Anyone can vote in a municipal election who, on the day of the election, is: 

• 18 years of age or older; 
• a Canadian citizen;
• either a resident of the municipality or a property owner or tenant or the spouse of an owner or tenant in the municipality during a specified time just before the election; and
• not otherwise prohibited from voting.
• you must be on the Municipal Voter's List to vote in the Municipal Election

2022 Voter's Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections 

Am I on the Voter's list?

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) provides the preliminary voters’ list to the Town before the election. Not sure if you’re on the voters’ list? Check and update your municipal voter information at https://www.voterlookup.ca/. 

VOTE ANYWHERE: Electors can "Vote Anywhere". This allows you the ability to determine the Voting Location which best suits your mobility needs.

Advanced Voting, 10 am - 8 pm 

Saturday, October 8, 2022 - St. Davids Public School - 1344 York Road.                  

Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - Municipal Offices - 1593 Four Mile Creek Road.

Saturday, October 15, 2022 - NOTL Community Centre - 14 Anderson Lane

Wednesday October 19, 2022 - Municipal Offices - 1593 Four Mile Creek Road.

Voting Day, Monday October 24, 2022,  10 am - 8 pm 

Holiday Inn Express - 524 York Road.

Laura Secord Homestead - 29 Queenston Street

Crossroads Public School - 1350 Niagara Stone Road.

St. Davids Public School - 1344 York Road

NOTL Community Centre - 14 Anderson Lane

Institutional Voting Only, Monday October 24, 2022

10:00 am - 11:00 am - Chateau Gardens

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Upper Canada Lodge

2:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Pleasant Manor

Who can be a candidate?

To run for a position on council you must be eligible to vote in that municipality. On the day you file your nomination, you must be:

• a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old;
• not legally prohibited from voting; and
• not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.
• To run as a candidate for a school board trustee position you must ensure you meet any other qualifications to vote for the school board and be a resident in the area of jurisdiction of the board you are seeking office to.

Who cannot be a candidate?

• any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality
• 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 in the last municipal election or by-election
• an inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution

2022 Candidates’ Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections

2022 Candidates' Guide - Niagara-on-the-Lake

Nominations are open for the 2022 Municipal and School Board election, the names of registered candidates will be added below as they become certified by the Town Clerk. 

Candidates for Lord Mayor

Candidates for Town Councillor 

Candidates for Regional Councillor  

Candidates for DSBN School Board Trustee

Nominations for the 2022 Municipal Election will be accepted for Lord Mayor, Regional Councillor, Councillors (8), and School Trustees commencing Monday, May 2, 2022 until Thursday, August 18, 2022 during regular business hours (Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and on Nomination Day, Friday, August 19, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Town Hall (1593 Four Mile Creek Road). Persons elected to office during this election will be elected for a period commencing November 15, 2022 until November 14, 2026.

Nominations must be filed in person as original signatures are required. 

To file a nomination, you must provide:

• Nomination Paper (Form 1)
• Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2) - At least 25 declaration endorsements by eligible electors (for Lord Mayor, Town Councillors and Regional Councillor only)
• Current acceptable identification
• Nomination filing fee (paid by cash or debit card, certified cheque or money order made payable to  'Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake'
  • $200.00 for Lord Mayor 
  • $100.00 for Town Council, Regional Council 
  • *School Board Trustee must be filed with the lead municipality 

If an agent is filing a nomination on your behalf, the agent must provide the above documents as well as their own identification (Form 1).  

You will be required to complete a Declaration of Qualification 

Any documents that are not complete will not be accepted. 

Where to file your nomination

• All nominations are to be filed at the Office of the Clerk at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Hall, 1593 Four Mile Creek Rd.
• Nominations cannot be filed electronically or by fax
• When visiting Town Hall to file nominations, we ask all prospective candidates to please make an appointment with the Clerk's Department by calling: 905-468-3266 ext. 0

Withdrawing Your Nomination

If you decide you no longer wish to run in the 2022 Municipal Election, you must:

• File the Withdrawal of Nomination form in person (Town Clerk's Office)
• Provide identification
• File a financial statement by the deadline date

The last day to file a withdrawal is Friday, August 19, 2022 before 2 p.m.

