O. Reg. 141/26: 2026 REGULAR ELECTIONS - SPECIAL RULES, MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ACT, 1996
ontario regulation 141/26
made under the
Municipal Elections Act, 1996
Made: May 22, 2026
Filed: May 22, 2026
Published on e-Laws: May 22, 2026
Published in The Ontario Gazette: June 6, 2026
2026 REGULAR ELECTIONS — SPECIAL RULES
CONTENTS
| PART I | |
| Application | |
| Reference to “deadline” in ss. 3 and 4 | |
| Deemed withdrawal of nomination | |
| Notifying the clerk re office on the council | |
| Certificate, permitted amount of candidate’s expenses, etc. | |
| Notice by clerk | |
| Exception re s. 83 (1) of the Act | |
| PART II | |
| Exception re s. 83 (1) of the Act | |
| PART III | |
| Commencement | |
Part I
City of Port Colborne — 2026 Regular Election
Application
1. This Part applies with respect to the 2026 regular election in the City of Port Colborne.
Reference to “deadline” in ss. 3 and 4
2. A reference to the “deadline” in sections 3 and 4 is a reference to 2 p.m. on the day that is 21 days after the day Ontario Regulation 141/26 made under the Act comes into force.
Deemed withdrawal of nomination
3. If, on or before the day Ontario Regulation 141/26 made under the Act came into force, a person filed a nomination under section 33 of the Act for an office on the council, other than the office of head of council, the person is deemed to have withdrawn their nomination unless the person has done any of the following before the deadline:
1. Given notice to the clerk under subsection 4 (1).
2. Filed a nomination for another office to which the Act applies.
3. Withdrawn their nomination in accordance with section 36 of the Act.
Notifying the clerk re office on the council
4. (1) A person who, on or before the day Ontario Regulation 141/26 made under the Act came into force, filed a nomination under section 33 of the Act for an office on the council, other than the office of head of council, may notify the clerk in writing before the deadline of the office on the council, other than the office of head of council, for which the person wishes to be nominated.
(2) A notice given to the clerk under subsection (1) shall be in the form established by the clerk under subsection 12 (2) of the Act.
(3) The giving of notice to the clerk under subsection (1) does not constitute a new nomination.
(4) For the purposes of subsection 88.24 (3) of the Act, a person who has given notice to the clerk under subsection (1) shall not be considered to be a candidate for more than one office on the same council.
Certificate, permitted amount of candidate’s expenses, etc.
5. (1) If a person gives notice to the clerk under subsection 4 (1), sections 33.0.1 and 33.0.2 of the Act do not apply and instead the following rules apply:
1. As soon as practicable upon the giving of the notice, the clerk shall calculate the applicable maximum amount of the person’s expenses for the purposes of subsection 88.20 (6) of the Act, as of the date the notice was given, using the number of electors referred to in paragraph 1 of subsection 88.20 (11) of the Act, and shall give the person a certificate of the applicable maximum amount as of the date of the notice.
2. As soon as practicable upon the giving of the notice, the clerk shall calculate the applicable maximum amount for the purposes of subsection 88.9.1 (1) of the Act, as of the date the notice was given, using the number of electors referred to in paragraph 1 of subsection 88.9.1 (2) of the Act, and shall give the person a certificate of the applicable maximum amount as of the date of the notice.
(2) The clerk’s calculations under subsection (1) are final.
Notice by clerk
6. As soon as possible after the day Ontario Regulation 141/26 made under the Act comes into force, the clerk shall notify, in writing, each person who, on or before that day, filed a nomination under section 33 of the Act for an office on the council, other than the office of head of council, and the notice shall include the following:
1. A copy of the form referred to in subsection 4 (2).
2. An explanation of the changes to the 2026 regular election in the City of Port Colborne as a result of the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026.
3. An explanation of the effect of section 3 in respect of the person.
Exception re s. 83 (1) of the Act
7. (1) An order shall not be made under subsection 83 (1) of the Act by reason only of the clerk doing anything, before the day Ontario Regulation 141/26 made under the Act comes into force, in relation to the conduct of the 2026 regular election,
(a) as if this Regulation was not already in effect; or
(b) as if this Regulation was already in effect.
(2) An order shall not be made under subsection 83 (1) of the Act by reason only of the clerk doing anything, after the day Ontario Regulation 141/26 made under the Act comes into force, in relation to the conduct of the 2026 regular election arising out of the implementation of this Regulation.
PART II
CERTAIN UPPER-TIER MUNICIPALITIES — 2026 REGULAR ELECTION
Exception re s. 83 (1) of the Act
8. (1) An order shall not be made under subsection 83 (1) of the Act by reason only of the clerk of a municipality listed in subsection 218.1 (2) of the Municipal Act, 2001 doing anything, before the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent, in relation to the conduct of the 2026 regular election,
(a) as if the amendments set out in subsection 2 (1) of Schedule 2 to the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 were not already in effect; or
(b) as if the amendments set out in subsection 2 (1) of Schedule 2 to the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 were already in effect.
(2) An order shall not be made under subsection 83 (1) of the Act by reason only of the clerk doing anything, after the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent, in relation to the conduct of the 2026 regular election arising out of the implementation of the amendments set out in subsection 2 (1) of Schedule 2 to the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026.
Commencement
9. This Regulation comes into force on the day it is filed.
Made by:
Pris par :
Le ministre des Affaires municipales et du Logement,
Rob Flack
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date made: May 22, 2026
Pris le : 22 mai 2026
