Third Party Advertisers

Any person resident in Ontario, or a corporation that does business in Ontario or a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario can register to become a third party advertiser.  Election Candidates are not eligible to register as third party advertisers. Groups, associations or businesses that are not corporations are also not eligible to register. Federal and Provincial parties cannot register to become third party advertisers. A Candidate whose nomination has been filed cannot direct any third party advertisements.

Third party advertising refers to advertisements or other materials that support, promote or oppose a candidate. Third party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign, and must be done independently from a candidate. All Third Party Advertisements shall contain the name of the registered third party, the municipality where the registered third party is registered and telephone number, mailing address or email address at which the registered third party may be contacted regarding the advertisement. 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.

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
• Internal communications from an employer to their employees, a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees or by a trade union to its members or employees are not considered to be third party advertising.

Information regarding Third Party registration requirements and forms can be obtained from the Town Clerk. Registration forms must be submitted to the Town Clerk for approval in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act. Please call the Clerk’s Office to make an appointment to register as a third party advertiser. 519-855-4407 Ext 248 or elections@erin.ca. 

Form 5 Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses (To be completed by a Third Party who incurs costs related to a recount, controverted election or compliance audit after the supplementary campaign period has passed, and who receives the surplus funds from their campaign held in trust from the clerk.)

Form 6 Notice of Extension of Campaign Period (To be completed by a Third Party who has a deficit at the end of the regular campaign period and wishes to extend their campaign. Must be filed with the municipal clerk.)

Form 8 Financial Statement and Auditor's Report - Third Party (To be completed by every registered Third Party. Must be filed with the municipal clerk.) 

The campaign period for a registered third party begins on the day the individual, corporation, or trade union is registered as a registered third party in relation to the 2022 Municipal Elections and ends on January 3, 2023.

• An individual, corporation, or trade union must be a registered third party in order to accept contributions in relation to third party advertisements. A contribution may only be made to a registered third party during the campaign period for the 2022 Municipal Election.
• A contributor can only be an individual who is normally resident in Ontario, a Corporation that carries on business in Ontario, or a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
• The maximum amount a contributor shall make to a registered third party is $1,200 and cannot exceed a total of $5,000 to two or more registered third parties in the Town of Erin during the 2022 election in relation to third party advertisements.

Money, goods and services given to and accepted by an individual, corporation, or trade union in relation to third party advertisements, or given to and accepted by another person who is acting under the direction of the individual, corporation, or trade union, are considered contributions.

Costs incurred by or under the direction of an individual, corporation, or trade union for goods or services for use wholly or partly in relation to third party advertisements that appear during the 2022 municipal election in the Town of Erin are expenses. Expenses must be incurred only during the campaign period for a registered third party.

• Like candidates, third parties are subject to maximum expenses which are calculated by the Clerk and sent to registered third parties.
• During the restricted period for third party advertisements, the expenses of a registered third party in relation to third party advertisements that appear during an election in the Town of Erin shall not exceed an amount calculated by the Clerk using the prescribed formula.
• The expenses of a registered third party relating to the cost of holding parties and making other expressions of appreciation after the close of voting cannot exceed an amount calculated by the Clerk in accordance with a prescribed formula.
• The Clerk will issue a certificate to each third party to outline the maximum amounts described above. An estimated amount will be issued on a certificate to the third party at the time of registration and a final amount will be issued on or before August 31, 2022.

A registered third party must file a financial statement and auditor’s report with the Clerk, on the prescribed form on or before the filing date of March 31, 2023, no later than 2:00pm. An Auditor’s report is not required if expenses are $10,000 or less.

Please check the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website for upcoming information.