipal Council:

• 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 Town Clerk will not certify the nomination;
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement in the last municipal election or by-election; 
• An inmate serving a sentence under the Municipal Elections Act and Municipal Act. 

A full list of disqualifications is available under the Municipal Elections Act and Municipal Act, found here.

Filing Fees

• Filing fee for nomination to the position of Mayor is $200.00.
• Filing fee for nominations to Ward Councillor or School Board Trustee is $100.00.
• Filing fee for the Pelham Regional Councillor is $100.00.
• Payment must be by cash, certified cheque, debit or money order payable to the Town of Pelham.
• *NEW* Nominations for English Public Trustee are filed with the City of Thorold, and the fee is $100.00
• Nominations for English Catholic Trustee are filed with the Town of Grimsby Clerk, and the fee is $100.00.
• Nominations for both French Public and French Catholic School Trustees are filed with the City of Welland City Clerk, and the fee is $100.00.
  
  

Withdrawal of Nomination

 If a candidate decides they no longer wish to run for Office, the following must occur: 

• File a written Withdrawal of Nomination form, in person, with the Town Clerk;
• Provide identification; 
• File a financial statement by the deadline date.
  
  

Last day to withdrawal: Friday, August 19, 2022 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Reasons to Reject a Nomination by the Clerk

Prior to 4:00 p.m. on August 22, 2022 (Monday following Nomination Day) the Town Clerk must examine each nomination filed. If satisfied and the nomination complies with the Municipal Election Act, 1996, the person is qualifies to be nominated and the Town Clerk shall certify the nomination. If not satisfied, the Town Clerk shall reject the nomination and give notice to the person who sought to be nominated and all other candidates for that office. The Town Clerk's decision to reject a nomination is final. 

The Town Clerk may consider the following criteria in the decision to reject or certify nominations:

• The candidate has refused or declined to provide proof of qualifications or identification suitable to the Town Clerk; 
• The candidate does not meet the eligibility requirements set out under Section 29(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996;
• The nomination form is not complete in its entirety or the filing fee has not been paid; 
• The necessary financial statement was not filed for the previous regular election for any new election in which the individual may have been a candidate. 

On April 28, 2022, Candidates' Night will be held at the Meridian Community Centre. Event details are as follows:

Date: April 28, 2022

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: Meridian Community Centre - Accursi Room, 100 Meridian Way, Fonthill, ON, L0S 1E6

Event Breakdown: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Municipal Booths Open
                           7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Ministry of Municipal Affairs Presentation and Q & A
                           8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Municipal Booths Open

This event welcomes in-person attendance. Additionally, the presentation will be livestreamed with the opportunity for viewers to email questions to clerks@pelham.ca to be read and answered live. The recording of the presentation is posted below.

• 2022 Candidates Night PowerPoint Presentation from April 28, 2022

The video can be viewed here. 

Offices to be Elected

At this election, members will be elected for the period commencing November 15, 2022 for the following offices:

• Mayor 
• Regional Councillor 
• Councillors (two (2) to be elected in each of the three (3) wards) 
• School Board Trustees:
  • English Public and English Catholic
  • French Public and French Catholic 

All forms can be accessed on the Ontario Central Forms Repository.

To view/print PDF forms Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 10.0 or above) is required. 

Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader

If a problem is encountered opening a PDF using a browser such as Chrome, please follow these steps to open and complete the form.

1. Highlight the form on the Repository, right-click to select “Save link as” to save the PDF form onto the desktop. Do not double-click the form and open it in a browser.
2. Open the form that you saved on the desktop with Adobe Reader. Do not double-click to open the PDF form as Adobe Reader might not be the default program to open PDFs on your computer.
3. Now complete the form, save the data, and close it. Then open again to see if the input data is there.

• Form 1 - Nomination Paper
• Form 2 - Endorsement of Nomination  
  • It is recommended that each candidate exceed 25 signatures to ensure that all meet the necessary requirements.
• Form 4 - Financial Statement Auditors Report - Candidate
• Form 5 - Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses 
• Form 6 - Notice of Extension of Campaign Period
• Form 7 - Notice of Registration - Third Party
• Form 8 - Financial Statement Auditors Report - Third Party
• Declaration of Qualifications - Council Member 
• Declaration of Qualifications - School Board Candidate
• Declaration of Qualifications - Third Party Advertiser 

Candidates cannot raise or spend any money on their campaign until the appropriate nomination paper is filed with the Town Clerk.

Contributions are considered to be any money, goods or services given to and accepted by, or on behalf of, the candidate for their campaign. The candidate's campaign period begins on the date the candidate files their nomination papers.

It is the responsibility of each candidate to ensure they are qualified to run for office. 

Niagara Region: Seat at the Table Program

Niagara Region's Seat at the Table program aims to address barriers that women face running for municipal office and to improve the environment once elected. The goal is to increase the number of women, particularly underrepresented women, elected for municipal government in Niagara by promoting understanding, awareness and confidence through education, mentorship and support to those interested in running for election.

The program consists of four workshops that will help women and underrepresented groups feel informed and educated when making the decision to run for local government. Those elected will then be invited to participate in three sessions in 2023.

Learn more about the program and upcoming dates here

The Town of Pelham offers a variety of unique opportunities to participate in the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election. Please visit the link below for a description of election personnel positions:

2022 Election Worker - Position Descriptions 

Election Worker Application - Fillable PDF

Election Worker Application - Word

Applications are also available in print at Town Hall.

Completed applications shall be submitted to Jacquie Miller, Legislative and Committee Coordinator jmiller@pelham.ca. Due to delay in regular mail, it is preferred that you return the completed application via email, in-person drop off or drop box situated at the lower level of Town Hall, 20 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill.