2026 Municipal Elections

Offices for Nomination

As a municipal councillor in Ontario, you play a crucial role in shaping your community's future. Your responsibilities include:​

Representation

• Acting as a voice for your constituents, addressing their concerns, and representing their interests in council meetings.​

Policy-Making

• Developing and evaluating policies that affect local services, infrastructure, and community well-being.​

Stewardship

• Ensuring the municipality's financial integrity and overseeing the implementation of council decisions.​

Councillors work collaboratively with other members of council and municipal staff to serve the needs of the community.

Municipal and School Board Elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. The upcoming Municipal Election will be held Monday, October 26, 2026.

Nomination can be made by completing and filling in the prescribed Nomination Form available at your municipal Clerk’s Office. Nomination forms must be filled, either in person or by your agent with the Returning Officer of the appropriate municipality during their normal office hours, between May 1, 2026 to August 20^th, 2026, and between 9:00a.m. and 2:00p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day)

The required filing fee for the Head of Council is $200.00 and for all other offices $100.00 (cash, certified cheque or money order payable to the appropriate municipality or by electronic method of payment that the Clerk specifies). It must accompany the signed form. Full details on the procedures to be followed may be obtained from the appropriate Municipal Clerk.

A nomination must be certified by the Clerk before such person becomes a certified candidate for the office to which she or he is nominated.

For school board trustee purposes, the nominations shall be submitted to the Clerk of the municipality having the largest population of the relevant electoral group residing in the geographic area serves by the school board. For Assiginack Township, this is Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) for public school electors. 

For Candidates

Eligibility to Run

You may run for municipal office if you are:

• A Canadian citizen;
• At least 18 years old;
• A resident, owner, or tenant of land in the Township (or their spouse);
• Not disqualified under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or any other law.

Candidate Responsibilities

• Candidates are responsible for:
• Understanding campaign finance rules;
• Filing financial statements by the required deadline;
• Complying with all applicable legislation and by-laws.

Certified Candidates

A list of certified candidates will be posted following the close of nominations.

Information is provided as filed with the Clerk and is subject to change.

All candidates will be required to file financial statement after the election using the following form:

Financial Statement (Form 4)

Details on how to file your financial statement is available in the Candidate’s Guide from the Province https://www.ontario.ca/files/2026-03/mmah-2026-candidates-guide-en-2026-03-31.pdf

While municipal elections are non-partisan, effective communication and community engagement are key to a successful campaign.​

For detailed information and resources, visit the Ontario Municipal Councillor’s Guide.

Key Dates

Accessibility

The Township of Assiginack is committed to conducting an accessible election. You can find a copy to the 2026 elections Plan here.

The Clerk's Elections Manual can be found in the link below.

Municipal Elections Act, 1996, s.11(4)2

NOTICE is hereby given to the Municipal Electors of the

(Township of Assiginack)

 That during the period commencing on May 1, 2026, and completed on Nomination Day, August 21, 2026, the following persons filed all necessary papers, declarations and fees and as Clerk, I am satisfied that such persons are qualified and that their Nominations satisfy the requirements of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. I have, therefore, certified such candidates for the office, which follows their respective name:

Dated this 24^th day of August, 2026

_________________ 

Municipal Clerk or designate