April 10, 2026 – Notice of Nomination for Office

April 10, 2026 – Municipal Election Candidate Information Session

March 25th, 2026 – Municipal Elections Nomination Day 

It’s quick and easy to check your voter information!

For the 2026 Municipal & School Board Election, the voters’ list will be prepared using the Permanent Register of Electors maintained by Elections Ontario.

Even if you received a voter card for a recent federal or provincial election, this does not automatically guarantee that your information is up to date for the municipal election – especially if you have moved, changed your name, or need to update your school support.

What’s changed?

• Elections Ontario is now responsible for maintaining the voter’s register used for municipal elections.
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) no longer prepares municipal voters’ lists, but it continues to collect school support information, which determines which school board ballot you receive.
• Municipalities use the register provided by Elections Ontario to prepare their official voters’ lists.

What should you do?

Residents are encouraged to check and update their voter information ahead of the 2026 Municipal Election to ensure they are included on the voters’ list and receive the correct ballot. Click here to verify your information.

Voting is conducted in person using a paper ballot.

Detail on location, advance voting dates, and identification requirements will be posted as they are confirmed.

Eligible Smooth Rock Falls voters will elect a number of different positions on Voting Day, including:

• One (1) Mayor
• Four (4) Councillors

School Board Trustee elections are also held on October 26, 2026.  Nominations for school board trustee are accepted by the Clerk of the Municipality with the most electors representing the school board district.  For the 2026 Election, the municipalities responsible for each school board trustee elections are:

• Conseil scolaire catholique des Grandes Rivières (French Separate) – TBD
• Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario (French Public) – TBD
• District School Board Ontario North East (English Public) – TBD
• Northeastern Catholic District School Board (English Separate) – TBD

What is the role of a Council Member or Head of Council?

The Municipal Act, 2001, Section 224 outlines the following responsibilities for the role of a Councillor:

• To represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;
• To develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;
• To determine which services the municipality provides;
• To ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of Council;

(d.1)  To ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality;

(e)  To maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and

(f)   To carry out the duties of Council under this or any other act.

The Municipal Act, 2001, Section 225 outlines the following responsibilities for the role of a Mayor (Head of Council):

• To act as the chief executive officer of the municipality;
• To preside over Council meetings so that its business can be carried out efficiently and effectively;
• To provide leadership to the Council;

(c.1)  without limiting clause (c), to provide information and recommendations to the council with respect to the role of council described in clauses 224(d) and (d.1);

   (d)   To represent the municipality at official functions; and

   (e)    To carry out the duties of the head of council under this or any other Act.

How often do Council Meeting occur?

Regular meetings of Council occur on the first and third Monday of every month, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Public meetings under the Planning Act and Special Meetings are called as deemed necessary by the Mayor or Clerk.

On average, how many hours are need to prepare for bi-weekly Council meetings?

It is estimated that the preparation time for regular meetings is 2 to 4 hours per meeting, depending on agenda volume and complexity of agenda items.  For an example of an agenda and items included on an agenda, please visit the Town’s CivicWeb Portal.

What are the rates of remuneration for Members of Council?

Further information coming soon.

Qualifications and Nominations Requirement

• Every person is qualified to be elected or hold office for the Mayor or Councillor, if on the day the nomination paper is filed, the person is:
• At least 18 years of age;
• A Canadian Citizen;
• A resident of the Town of Smooth Rock Falls, or an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Smooth Rock Falls, or the spouse of an owner or tenant;
• Not legally prohibited from voting;
• Not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office; and
• Entitled to be an elector within the Town of Smooth Rock Falls.
• Each candidate must provide acceptable identification, confirming the candidate’s name, qualifying address, and signature. It is the responsibility of the candidate to file a bona fide nomination paper.
• Nomination form will be made available in the spring of 2026 or sooner, once released by the Province.
• Employees of the Town of Smooth Rock Falls or its local boards who wish to run for office must take an unpaid leave of absence as of the day the employee is nominated and ending on voting day, before submitting the nomination paper. Employees must provide a copy of the documentation showing this leave of absence and effective date, and must resign their position if elected.

