Municipal government elections in Ontario are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October. The most recent municipal election was held on Monday, October 24, 2022.
If you are a resident, owner or tenant of land in the Township, a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age, you can participate in the election process as a voter and, if interested, as a candidate. The Province of Ontario sets out common rules governing election processes that all voters and candidates must follow in the Municipal Elections Act.
Municipalities are individually responsible for conducting elections for their councils and for conducting the election of school trustees to Ontario's school boards.
Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of being a Member of Council in the Province of Ontario's "Municipal Councillor's Guide".
In Wainfleet, eligible voters cast ballots for the following offices:
- Mayor: One (1) candidate to be elected at large to serve as the Head of the Council of the Township of Wainfleet and to also sit as a member on the Council of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
- Councillors: Four (4) candidates to be elected at large by the eligible electors of the Township to sit as members of the Council of the Township of Wainfleet.
- District School Board of Niagara: One (1) Trustee to represent the English-Language Public School Electors in Wainfleet and West Lincoln.
- Niagara Catholic Distrcit School Board: One (1) Trustee to represent the English-Language Separate School Electors in Wainfleet, Fort Erie and Port Colborne.
- Conseil Scolaire Viamonde: One (1) Trustee to represent the French-Language Public School Electors in Wainfleet, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold and Welland. Nominations shall be filed with the Clerk of the City of Welland.
- Conseil Scolaire Catholique Monavenier: One (1) Trustee to represent the French-Language Separate School Electors in Wainfleet, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold and Welland. Nominations shall be filed with the Clerk of the City of Welland.
As in prior elections, Vote-by-Mail will be the voting method used for the 2022 Municipal Election.
Please review the Province of Ontario's 2022 Voters' Guide - Ontario Municipal Council and School Board Elections.
The Township of Wainfleet will be holding the 2022 Municipal Election on Monday, October 24, 2022. As in previous years, the election will be conducted through Vote-by-Mail and there will be no advance polls or proxy voting with our Vote-by-Mail Election.
Ballot Kits Have Been Mailed
Vote-by-Mail Ballot Kits have been mailed to all eligible electors on the Voters' List and should be delivered to all voters by Friday October 7, 2022. Completed Ballot Kits must be returned by electors to the Township Offices by 8:00 pm on Monday, October 24, 2022.
In order to ensure that ballots are returned in time to be counted on Voting Day, electors are asked to please place completed Ballot Kits in the return mail by Thursday, October 13, 2022.
Completed Ballot Kits may also be personally delivered directly to the Township Offices anytime the offices are open (8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday) or in the after-hours mail drop box located at our front door. You don't have to wait until Voting Day - it doesn't hurt to return your completed Ballot Kits early! And by personally delivering your completed kit - you can be assured that your vote will be counted.
Voting Day Special Ballot Drop-off Location
On Voting Day (Monday, October 24, 2022) only, completed Ballot Kits may also be returned to the Moore Room in the Wainfleet Arena, 31917 Park Street, from 10:00 am until the close of voting at 8:00 pm.
What If I Don't Get a Ballot?
If an eligible elector has not received their Vote-by-Mail Ballot Kit by Friday, October 7, 2022, please contact the Clerk's Department at (905) 899-3463, ext. 275, to investigate.
What if I Get a Ballot for Someone Not at my Address?
If you receive a Vote-by-Mail Ballot Kit at your residence for someone who should not be there, please do not open the kit. It is actually a serious offense under the Criminal Code of Canada to open or use a ballot kit if you are not the intended addressee. Instead, simply write "RETURN" on the outside of the envelope and return it to the Township Offices at your earliest convenience (via return mail or drop-off). The information that we use for our Voters' List is provided to us by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. For persons wishing to remove occupant names that should no longer be associated with a property/unit, please contact the MPAC Customer Contact Centre:
Toll Free: 1-866-296-6722 TTY: 1-877-889-6722 Monday to Friday - 8 am to 5 pm
Instructions for Completing Your Ballot Kit
For instructions on how to complete your return ballot package, you can also view Online Video: Instructions for Completing your Return Ballot Package here.
