Filing period for 2018 municipal election candidates nears

_ (Via City of Ottawa) _ ** Ottawa ** – Tuesday, May 1, 2018, is the first day eligible individuals may file nomination papers for the offices of mayor, councillor and school board trustee for the 2018 Municipal Elections. In addition, it is the first day to file a notice of registration as a third party advertiser. ** Filing period for candidate nomination papers and notices of registration for third party advertisers ** The City of Ottawa’s municipal elections to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school board trustees will take place on Monday, October 22, 2018. ** _ _ ** ** Becoming a Candidate: ** ** Offices for Nomination ** Eligible individuals may consider running for one of the following offices:

 * 
Mayor - one elected at large;

 * 
City councillor – one elected per ward, 23 wards

 * 
School board trustee - one elected per zone, 37 zones



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     * 
  Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
 
     * 
  Ottawa Catholic School Board
 
     * 
  Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario
 
     * 
  Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est

** Requirements for Nomination ** A person is eligible to be a ** candidate for mayor or councillor ** if they are:

 * 
A resident of the City of Ottawa, or an owner or tenant of land in the City of Ottawa, or the spouse of such an owner or tenant

 * 
A Canadian citizen

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At least 18 years old

 * 
Not legally prohibited from voting

A person is eligible to be a ** candidate for school board trustee ** if they are:

 * 
A Canadian citizen

 * 
At least 18 years old

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A resident within the school board's area of jurisdiction

 * 
A supporter of that school board

 * 
Not legally prohibited from voting

** Nomination Period ** Candidates can file their nomination for the office of mayor, councillor or school board trustee starting Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 8:30 am The deadline for candidates to submit their nomination is Friday, July 27, 2018, at 2 pm. ** ** ** Nomination Process ** To become a candidate for the office of mayor, councillor or school board trustee, candidates must file a prescribed ‘Nomination Paper – Form 1’. It must be filed by the candidate or by an agent acting on the candidate’s behalf, in person, at the City of Ottawa Elections Office or by appointment with the Clerk at the Office of the City Clerk and Solicitor during regular office hours. ** New for 2018: Endorsement of Nominations for Mayor or Councillor ** Nomination papers for candidates running for the office of mayor and city councillor must be submitted with an ‘Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2’ that includes a declaration of qualification from at least 25 eligible electors endorsing their nomination. ** Filing Fees ** Candidates must pay a filing fee at the time of filing (by cash, debit, credit card, certified cheque or money order) when they submit their nomination papers.

 * 
The filing fee for a candidate running for mayor is $200.

 * 
The filing fee for a candidate running for city councillor or school board trustee is $100.

Please note: The Office of the City Clerk and Solicitor can only accept payment in cash, by certified cheque or by money order. ** Deadline for Withdrawal of Nomination ** The deadline to withdraw a nomination is Friday, July 27, 2018, at 2 pm.

A withdrawal of nomination ** must ** be submitted in writing with the original signature of the candidate, and in person by the candidate or their agent to:

 * 
The City of Ottawa Elections Office; or

 * 
By appointment with the Clerk at the Office of the City Clerk and Solicitor.

Proof of identity of the candidate or, if applicable, their agent, must be presented when filing the withdrawal. ** Things Needed for Filing Candidate Nomination Papers: **

 * 
A completed ‘Nomination Paper – Form 1’

 * 
A completed ‘Endorsement of Nomination – Form 2’ (
_
 only applicable to candidates running for the office of mayor and councillor
_
)

 * 
The filing fee

 * 
Proof of identity

** _ _ ** ** Becoming a Registered Third Party: ** ** New for 2018: Registered Third Party Advertisers ** ** What is a Third Party Advertisement? ** A third party advertisement refers to an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that promotes, supports or opposes a candidate in the election, or, a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot. _ Please note that the deadline for Ottawa City Council and for a school board to submit a question on a ballot has passed. However, the Minister of Municipal Affairs may require the Clerk place a question on the ballot until May 1, 2018. _ Individuals and entities wishing to conduct third party advertising in the City of Ottawa ** must ** register with the Clerk ** before ** they can begin advertising. ** Who can Register as a Third Party Advertiser? ** The following persons and entities are eligible to file a notice of registration:

 * 
An individual who is normally a resident in Ontario

 * 
A corporation that carries on business in Ontario

 * 
A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario

** Registration Period ** Notices of registration may be filed during regular office hours at the City of Ottawa Elections Office as of Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at 8:30 am. The deadline for an individual, corporation or trade union to submit a notice of registration is Friday, October 19, 2018, at 4:30 pm. ** Registration Process ** An individual, corporation or trade union may register as a third party by filing a notice of registration at the City of Ottawa Elections Office, during regular office hours, beginning Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at 8:30 am. There is no registration fee. The notice of registration may not be faxed, mailed or emailed, as an original signature is required. ** Things Needed for Registering as a Third Party: **

 * 
A completed ‘Notice of Registration – Form 7’

 * 
Proof of identity

For additional information, please visit ottawa.ca/vote . ** City of Ottawa Elections Office                     Office of the City Clerk and Solicitor ** 1221 B Cyrville Rd                                           110 Laurier Ave West Ottawa, ON                                                     Ottawa, ON K1J 7S8                                                            K1P 1J1

Tel: 613-580-2660                                           Tel: 613-580-2424 ext. 21215

This notice is issued by M. Rick O’Connor, City Clerk and Solicitor, in accordance with Section 32 of the _ Municipal Elections Act, 1996 _ .