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.

The following is required to file a nomination:

• Nomination Paper - Form 1
• Endorsement of Nomination - Form 2 (Requires 25 original signatures from eligible West Grey voters)
• Prescribed nomination filing fee ($200 for Mayor, $100 for all other offices)
• Provide Proof of Identification and Residence as prescribed in O.Reg. 304/13
• Declaration of Qualifications - Council Candidates (Form WG21A)
• Declaration of Qualifications - School Board Candidates (Form WG21B)
• Release of Campaign Information (Form EL52)
• Voters' List Request and Declaration (Form EL14)

NOTE: Forms 1 and 2 are Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) forms. If you have difficulty opening these forms, please try saving the form and then opening it in Adobe Reader. If you have difficulty with any other forms, please contact elections@westgrey.com. Paper copies of the candidate package, including all necessary forms, are available for pickup at the front counter at the West Grey Municipal Office.

Booking an Appointment: To file your nomination papers, please book an appointment with the Elections Team by emailing elections@westgrey.com, or by phone at 519-369-2200 ext. 229.

Once candidates have filed their nominations, a list of registered candidates will be available on the Registered Candidates webpage.

Campaigning is not permitted until your nomination papers have been officially filed.

Candidate Information Guide

Please Note:

This guide has been prepared for the purpose of supplying information which will be of assistance to persons intending to stand for elected office.

Candidates for School Board offices are encouraged to contact the office of the Director of Education of the appropriate School Board to obtain information on the duties and responsibilities of a trustee. Candidates for the position of representative on the French language section of a School Board should contact the Clerk of the municipality responsible for the election of persons to that office.

It is most important to note that the contents of this document are intended only as a guide to certain provisions of relevant legislation and do not purport to recite all applicable statutory references.

Prospective candidates must satisfy themselves through their own determination that they have complied with the election financing regulations and that they are in fact qualified, and not disqualified by law, to seek elected office. Candidates must make themselves aware of the penalty sections of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (“MEA”) respecting campaign finances.

This document is subject to revisions. Please check the revision history to confirm you are working from the most recent version of this document.

All procedures in this guide are subject to change based on public health guidelines.

A Candidate Information Session is being held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 6-9 p.m. at the Grey County Council Chambers, 595 9th Avenue East. For more information and to register, visit: 2026 Municipal Elections | Grey County

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.