Note: Every returned Ballot must be accompanied by a signed voter Declaration Form. An unsigned or missing Declaration Form will result in a spoiled/rejected ballot. MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT! Return your Ballot (sealed in the provided Secrecy Envelope) along with your signed voter Declaration Form to the Township by 8:00 pm on October 24, 2022.
You don’t have to wait until Voting Day! Completed Ballot Kits may be personally delivered directly to the Township Offices anytime the offices are open (8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday) or in the after-hours mail drop box located at our front door. It doesn’t hurt to return your completed Ballot Kits early! And by personally delivering your completed kit - you can be assured that your vote will be counted.
Why are we using Vote-by-Mail?
- Ease and convenience for voters—you can vote in the comfort of your home and on your own time.
- It is an accessible way to vote for people with mobility issues.
- It enhances voter safety in a post-pandemic environment.
- You can vote even if you are away on Election Day.
- The Township of Wainfleet, along with many Ontario municipalities successfully conducted their municipal elections in 2018 using Vote-by-Mail - and this year, more and more municipalities are offering Vote-by-Mail.
Is Vote-by-Mail secure?
Vote-by-Mail is a double envelope system that protects the confidentiality of the voter. Just like your other bills and payments, your completed Ballot Kits (in sealed return envelopes) are processed through the Canada Post mail delivery network. When completed Ballot Kits are delivered to us, election staff use the signed voter declarations within the return envelopes to strike voters off the list as having voted. Sealed ballot secrecy envelopes are not opened though – they are separated from the voter declarations and securely stored until Voting Day, when the ballot secrecy envelopes will finally be opened and all ballot counting occurs. The privacy of your vote is assured. It is against the law to vote more than once for any elected office within the same municipality or school board.
If you are a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age and an owner or tenant of land in the Township, you can vote in the upcoming municipal and school board elections.
We all play a role in ensuring a fair electoral system, and it is the responsibility of every elector to make sure their information is up-to-date and accurately reflected for electoral purposes.
You can check if you're registered to vote in municipal elections through Elections Ontario.
Ontario Regulation 304/13 under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, prescribes that the following documents (an original or a certified or notarial copy that shows the person's name and qualifying address) are acceptable as proof of identity and residence for election purposes.
Schedule 1
- An Ontario driver’s licence.
- An Ontario Health Card (photo card).
- An Ontario Photo Card.
- An Ontario motor vehicle permit (vehicle portion).
- A cancelled personalized cheque.
- A mortgage statement, lease or rental agreement relating to property in Ontario.
- An insurance policy or insurance statement.
- A loan agreement or other financial agreement with a financial institution.
- A document issued or certified by a court in Ontario.
- Any other document from the government of Canada, Ontario or a municipality in Ontario or from an agency of such a government.
- Any document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada).
- An income tax assessment notice.
- A Child Tax Benefit Statement.
- A Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E.
- A Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS).
- A Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits T4A (P).
- A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions.
- A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Works.
- A Statement of Direct Deposit for Ontario Disability Support Program.
- A Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits T5007.
- A property tax assessment.
- A credit card statement, bank account statement, or RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP or T5 statement.
- A CNIB Card or a card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities.
- A hospital card or record.
- A document showing campus residence, issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution.
- A document showing residence at a long-term care home under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, issued by the Administrator for the home.
- A utility bill for hydro, water, gas, telephone or cable TV or a bill from a public utilities commission.
- A cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer.
- A transcript or report card from a post-secondary school.
If you are a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age and an owner or tenant of land in the Township, you can become a candidate by filing Nomination Papers with the Clerk. Nomination Papers must be signed by the candidate and filed in person or by an agent, during regular office hours between Monday, May 2, 2022 and Thursday, August 18, 2022, and between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022 (Nomination Day). Although drop-ins are welcome, appointments are recommended to ensure prompt completion of necessary filing paperwork. Please contact the Township's Deputy Clerk as detailed in the "Contact Us" area (to the right of this page).
For more information about becoming a candidate, please review the Province of Ontario's 2022 Candidates' Guide - Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections (a copy of this guide is included in the Township of Wainfleet Nomination Package, below).
