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• How to run as a candidate
• Authorized independent candidate
• Party candidate
• For more information

How to run as a candidate

A person can run for only one position on the municipal council. To do so, during a general election, the person must have the right to be entered on the municipality’s list of electors and must have resided within that territory continuously or otherwise for at least twelve months on the first of September of the year of the general election or, in the case of a by-election, for at least twelve months on the date of publication of the notice of election. A nomination paper may be obtained from the office of the returning officer of the municipality.

In the case of municipalities subject to the rules governing the financing of political parties (municipalities with a population of 5 000 or more), candidates can join together in authorized parties. As for the other municipalities, candidates can form tickets recognized by the returning officer.

The period during which the person may file his duly completed nomination paper along with the appropriate documents at the office of the returning officer begins on the September 18, 2009 and ends at 4:30 p.m. on October 2, 2009. Be sure to check the days and times when the office of your returning officer is open.

Authorized independent candidate

(municipalities with a population of 5 000 or more)

The independent candidate must obtain an authorization to solicit or collect contributions, incur election expenses or contract loans.

This authorization is granted by the returning officer of the municipality to every elector who undertakes to run as an independent candidate, from January 1^st of the year in which a general election must be held in the municipality or, in the case of a by-election, from the day when the seat becomes vacant.

The authorization may also be granted by the assistant returning officer authorized to receive a nomination paper in the case where the application for authorization is made during the election period.

The independent candidate must in particular designate an official representative and make sure that the information concerning him in the register of authorized political entities of the Chief electoral officer. An independent candidate may also designate himself to act as his own official representative.

Every independent candidate can:

• lend money for his campaign for a maximum amount of $10,000 (loan and surety);
• solicit or collect con­tri­butions if he is expressly authorized to do so by the official representative;
• participate financially in his campaign by making a contri­bution to the official representative. However, this contribution must respect the annual limit ($1,000 per entity) and the official representative must issue a receipt.

He cannot:

• contract loans: only the official representative may do so;
• incur election expenses: only the official agent may do so. However, he may incur “personal” expenses;
• pay an election expense himself: only the official agent may do so.

The official representative of an authorized independent candidate has to be the same person as the official agent. Each of these two roles is of great importance in the election campaign of a candidate.

The role of the official representative consists of:

• collecting and depositing contributions;
• making sure that contribution receipts are issued to contributors;
• ensuring that contributions comply with the provisions of the Act;
• depositing sums collected during political activities or rallies;
• contracting loans;
• paying the interest on loans annually;
• filing the financial report and, where applicable, the additional financial report.

As the official agent, his role consists of:

• incurring or authorizing election expenses;
• authorizing a publicity agency to incur or order election expenses;
• making sure that every payment of election expenses is supported by an invoice and that the going market price is paid;
• making sure that all advertising contains his name and his title of official agent;
• making sure that the limit on election expenses is respected;
• assuming all responsibilities with respect to all election expenses;
• filing the return of election expenses.

To apply for authorization, you can complete the appropriate form (PDF : 165 Kb / 3 pages) and send it to the returning officer of your municipality. Should you designate yourself as your official agent and representative, you must indicate your name in section 3 of the form.

You can also request an authorization at the time of the filing of your nomination paper, by completing the appropriate section on the nomination form.

The authorization granted to an independent candidate expires on December 31^st of the calendar year following the year of the election, unless it is withdrawn prior to this date.

The authorization of an independent candidate who is elected and who, on that date has not paid all the debts arising from his election expenses, expires the day of transmission of the financial report confirming that all debts have been paid.

Party candidate

The candidate of an authorized political party is a person whose nomination paper was accepted in this capacity by the returning officer for the position of mayor or for a councillor’s position. He cannot solicit or collect contributions, unless he has been expressly authorized to do so by the official representative of his party. Similarly, he cannot contract loans or incur expenses.

For a party candidate, it is the official agent of the authorized political party who is responsible for:

• incurring or authorizing all election expenses;
• making sure that every payment of election expenses is supported by an invoice and that the regular price is paid;
• ensuring that all advertising contains his name and his title of official agent;
• making sure that the limit on election expenses is respected.

In fact, the official agent is responsible for all candidates’ election expenses and for filing the return of election expenses.

For more information

Are you thinking of running in an election?

Here is a summary of the electoral procedure that you have to follow from the moment you declare your intention to run, until you probably officially become officially elected. There are even things you can do before the electoral period if you intend to run as an independent candidate.

Do you want to run for election in a municipality with a population of 5,000 or more?
( PDF: 5.40 Mb / 2 pages)