Port Colborne Votes - Municipal Elections 2022

Notice of Recount

As a result of a tie between two candidates for the office of Councillor, Ward 2, a recount will be held in accordance with Section 56(1)(a) of the Municipal Elections Act.

The recount will take place on Monday, October 31, 2022, at 1 p.m. at City Hall in Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, 66 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne. 

In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, the persons permitted at the recount are the Ward 2 Candidates. The candidates may also have a lawyer and scrutineer present. Members of the public are not permitted.

If the recount indicates that the two candidates for Ward 2 have received the same number of votes, the clerk shall choose the successful candidate or candidates by lot in accordance with the Municipal Act, immediately following the recount.

2022 Election Accessibility Plan

View the City of Port Colborne Procedures for the Implementation of the Accessibility Plan for the 2022 Municipal Elections. 

City of Port Colborne 2022 Election Accessibility Plan and Report 

 Niagara Compliance Audit Committee

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 requires each municipality and school board in Ontario to establish a compliance audit committee to consider compliance audit applications.

In 2022, Niagara's municipalities and school boards again partnered to establish the joint Niagara Compliance Audit Committee. The participants include: 

• Local Area Municipalities: Town of Fort Erie, Town of Grimsby, Town of Lincoln, City of Niagara Falls, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Town of Pelham, City of Port Colborne, City of St. Catharines, City of Thorold, Township of Wainfleet, City of Welland and Township of West Lincoln
• Region: Regional Municipality of Niagara
• School Boards: District School Board of Niagara and Niagara Catholic District School Board

The Purpose of the Committee is to:

• Consider whether to grant or reject a compliance audit application made by an eligible elector;
• Appoint an auditor if the application is granted;
• Receive and consider the auditor's report and decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced;
• Consider reports from the Clerk identifying contributors who appear to have contravened election contribution limits and decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced.

The powers and functions of the committee are found under Sections 88.33 - 88.37 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Compliance Audit Applications

If an elector entitled to vote believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or registered third party advertiser has contravened any of the campaign finance rules, the elector may apply for a compliance audit and file their Application with the City Clerk.

Application for Compliance Audit 

Eligible Elector

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age;
• Resides in the municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land, or the spouse of such owner or tenant

2022 Financial Statements for Candidates and Third Party Advertisers

Each candidate and third party advertiser is required under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, to file a financial statement with the Clerk of the City of Port Colborne by no later than 2:00 P.M., Friday, March 31, 2023. 

All financial statements are public documents and may be inspected in person during normal office hours at the City Clerk's Office.

Below is a list of Financial Statements currently filed with the City Clerk. Click on Candidate name to view Financial Statements.

Certified Candidates

The following are the certified candidates in the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election in the City of Port Colborne. Click the link below to see the list of certified candidates, their contact information, as well as their qualifying address: 

2022 Official List of Certified Candidates

Candidate Information

Who can be a Candidate?

• Candidates must be a resident of the municipality, a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;

• a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old;

• not legally prohibited from voting;

• not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

• Candidates will need 25 signatures of endorsement from eligible voters and must pay a fee of $100 ($200 for mayor) 

*THE NOMINATION PERIOD HAS NOW CLOSED*

Forms and More Information: 

2022 Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) Candidate Guide

2022 Port Colborne Candidates Guide

Port Colborne Election Sign By-law

MMAH Presentation for Candidates 

Yearly Stipend:

The current yearly stipend for City Council is:

• Mayor $46,175
• Councillors $22,973 

Niagara Region Election News

Seat at the Table Program

Niagara Region is offering a series of workshops to help communities that are underrepresented in municipal politics feel informed and educated when making the decision to run for local government.

Learn more about the Seat at the Table program on the Region's project page.  

 Third Party Advertiser

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. 

For More Information and Forms: 

2022 Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Third Party Advertisers’ Guide

Notice of Registration – Third Party  

Are you Eligible to Vote?

• you are a Canadian citizen;
• you are aged 18 or older; and
• you qualify to vote in the municipality

 There are three ways that you can qualify to vote in a municipality:

1. As a resident elector if you live in the municipality. You may own, rent, live in shared accommodation where you do not pay rent or live in the municipality but do not have a fixed address. Being a resident elector is the most common type of eligibility.

2. As a non-resident elector if you own or rent property in a municipality, but it’s not the one where you live. You can be a resident elector in only one municipality. However, you can be a non-resident elector in any other municipality (or municipalities) where you own or rent property.
3. As the spouse of a non-resident elector if your spouse owns or rents property in the municipality or municipalities other than the one where you live.  

What Ward do I live in?

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 4

All Wards

Voting Methods

2022 Key Election Dates

• Candidate Nomination Period opens. Nomination forms may be filed during regular business hours in the Office of the City Clerk, located at 66 Charlotte Street.

• A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until they have filed the nomination paperwork.

August 19, 2022 - 2:00 p.m.

•  Nomination Day. Candidate Nomination Period closes.
• Those interested in running as a candidate have until 2:00 p.m. to file their nomination papers, withdraw a nomination, or change office.

August 22, 2022

• Certification of Nomination Forms and Acclamations. The City Clerk will certify nomination forms prior to 4:00 p.m.
• If there are positions declared elected by acclamation (e.g. no other candidates running for the same position), a list will be posted by the City after 4:00 p.m.

September 2022

• Voters' List available to candidates - September 1, 2022

October 2022 

• Port Colborne Voters go to the Polls
  • Advanced Voting 
  • Election Day Voting
• During the week of October 24th, 2022 Official Election results are declared by the City Clerk as soon as possible after voting day.

November 15, 2022

• New Council terms begins.

November 22, 2022

• Inaugural meeting of City Council.