Candidates

To run for Mayor or Regional Councillor you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident of the Town of Whitby, or an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Whitby, or the spouse of the owner or tenant
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Who cannot be a Mayor or Regional Councillor candidate

The following people are disqualified from being elected as Mayor or Regional Councillor:

• A judge of any court
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations.
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election.

Town of Whitby and Region of Durham employees

Employees of the Town of Whitby or Region of Durham who wish to run for Mayor or Regional Councillor must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper. Documentation proving leave of absence is required.

To run for Local Councillor you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident of the Town of Whitby, or an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Whitby, or the spouse of the owner or tenant
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Who cannot be a Local Councillor candidate

The following people are disqualified from being elected as Local Councillor:

• A judge of any court
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations.
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election.

Town of Whitby employees

Employees of the Town of Whitby who wish to run for Local Councillor must take an unpaid leave of absence before filing a nomination paper. Documentation proving leave of absence is required.

To run for School Board Trustee for the Durham District School Board or Durham Catholic District School Board you must be:

• A Canadian citizen
• At least 18 years of age
• A resident in the area of jurisdiction of the board
• Not legally prohibited from voting
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office

Who cannot be a School Board Trustee candidate

The following people are disqualified from being elected as a School Board Trustee, or from holding office on any school board:

• A clerk, treasurer, deputy-clerk or deputy-treasurer of any municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the school board except those on an unpaid leave of absence
• A member of the Provincial Legislature, the Federal House of Commons or Senate who has not resigned from their office by the close of nominations. Proof of resignation must be provided by the close of nominations.
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statement or exceeded the prescribed spending limit in the last municipal election or by-election

School board employees

• Employees of any school board (including supply teachers) are disqualified from being elected as school board trustee or from holding office on any school board, except during a leave of absence.
• The employee must be on a leave of absence before filing their nomination paper. Documentation proving leave of absence is required.

Click the link below to view information about the Town’s Election Sign By-law, which regulates the placement of election campaign signs in the Town of Whitby.

Election Sign By-law Information

Each candidate who runs in a Municipal Election must file a Financial Statement with the Municipal Clerk. These statements will be made public. The prescribed Financial Statement – Form 4 issued by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing can be accessed below.

Your campaign period begins on the day the Clerk receives your nomination.

In most cases, your campaign will end on December 31, 2026. Exceptions are if you:

• withdrew your nomination, your campaign ends on the date you informed the clerk in writing that you wanted to withdraw
• were not certified as a candidate and your name did not appear on the ballot, your campaign ends on nomination day (August 21, 2026)
• know you will not have any more financial activity, you can end your campaign at any time after voting day and before December 31, 2026

If you have extended your campaign to pay down a deficit, the end date for the extended campaign period will be the earliest of:

• the day you notify the clerk in writing that you will be ending your campaign and not accepting any more contributions
• June 30, 2027

Note: If you're experiencing challenges opening the forms, download the form(s) and then locate the file location where it was saved. Next, right click on the PDF file and select "Open with", and then select Adobe Acrobat.

Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate - Form 4

Financial Statement - Subsequent Expenses - Form 5

Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6

Please see the 2026 Candidates' Guide for more information regarding campaign finances.  

The Compliance Audit Committee (CAC) reviews and considers compliance audit applications submitted by an elector who believes that a Candidate or Registered Third Party Advertiser has contravened a provision of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) relating to election campaign finances. The CAC is also responsible for reviewing reports submitted by the Town Clerk with respect to any contributor who appears to have contravened any of the contribution limits to a candidates’ election campaign or to a Registered Third Party Advertiser. The Committee has the authority to:

• Grant or reject a compliance audit application;
• Appoint an auditor to conduct an audit where the application is granted;
• Consider the auditor’s or Clerk’s report within 30 days of receiving it; and
• Decide whether to commence legal proceedings against the Candidate, a contributor or Registered Third Party for any apparent contravention.

2026 Candidates' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's 2026 Candidates' Guide provides information about how to run as a candidate in Municipal Council and School Board elections. 

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Guide to Running for Municipal Council

AMO’s Lead Where You Live guide provides information to assist candidates when preparing for the municipal election.

Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Leading With Respect Handguides

AMO's Leading With Respect Handguides provides practical resources, tips, and tools that elected officials and senior staff can adapt and use to foster civility and respect in municipal governance.