Changing Office 

You can change the office you're running for even after you have filed your papers. To do so, you must:

• File the Withdrawal of Nomination for the old office
• At the same time, file a Nomination Paper for the new office
  • For Lord Mayor, Town Council or Regional Council candidates you are not required to submit additional declaration of endorsements - the ones you submitted for the first office is transferred to the second office.

Nomination filing fee

If the nomination filing fee is the same for the new office, no extra payment is required. If the nomination filing fee is different for the new office, the difference must be paid, if applicable. Note: the filing fee is not refunded until you file the financial statement by the deadline date. 

Campaign finances

• The two offices (campaigns) are separate and contributions and expenses cannot be transferred from one to the other.
• If you plan to incur expenses or accept contributions, you must open a separate bank account for each campaign.
• A contributor's total contribution cannot exceed $1200.00 for both campaigns for councillor or school board trustee candidates or $2500.00 for mayoralty candidates.

Financial statement

You will be required to file a financial statement for each campaign.

• The withdrawn campaign will show all financial activity from the day the nomination paper is filed until the day the withdrawal is filed.
• The current campaign will show all financial activity from the day the nomination paper is filed until the end of the campaign period.
  

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  Lead Where You Live - A guide to running for Municipal Council 

  With the October 2022 election in mind, AMO has assembled an easy-to-use guide that provides all the information you need when preparing to run for council. What you will find in AMO’s guide are important considerations on managing your campaign like:

• 2022 municipal election key dates
• What you can expect once you step into the spotlight

• Association of Municipalities Ontario's (AMO) guide to running for Municipal office is available on the AMO e-learning portal. You can access the guide and additional resources by visiting amo.on.ca.

• Important considerations on campaign finances
• Campaign rules; and
• Election day and alternative voting

Third Party Advertisers may register with the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for the 2022 Municipal Election. May 2, 2022 is the first day an individual, union or corporation can file notice of registration as a third party advertiser. Third party Advertisers have until October 21, 2022 to register. 

Requirements

Third Party Advertising is advertisements or other materials in support or opposition of a candidate in a municipal election. It is separate and independent from any candidates campaign. (A fuller description can be found in the 2022 Third Party Advertisers Guide.)

• Third party advertisers must file a notice of registration with the Town Clerk in person or by agent. Registration forms (Form 7) are available online in the Town Clerk’s Office. The registration form must be filled in completely. 
• Third Party advertisers must sign a declaration of qualification.

Where to file your nomination

• All nominations are to be filed at the Office of the Clerk at the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Hall, 1593 Four Mile Creek Rd.
• Nominations cannot be filed electronically or by fax
• When visiting Town Hall to file nominations, we ask all prospective candidates to please make an appointment with the Clerk's Department by calling: 905-468-3266 ext. 0

2022 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide

2022 Third Party Advertiser Registration Package - Niagara-on-the-Lake

• Monday, May 2

• First day to file a nomination paper for the offices of Mayor, Councillor and School Board Trustee
• First day to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser

• Friday, August 19 at 2 p.m.

• Deadline for candidates to:
  
  • file a nomination
  • withdraw a nomination
  • change office

• Monday, August 22

• Last day for the Clerk to certify candidate nomination papers

• Thursday, September 1

• Voters’ List available to candidates

• October 2022

• In-person advanced polls are held. 

• Saturday, October 8, 2022 - St. Davids Public School - 1344 York Road.                  

  Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - Municipal Offices - 1593 Four Mile Creek Road.

  Saturday, October 15, 2022 - NOTL Community Centre - 14 Anderson Lane

  Wednesday October 19, 2022 - Municipal Offices - 1593 Four Mile Creek Road.

• Friday, October 21

• Last day to register as a third party advertiser

• Monday, October 24

• Election Day

• Tuesday, November 15

• New Council term begins

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.

To learn more about the program and to sign up, click here.

Candidates' Night - April 28, 2022

On April 28, 2022, Niagara-on-the-Lake, along with all Niagara Region municipalities, held a Candidates' Night. 

The recording of the event can be found on the Pelham Youtube Channel or you can view the presentation slides (PDF).