Running for Local Government

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they are qualified to seek the office for which they are being nominated.

Composition

Council

Clarington Municipal Council is comprised of a Mayor, two Regional Councillors and four Local Councillors. The Mayor is elected at large, while the Regional and Local Councillors are elected by voters in one of the four respective wards.

The Mayor and Regional Councillors sit on both the Clarington Council and the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham. The Local Councillors sit on Clarington Council only.

The role of Mayor as head of Council, as defined in the Municipal Act:

  • to act as 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;
  • to provide information and recommendations to the council with respect to the role of council; 
  • to represent the Municipality at official functions; and
  • to carry out the duties of the head of council under this or any other Act.

The role of Council:

  • 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 are in place to implement the decisions of Council;
  • to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality; 
  • to maintain the financial integrity of the Municipality; and
  • to carry out the duties of Council under this or any other Act.

In fulfilling the duties above, all Members of Council attend Council and Committee meetings. Members also share in attendance at several board and committee meetings. 

Candidate qualifications

In accordance with section 256 of the Municipal Act, at the time of filing their Nomination, the candidate must:

  • Be a qualified elector in accordance with Section 17 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended. Therefore, the candidate must be:
    • A Canadian citizen.
    • At least 18 years of age.
    • A resident of the Municipality of Clarington, or the owner or tenant of land in the Municipality of Clarington or the spouse of the owner or tenant of land in the Municipality of Clarington.
  • Not disqualified for violations of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.
  • Not disqualified by any Act from holding such office.

Note: Candidates who are a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, or the Senate, or House of Commons of Canada may file their Nomination for an office in the municipal elections, but the Municipal Clerk will reject their Nomination if they remain a member as of 2 p.m. on Nomination Day (August 21, 2026).

Employees are subject to Section 30 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, which requires the municipality to give individuals who are employees a leave of absence upon request. If an employee of the Municipality of Clarington wishes to file a Nomination, the employee must take an unpaid leave of absence as of the day the employee is nominated and ending on Voting Day. If elected, the person is deemed to have resigned immediately before making the Declaration of Office.

The following persons are disqualified from seeking election to Council:

  • Except during a leave of absence, an employee of the Municipality of Clarington or a local board.
  • A person who is not an employee of the Municipality of Clarington, but who is the Clerk, Treasurer, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman or registrar referred to in s. 223.11 of the Municipal Act or a Closed Meeting investigator referred to in s. 239.2(1) of the Municipality of Clarington.
  • A judge of any court.
  • Except if they cease being a member as of 2 p.m. on Nomination Day:
    • A member of the Ontario Legislature.
    • A member of the House of Commons.
    • A member of the Senate.
  • A person serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution, including a sentence being served in the evening or on weekends. (This does not include persons serving house arrest).
  • A corporation.
  • A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity.
  • A person convicted of the corrupt practice described in Subsection 90(3) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 is disqualified until the next regular election has taken place after the election to which the offence relates.
  • A candidate convicted of corrupt practice as described in Subsection 91(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, is ineligible to be nominated for, or elected or appointed to, any office until the next two regular elections have taken place after the election to which the offence relates. Subject to the exception in section 91 (2).
  • A person disqualified for violations of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
  • A member of a municipal council who knowingly votes to authorize the borrowing of any amount larger than permitted under s. 407 of the Municipal Act is disqualified from holding any municipal office for two years.
  • A member of a council who voted to apply any money raised for a special purpose or collected for a sinking or retirement fund to pay current or other expenditures other than those permitted by the Municipal Act is disqualified from any municipal office for two years.
  • A member of a council where the council neglects in any year to levy the amount required to be raised for a sinking or retirement fund is disqualified from holding any municipal office for two years unless the member shows efforts to produce the levying of the amount.
  • A member who has been found to have contravened the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act can be disqualified from holding municipal office for a period of up to seven years.
  • Otherwise, ineligible or disqualified under the Education Act or any other Act. 

Note: It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they are qualified to seek the office for which they are being nominated. 

Resources