Candidate/Third Party Financial Requirements

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Third Party Advertisers

Any eligible individual, corporation, or trade union that intends to spend money on advertising must register as a third party advertiser.

You can register as a third party advertiser starting May 1, 2026.

Information on the process for registering as a third party advertiser will be made available here in the coming soon.

Third party advertiser registration  

 Third party advertiser registration

Any eligible individual, corporation, or trade union that intends to spend money on advertising must register as a third party advertiser.

You can register as a third party advertiser starting May 1, 2026.

Information on the process for registering as a third party advertiser will be made available here in the coming months. 
 Third party advertiser eligibility

You're eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

  • An individual resident of Ontario
  • A corporation carrying on business in Ontario
  • A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario

You are not eligible to register as a third party advertiser if you are:

  • A candidate in the municipal or provincial election
  • A group, association or business that is not a corporation
  • A federal or provincial political party
  • The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board

Third party advertiser requirements
 Individuals
 

If you're registering as an individual, you must provide a piece of identification that proves your identity and that you live in Ontario. 

There is no restriction against family members or campaign staff of candidates registering to be third party advertisers. However, third party advertising must be conducted independently of the candidate. 

If you are a person with close ties to a candidate, you should consider the following:

  • How would these activities appear to the public?
  • How would you demonstrate that you are not working in coordination with the candidate?
 Corporations

If you're registering on behalf of a corporation, you must provide:

  • Proof that the corporation operates in Ontario and that you are the director, such as a corporate search or incorporating documents.
  • A piece of government-issued identification

If the corporation has more than one director, provide a resolution from the board authorizing you to act as the corporation's representative.

Between multiple corporations owned by the same person or persons, or controlled by a single corporation, only one can register as a third party advertiser.
 Trade unions

If you are registering on behalf of a trade union, you must provide:

  • Proof that the union exists
  • Proof that you have been appointed to act on the trade union's behalf​

 

Compliance Audit Committee

The Compliance Audit Committee receives and makes decisions on applications for compliance audits of candidates' and third party advertisers' municipal election campaign finances. The powers and functions of the committee are pursuant to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Information on the Compliance Audit Committee and the process for applying to become a member will be made available here in the coming months.

 Compliance Audit Committee - 2026-2030 Term

The Municipal Elections Act requires all municipalities to establish a Compliance Audit Committee no later than October 1 in the year of an election.

Applications for compliance audits of candidates' and third party advertisers' 2026 municipal election campaign finances will be considered by the Compliance Audit Committee established for the 2026-2030 term of council.
 Who can make an application for a compliance audit?

In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, an elector who is entitled to vote and believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or third party advertiser​ has contravened a provision of the Municipal Elections Act relating to election campaign finances may apply for a compliance audit.

An eligible elector is:

  • A Canadian citizen
  • At least 18 years old
  • A resident in the Town of Caledon, or
  • A non-resident, and you or your spouse owns or rents property in Caledon.

An application for a compliance audit must be made within 90 days after the latest of the following dates:

  • ​The filing date (the last Friday in March following the election)
  • The date the candidate/third party advertiser filed a financial statement, if the statement was filed within 30 days after the applicable filing date
  • The candidate/third party advertiser's supplementary filing date, if any
  • The date on which the candidate/third party advertiser's extension of the filing date, if any, expires

An application for a compliance audit must be made in writing, outlining the reasons why the applicant believes the candidate or third party advertiser has contravened the Municipal Elections Act regarding election campaign finances.

An application must include the applicant's full name, qualifying Town of Caledon address, and for the purposes of communication with the applicant, their mailing address, phone number and email address.