Candidates

General information on time commitment can be found as referenced on page 13 of the Candidate Information Package (in the drop down below) which states the following:

"The time commitment can be significant. In addition to two council meetings per month, this may include sitting on committees, public meetings and events to take part in, as well as considerable time spent talking with and responding to the residents.

The amount of time required to prepare for a Council or committee meeting can be several hours per week due to the number of lengthy reports to be read in advance. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor also sit on Grey County Council which requires additional meetings and research time.

The Grey Highlands Council current time commitment consists of (but is not limited to):

• Council Meetings held the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10 am;
• Committee of the Whole Meetings held the 4th Wednesday of each month at 9am or as required;
• Budget Meetings & Workshops as required (generally in the fall);
• Statutory Public Planning Hearings held the 4th Monday of each month at 5 pm;
• Attendance at extra Committees that a Councillor can be expected to be appointed to by Council 
• Telephone calls and contact with constituents; and  
• Reading agendas and research time (draft agendas generally provided to Council 1 week in advance of the Council meeting).

The above list is required for all members of Council, however individual members may be appointed to other committees and organizations on behalf of Council. In addition to what is included in the Candidate Information Package, information is provided below based on appointments as of January 2026. 

The number of Grey Highlands appointments varies based on interest and the number of Committees that Council deems required. Appointments are divvied up among the Council members.

The current list of Committees and Boards includes:

• Joint Detachment Police Services Board 
• Grey Highlands Public Library Board
• Committee of Adjustment 
• Museum Board 
• Heritage Grey Highlands Committee 
• Community Development Advisory Group 
• Joint Waste Disposal Site Committee 
• Seniors Advisory Committee 
• Financial Assistance Program Committee 
• Community Safety Committee
• Lake management Task Force

Council also appoints members to external organizations. If appointed to an external organization, meeting dates, times and locations will vary. The current list of external appointments by different members of Council include:

• Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority
• Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
• Grey Sauble Conservation Authority
• Joint Community Safety and Well Being Program Committee
• Grey Highlands Chamber of Commerce
• Grey County Farm Safety Council
• Grey Highlands Community Endowment Fund Committee (Community Foundation Grey Bruce)
• Kimberley Forest Steering Committee
• South East Grey Community Health Centre (if approved)
• Multi-Municipal Wind Turbine Working Group
• Local Immigration Partnership

Running for Municipal Council

Are you Eligible to be a candidate?

• You must be a Canadian citizen
• You must be 18 or older
• You must qualify as a resident or non-resident elector (see voters page for eligibility)

Who is not eligible?
The following people are disqualified from being elected to municipal office:

• any person who is not eligible to vote in the municipality 
• an employee of a municipality who has not taken an unpaid leave of absence and resigned (see above)
• a judge of any court
• an MP, an MPP or a senator
• an inmate serving a sentence in a penal or correctional institution

Required Forms and Fees

You must file Form 1 (nomination paper) and Form 2 (25 endorsements) when you submit your nomination along with the appropriate fee.

Fees as per O.Reg 101/97: 

• $100 nomination fee; or
• $200 nomination fee for head of Council 
• Payable by cash, cheque or debit

Running for School Board Trustee

In order to run for a trustee position on a school board you must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the board, and you must be eligible to vote in a school board election. 

You must file Form 1 (nomination paper) and pay the appropriate fee when you submit your paperwork. 

Nominations for specific schoolboards can be filed at the following Municipal Offices:

• English Public (Bluewater District School Board) - Grey Highlands
• English Separate (Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board)- Hanover
• French Public (Conseil Scolaire Viamonde) - Barrie
• French Separate (Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence) - Sarnia

Running for Election as a School Board Trustee Information Package

When and how is nomination done?

Candidates who intend to run in the 2026 Municipal Election must file all of the necessary documentation along with the required filing fee during the nomination period, which runs from Monday, May 1, 2026 through Friday August 21, 2026 at 2 pm. 

Nomination Day on Friday, August 21, 2026 is the last day to file a nomination, by 2:00 pm sharp. 

Filing must be done in person or by an agent (not by mail, email or fax) with the Clerk at 206 Toronto Street South Markdale, ON during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).  

Nomination forms will soon be available on our website.

Please ensure you bring your completed Form 1 and Form 2 when you attend the office to file your nomination. When filing, we will also request that the following forms are filled out:

• Declaration of Qualifications - to be signed in front a commissioner
• Candidate's declaration - proper use of voters list
• Consent to release personal information 

What positions can I run for?

The 2026 Municipal Election is for the following positions: 

• 1 Mayor 
• 1 Deputy Mayor 
• 5 Councillors 
• 1 Trustee for the English Language Public District School Board
• 1 Trustee for the English Language Catholic District School Board
• 1 Trustee for the French Language Public School Board
• 1 Trustee for the ​French Language Catholic School Board

Can I nominate myself?

Yes, you may nominate yourself. Even if another person recommends you for the position, you must complete all the paperwork and be present to file your nomination or file through an agent. You must also obtain and submit the signatures of 25 people eligible to vote in the 2026 Grey Highlands elections who support your nomination.