The following individuals are disqualified from being elected or holding office on a municipal Council:

• 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 or the Town Clerk will not certify the nomination.
• A candidate who failed to file the necessary financial statements in the last municipal election or by-election.
• An inmate serving a sentence under the Municipal Elections Act and Municipal Act.

A full list of disqualifications is available under the Municipal Elections Act and Municipal Act, found here.

Filing Fees

• Filing fee for nomination to the position of Mayor is $200.00
• Filing fee for nomination to the position of Councillor is $100.00
• Payment must be made by cash, certified cheque, debit or money order payable to the Town of Smooth Rock Falls.

Withdrawal of Nomination

If a candidate decides they no longer wish to run for Office, the following must occur:

• File a written Withdrawal of Nomination form, in-person, with the Town Clerk;
• Provide identification; and
• File a financial statement by the deadline date.

The last day to withdrawal:  Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Reasons to Reject a Nomination by the Clerk

Prior to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026 (Monday following Nomination Day), the Town Clerk must examine each nomination filed.  If satisfied and if the nomination complies with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the person is qualified to be nominated and the Town Clerk shall certify the nomination.  If not satisfied, the Town Clerk shall reject the nomination and give notice to the person who sought to be nominated and all other candidates for that office.  The Town Clerk’s decision to reject a nomination is final.

The Town Clerk may consider the following criteria in the decision to reject or certify nominations:

• The candidate has refused or declined to provide proof of qualifications or identification suitable to the Town Clerk.
• The candidate does not meet the eligibility requirements set out under Section 29(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
• The nomination form is not complete in its entirety, or the filing fee has not been paid.
• The necessary financial statement was not filed for the previous regular election for any new election in which the individual may have been a candidate.

Who can Vote?

A person is entitled to vote in a municipal election is, on Voting Day, they:

• Reside in the local municipality, or are the owner or tenant of land in the municipality, or the spouse of such owner or tenant;
• Are a Canadian citizen;
• Are at least 18 years old; and
• Are not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act or otherwise prohibited by law.

Resident Elector

A resident elector is a person who lives and is eligible to vote in that municipality’s election.  A person is only allowed to have one residence.

A person’s residence is the permanent lodging place to which, whenever absent, he or she intends to return.

The following rules apply in determining a person’s residence:

1. A person may only have one residence at a time;
2. The place where a person’s family resides is also their residence, unless they move elsewhere with the intention of changing their permanent lodging place;
3. If a person has no other permanent lodging place, the place where they occupy a room or part of a room as a regular lodger, to which they habitually return, is their residence.

Non-Resident Elector

If a person lives in one municipality but owns or rents property in another municipality, then they are a non-resident elector and able to vote in that municipality.

People Without Housing

Persons without a permanent residence may also qualify to be added to the Voters List during the revision period by submitting an application to the Clerk.  If a person has no permanent residence or lodging place, the following rules apply in determining their residence:

1. The place to which the person most frequently returned to sleep or eat during the five weeks preceding the determination is their residence.
2. If the person returns with equal frequency to one place to sleep and another to eat, the place who which they return to sleep is their residence.
3. Multiple returns to the same place during a single day, whether to eat or to sleep, shall be considered one return.
4. A person’s affidavit regarding the places to which they returned to eat or sleep during a given time period is conclusive, in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

Students

A person may have residences in two local municipalities at the same time if the person lives in one of the local municipalities in order to attend an education institution but not with the intention of changing their permanent lodging place, and the person’s permanent lodging place is in the other local municipality.

Therefore, students can vote in the municipality where they attend school and they can also vote in the municipality where they live.

