Third-party Advertisers

Third-party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate, or support, promote or oppose a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. The meaning of “third-party” in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate.

Third-party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign, and must be done independently from a candidate. Any advertisements or materials that are made and distributed by a candidate, or under a candidate’s direction, are part of the candidate’s campaign.

Third-party advertising is a way for those outside of the candidate’s campaign to express support of or opposition to candidates (or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot) and to try to persuade voters to vote a certain way.

A third-party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate, or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. Advertisement includes traditional ads as well as materials such as brochures or signs.

Please consult the 2026 Third Party Advertisers' Guide to determine if you are a third party advertiser.
  
Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate (or an answer to a question on the ballot) are not considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:

• speaking to friends and neighbours
• posting on social media, such as Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
• sending an email to a group or mailing list

Only those who have registered can spend money on third party advertising. The following are eligible to register as a third party advertiser:

any person who is a resident in Ontario 

a corporation carrying on business in Ontario 

a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario

If two or more corporations are owned or controlled by the same person or people, or if one corporation controls another, they are considered to be a single corporation. If the same person or people own or control multiple corporations, only one of those corporations may register to be a third party in a municipality.

There is no restriction against family members or campaign staff of candidates registering to be third party advertisers. However, third party advertising must be done independently of the candidate. If a person with close ties to a candidate wishes to register they should consider how these activities may look to the public and how they would be able to demonstrate that they were not working in co-ordination with the candidate.

Please consult the 2026 Third-party Advertisers' Guide for more information. 

A candidate running for any municipal council or school board office cannot register to be a third party advertiser in any municipality.

Groups, associations or businesses that are not corporations are not eligible to register and may not spend money on third party advertising in municipal elections. For example, neighbourhood associations, clubs or professional associations cannot register and cannot make contributions to third party advertisers. Members may register as individual third party advertisers and may contribute individually.

Federal and provincial political parties cannot register to be third party advertisers. Political parties are not permitted to be financially involved in municipal elections.

Please consult the 2026 Third-party Advertisers' Guide for more information.

An individual, corporation or trade union must register with the municipal clerk to be a third-party advertiser in a municipality.

The first day that a third-party advertiser can file their notice of registration is May 1, 2026. A third-party advertiser cannot raise or spend money on their campaign, nor begin advertising, until their registration is certified by the Clerk.  Upon receiving a third-party advertiser’s nomination, the Clerk will provide them with their preliminary spending limits.

Being registered in a municipality allows the third party to advertise to the voters in that municipality. A third party advertiser can support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council and school trustee.

Third-party advertisers do not need to decide before they register which candidate or candidates they want to support or oppose, and they do not have to tell the clerk what their intentions are.

A third party can only advertise to voters in the municipality where they are registered. There is no limit on the number of municipalities where a third party can register. If a third party wants to advertise to voters in more than one municipality they must register in each municipality where they wish to advertise.
Please consult the 2026 Third-party Advertisers' Guide for more information.

An individual or a representative of a corporation or trade union must file a Notice of Registration (Form 7)  with the municipal clerk in person or by an agent. It must have an original signature – the form may not be a copy, and may not be scanned and submitted electronically. There is no registration fee.

The municipal clerk must be satisfied that that the individual, corporation or trade union is eligible in order to certify the registration, and may require that identification or additional documents be provided.

A person who is filing as the representative of a corporation or a trade union should make sure that they can provide proof that they are authorized to act on the corporation or trade union’s behalf.

Please consult the 2026 Third-party Advertisers' Guide for more information.

You will be able to register starting Friday May 1, 2026 at the Municipal Administration Centre during regular business hours – Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last day to register close of business on Friday, October 23, 2026.

To make an appointment to register, please contact the Clerk by email or at 519-396-3468 ext. 7111