What if I change my mind after I have submitted my nomination paperwork and want to withdraw or switch to a different position?

A person may withdraw his or her nomination by filing a written Withdrawal of Nomination in the Clerk's Office before Friday August 21, 2026 at 2 pm. 

If you wish to run for a different position, you must re-file your nomination paperwork in the Clerk's Office before Friday August 21, 2026 at 2 pm, which will trigger your original nomination to be withdrawn. ​You do not need to submit different signatures from the ones you submitted with your initial nomination.

Can I use the Grey Highlands logo or photos from a Municipal website or social media site on my campaign materials?

No, candidates may not use the municipal logo or other corporate images on their own websites (including social media), campaign literature, lawn signs, buttons, clothing or other campaign material. 

Candidates MAY re-tweet/share a municipal social media post or share a link from the Grey Highlands websites on their own websites including social media. Candidates wishing to share information/pages from the Grey Highlands official websites must do so by providing links rather than screen captures.

Can I campaign at public events?

You may not campaign at events that are hosted by the Municipality. These include but are not limited to  public information sessions or open houses.  Wearing a campaign T-shirt, hat, button or other apparel is considered campaigning. You may campaign at private events hosted on rented public property with the permission of the event organizer. 

Can I have a campaign office?

You may set up a campaign office on private property. Please be aware that you may not put up signs on the exterior or in the windows of the office that promote your candidacy prior to the date when signs are permitted. Prior to that date, signs may state your name only.

When can I begin campaigning?

Your campaign period begins as soon as you file your nomination papers with the Municipal Office. After your paperwork is filed you can commence your campaign, however you cannot place your election signs in the Municipality until after Nomination Day on August 21th as per the Election Sign By-law.  

Do you want to run for Council in the upcoming 2026 Election? Below you will find a link to the Candidate information package which will provide you all the information you need to know. Please review the document and forms fully.

Candidate Information Package

Q. As a candidate, am I allowed to print pens with “vote XX for Councillor” 

A. Generally, a candidate may distribute campaign items, such as pens printed with a message, as part of an election campaign. Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, candidates are permitted to advertise and promote their campaigns to voters. Campaign materials may include signs, brochures, clothing, buttons, and promotional items such as pens, provided the costs are reported as campaign expenses and all applicable election finance rules are followed.

As a reminder, under the Corporate Resources Policy, campaign materials may not be distributed on municipal property, at municipal events, or using the municipal logo.

Q. The info package states that "All contributions and expenses should go through this account”. Can I pay expenses from my personal credit card, and then reimburse myself from the campaign account?

A. The MEA requires candidates who accept contributions of money or incur expenses to establish a bank account exclusively for the campaign. Campaign contributions and campaign expenses should flow through that account. With respect to credit card purchases, it is generally understood that candidates may choose to pay an expense using a personal credit card and subsequently reimburse themselves from the campaign account, provided appropriate records, receipts, and documentation are maintained. 

Q. Ongoing Expenses - If I put my phone number on campaign materials, which I already pay for, how should I properly claim these as an expense? Do I claim the full amount for the campaign period.

A. Candidates are required to report campaign expenses incurred for the purpose of the campaign. Where a service is used for both personal and campaign purposes, candidates may consider the portion attributable to the campaign and maintain records supporting how that amount was determined. Because this involves accounting considerations, I would recommend consulting with an accountant.

Q. If my legal name is different from my known name can I file my nomination papers under my known name?

A. Yes, the Municipal Clerk under Section 41(2) of the MEA has the discretion for the name on the ballots. I don’t anticipate there being any concerns with the known name appearing instead of the legal name, however the final determination would be made when the nomination is officially certified. 

Q. If a person or a group of people chose to create a similar resource for 2026, would they need to register as a third party?  Or would it simply qualify as a neutral community service?

A. Whether it’s a website or other resource would require third party advertiser registration depends on it contents. Generally, Third-party advertising occurs when advertising promotes, supports, or opposes a candidate. Neutral information that presents all candidates in an objective and non-partisan manner may not constitute third-party advertising. As the Clerk, I am unable to make advance determinations regarding whether a specific future activity would or would not require third-party advertiser registration. I would suggest getting independent legal advice for certainty.

Q. What if I chose to publish information about all candidates, on my own campaign website? Are you aware of any regulation that would restrict this activity?

A. I am not aware of any provision in the MEA that specifically prohibits a candidate from publishing information about other candidates. That said, once information appears on a candidate's campaign website, questions could arise regarding whether the content could reasonably be interpreted as promoting or opposing another candidate. I would suggest getting independent legal advice for certainty.

Q. Am I allowed to submit more than 25 signatures?

A. Yes, you may submit more than 25 signatures. In fact, this is encouraged, which is why all documentation refers to a minimum of 25 signatures. Additional signatures can help if one or more endorsements are later determined to be invalid. However, please keep in mind that submitting more than the required number of valid signatures does not provide any additional benefit to the candidate.

Q. Can you tell me what I’d need to include on my signs, website and/or printed materials in regard to an authorization statement? (ie: "Authorized by the Campaign to Elect..”)