Trailer Owners – Campgrounds

Trailer owners in campgrounds are tenants of the campground – therefore, they are potentially eligible electors.  Under a timeshare contact, to be eligible, the person must be entitled to use the land on Voting Day, or for a period of six weeks or more during the calendar year in which the election is held.

Who Cannot Vote?

The following cannot vote:

• A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution.
• A corporation.
• A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity, except as a voting proxy in accordance with section 44 of the Municipal Elections Act.
• A person who was convicted of the corrupt practice described in subsection 90(3), if Voting Day in the current election is less then five years after Voting Day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.

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Election day is Monday, October 26, 2026.

Do you need Assistance for the 2026 Municipal Election?

The Town of Smooth Rock Falls’ Municipal Clerk is committed to having regard to the needs of electors with disabilities and consideration to the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001, as amended, while providing all eligible electors full access and the right to vote during the 2026 Municipal Election.

Please refer to the 2026 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan for further information.

Pursuant to Section 88.37(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended, municipalities are required, prior to October 1 in a regular election year, to establish a Compliance Audit Committee (CAC). The purpose of the CAC is to consider applications for compliance audits of candidates’ or registered third parties’ campaign finances and determine if audits are required. The responsibilities of the CAC are fulfilled in a fair, open and responsible manner.

The Committee is to be comprised of persons with accounting and audit, academic or legal backgrounds and/or other individuals with knowledge of election campaign finances. Members should have a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of municipal election campaign finances; proven analytical and decision-making skills; experience working on a committee, task force or similar setting; and good oral and written communication skills.

The Committee is established prior to Election Day and appointments take effect on the first day of the new Council’s term of office.

The following are questions or common inquiries regarding the 2026 Municipal Election.  This page may be updated from time to time.

Can anyone use the Town’s logo in their campaign material?

No, the Town’s logo is protected, and the Town assets copyright over its use.

What is a Registered Third Party?

A registered third party is any individual, corporation or trade union that advertises to support or oppose a candidate or a question on the ballot for the municipal election. A registered third party is subject to many of the same requirements as that of a candidate, including filing registration papers, expense limits and financial statements. No election advertising outside of a candidate or registered third party is permitted. 

An example of a registered third party would include, but is not limited to, a business operating from the municipality or a rate payers group.

When can I file my nomination for Council?

The nomination period for 2026 is from May 1 to August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

When can election signs be posted?

Municipal election signs may be posted once the candidates nomination has been filed with the Clerk, and must be removed by end of day on the fifth day following Election Day. 

Who can vote?

In order to qualify as an eligible elector, you must:

• Reside in the Township of Springwater, or are the owner or tenant of land, or the spouse of such owner or tenant;
• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be 18 years of age (as of Election Day); and
• Not prohibited from voting as outlined in s.17(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 or otherwise by law.

How do I register to vote in a municipal election?

Once the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) is available, there will be a public notice to review, correct or add your name to the Voters List.

Guides:

• 2026 Voters’ Guide   /  Guide 2026 à l’intention des électeurs et électrices
• 2026 Candidates’ Guide  /   Guide 2026 à l’intention des candidats et candidates
• 2026 Third-Party Advertisers’ Guide  / Guide 2026 à l’intention des tiers annonceurs

Election Forms: 

Form 1:   Notice of Nomination   /  Déclaration de candidature 

Form 3:  Appointment of Voting Proxy    /   Nomination d’un mandataire 

Form 4: Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report – Candidate  /  État financier – Rapport du vérificateur candidat

Form 5:   Financial Statement – Subsequent Expenses  /  État financier – Dépenses subséquentes 

Form 6: Notice of Extension of Campaign Period   /  Avis de prolongation de la période de campagne 

Form 7:  Notice of Registration – Third Party  /  Avis d’inscription – Tiers – 

Form 8:  Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report – Third Party   /  État financier – Rapport du vérificateur Tiers 

Form 9:  Declaration of Identity   /  Déclaration d’identité 

Form 19:  Withdrawal of Nomination   /  Retrait de candidature