Candidate Information

To be eligible to run for municipal office, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age;

• Qualify to vote in West Grey by:

  • Living in the municipality; or

  • Owning or renting property in the municipality; or

  • Being the spouse of someone who owns or rents property in the municipality;

• Not be prohibited from voting;

• Not be disqualified from holding municipal office under Section 29 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Additional Requirements

• Submit 25 original endorsement signatures with your nomination;

• Pay a filing fee:

  • $200 for Mayor

  • $100 for all other offices;

• Municipal candidates run independently there are no political parties at the municipal level.

Nomination requirements will be posted shortly. 

A detailed Candidate Information Guide will be available soon. 

Prospective candidates are encouraged to participate in free training offered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

Healthy Democracy Leadership Series: Stronger Leaders, Stronger Communities
This program helps candidates build the knowledge, resilience, and confidence needed to serve effectively.

Learning streams available:

• First-time candidates
• Candidates seeking re-election

Visit AMO’s website for program details and registration.

A joint County candidate information session will be held on April 22, 2026.
Additional details will be provided as they become available.

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, requires municipalities to establish rules and procedures for the use of
municipal resources during the election period before May 1 in the year of a regular election (Section 88.18). The Act also provides that the Municipality cannot make a contribution (including money, goods, and services) to any Candidate, registered Third Party Advertiser, or political party during an election (Sections 88.8(4) and 88.12(4)). The Election Finances Act and the Canada Elections Act impose similar contribution restrictions for provincial and federal election campaigns, respectively. The provisions in this policy may also be subject to additional Municipal bylaws and policies.

The Use of Municipal Resources for Election Purposes Policy applies to municipal (including school board), provincial or federal elections or by-elections and to questions on the ballot. References in the policy
with respect to political parties refers to provincial and federal elections or byelections and do not apply to the Municipality's municipal elections or byelections.

The Election Sign Bylaw has been enacted to regulate the placement of Election Signs for the purpose of preventing hazards to vehicles and pedestrians and further to regulate the erection and removal of Election Signs.

The bylaw shall apply to:

• All regular municipal, provincial, federal, and school board elections, including any by-elections; and
• Candidates, Third Party advertisers, and all other persons erecting Election Signs.

This bylaw shall not apply to:

• signs erected by the Municipality or the provincial or federal governments to provide information concerning an election or byelection or any part of an election or by-election process; or
• non-election related signs.