A. Under the MEA or our election sign by-law a Candidate is not required to include an authorization statement on their own campaign materials. An authorization statement is only required for third-party advertisers however candidates may choose to include a statement identifying the campaign as a matter of transparency. Any such wording would be at the discretion of the candidate. 

Q. I am seeking clarification regarding the signatures required on Form 2B – Endorsement of Nomination. Specifically, I would like to ask whether it is permissible for the required endorsements to be completed electronically. Could you please confirm whether the Municipality of Grey Highlands will accept electronically signed endorsement forms for the 2026 municipal election? 

A. The Municipality of Grey Highlands is not accepting nominations electronically. Candidates are required to file their nomination documents in paper form with the Clerk's Office.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's 2026 Candidates' Guide states that, where electronic filing is not permitted, nomination forms must be filed as original documents and may not be submitted as copies or scanned documents. The Guide also states that candidates required to submit endorsements must provide 25 original endorsement signatures.

Based on the Municipality's nomination filing process and the Ministry's guidance, the Municipality will require Form 2B endorsement forms containing original signatures. Electronic signatures, scanned signatures, emailed copies, or electronically signed endorsement forms will not be accepted.

Q. As a candidate am I allowed to ask SMT - Senior Management Team questions to understand a platform position?  Would other candidates be allowed to?

A. As a registered candidate in the upcoming election, the Municipality's Use of Corporate Resources for Election Purposes Policy does not permit municipal resources to be used for campaign-related purposes. This includes municipal employees and information developed or maintained by staff for municipal business purposes. Accordingly, staff are unable to undertake research, prepare information, give opinions, or otherwise assist with the development of an individual candidate's campaign platform.

If the information you are seeking is publicly available through Council agendas, minutes, reports, budgets, policies, or other municipal records, staff would be able to direct you to those resources in the same manner that information is made available to any member of the public.

Q. I have decided not to accept any monetary donations and do not intend to contribute any funds to the campaign. My campaign will be very simple and primarily based on Facebook posts and word of mouth, with no unnecessary spending. I may use some of my own paper, printer, and existing office equipment to produce a limited number of flyers. Given this approach, am I still required to open a separate campaign bank account? As well, if I were to receive non-cash contributions such as gift cards (for example, fuel or diesel gift cards), would that require me to open a campaign bank account and report those contributions?

A. Under the Municipal Elections Act, a candidate must open a campaign bank account if they accept any monetary contributions, including contributions from themselves. The Act also requires candidates to keep records of all contributions and expenses, including non-cash contributions such as goods or services. Based on the information you've provided, if you do not accept any monetary contributions and do not contribute any funds of your own to the campaign, a separate campaign bank account may not be required. However, any goods or services used for campaign purposes, including non-cash contributions such as gift cards, may need to be valued and reported as part of your campaign financial statement. As the Clerk's Office cannot provide legal or accounting advice, candidates are responsible for ensuring their own compliance with the Municipal Elections Act. You may wish to seek independent legal or accounting advice regarding your specific circumstances.

Q. I am writing to request clarification regarding the People's Forum being organized. Would you please confirm whether a nominated candidate may attend this independently organized meeting provided that they: attend solely to listen to residents; do not campaign, solicit votes, speak as a candidate, or distribute campaign material; and do not contribute to, collect, handle, or otherwise participate in the voluntary donation box being used by the organizer to cover meeting expenses?

A. The Municipality understands that the September 15 meeting is being organized independently by a private resident and is not a municipal event. Council's decision to cancel the municipal Town Hall Forum does not prohibit residents, community groups, or other organizations from holding their own meetings or events.

With respect to candidates attending privately organized events, the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 does not prohibit a nominated candidate from attending or participating in such events. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that any activities they undertake comply with the requirements of the Act, including the provisions respecting campaign finances, contributions, fundraising, and election advertising.

From the Municipality's perspective, the primary consideration is that municipal resources are not used to promote, support, or oppose any candidate or campaign activity. In keeping with Grey Highlands' election-related use of corporate resources principles, the Municipality does not sponsor, endorse, organize, promote, or participate in campaign-related activities.

The Clerk's role is to administer the election and provide information respecting the Municipal Elections Act. The Clerk cannot provide legal advice or make determinations in advance regarding whether specific conduct may or may not comply with the Act. Candidates seeking advice regarding their own campaign activities should consult their legal advisor.

Grey County along with the 9 lower tier municipalities are hosting a joint Candidate Information Session. 

2026 Municipal Elections | Grey County

Location:  Grey County Council Chambers

                 595 9th Ave East Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 3E3

Date:         Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Time:         6:00pm - 9:00 pm

Municipality of Grey Highlands Policies:

Election Sign By-law

Use of Corporate Resources Policy A-09-C-04 

County of Grey:

2026 Municipal Elections resources 

Province of Ontario Legislation:

Municipal Elections Act

Municipal Act

Helpful Guides:

Lead Where You Live Guide

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - Candidates Guide

AMO - Leading with Respect Handguide