Download a Township of Wainfleet Nomination Package here (13 MB).
Hardcopies of the nomination package may also be picked up at the Township of Wainfleet Municipal Offices during the nomination period.
Candidate Information Session
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing hosted a candidate information session in partnership with Niagara's municipalities for anyone interested in running as a candidate or becoming a third-party advertiser in the 2022 Municipal and School Board Election.
Information Session
Date: Thursday, April 28, 2022 Location: Meridian Community Centre (Accursi Room), 100 Meridian Way, Pelham Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Agenda
- 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Election information booths open
- 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Ministry presentation with question and answer period (livestreamed and recorded)
- 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Election information booths open
A recording of the presentation is available for review on the Town of Pelham's YouTube channel.
There was also an in-person election information fair before and after the presentation, where attendees could ask questions to staff from Niagara Region, local municipalities and school boards.
The session provided potential candidates with an opportunity to become familiar with:
- Role of Council, municipal staff and school board trustees
- Third-party advertising
- Nomination process
- Campaign period
- Candidate qualifications and disqualifications
- Candidate and third party advertiser duties
- General campaign rules and election finances
- Compliance audits and penalties
- Voters' list, proxy voting, scrutineers, recounts and resources
A copy of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing presentation materials can be viewed here.
Prior to 2018, third party advertising was not regulated for municipal council and school board elections. Those who wanted to expend funds to advertise or distribute materials supporting or opposing a candidate did not have to identify themselves, were able to spend unlimited amounts of money and did not have to report their advertising or financial activities to anyone. The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, now includes a framework of rules for third party advertising.
Now, the Municipal Elections Act provides that an individual, corporation or trade union can register to become a third party advertiser. A third party advertiser can expend funds to support or oppose any candidate or candidates who will be voted on by the people in that municipality. This includes candidates running for local council, school trustee and candidates running for offices of an upper tier council.
If appropriately registered, Third Party Advertisers can also expend funds to support or oppose a question that is included on the ballot that will be voted on by the electors of a municipality.
All Third Party Advertisers shall be registered by the Clerk beginning on May 2, 2022, and can register until close of business (4:30pm) on Friday, October 21, 2022.
For more information, please review the Province of Ontario's 2022 Third Party Advertisers' Guide (a copy of this guide is included in the Township of Wainfleet Third Party Advertiser Registration Package, below).
Download a Township of Wainfleet Third Party Advertiser Registration Package here (11 MB).
Hardcopies of the registration package may also be picked up at the Township of Wainfleet Municipal Offices during the nomination period.
- May 2, 2022 - Candidate nomination period opens. Nominations may be filed during regular business hours at the Township of Wainfleet Municipal Office, 31940 Highway 3. A person cannot raise or spend money on an election campaign until they have filed the nomination paperwork.
- August 19, 2022 - Nomination Day, candidate nomination period closes. Those interested in running as a candidate in the 2022 municipal election have until August 19, 2022 at 2 p.m. to file their nomination papers.
- October 24, 2022 - Election Day
- August 31, 2022 - Those interested in applying for the Niagara Compliance Audit Committee may do so before August 31, 2022 at 4 p.m.
- November 15, 2022 - New term of Council begins
Niagara's local area municipalities, school boards and Niagara Region have formed a joint compliance audit committee and are recruiting experienced professionals to form a roster of eligible members for appointment to the 2022 - 2026 Niagara Compliance Audit Committee. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31 at 4 p.m.
Candidates for Mayor
Candidates for Councillor
View List of Registered Third Party Advertisers here
This page will be updated upon filing of Candidate Nomination Papers or Third Party Advertisers' Registration documents. Additional information about the municipal elections process can be obtained by contacting the Clerk's Department.
2018 Municipal Election
- Notice of Election
- List of Registered Third Party Advertisers
- Elections Summary Report
- Clerk's Compliance Report
The financial statements for the 2018 Municipal Election Candidates are available for viewing at the Township Municipal Office.
2014 Municipal Election Results
- Mayor & Alderman
- English Public School Board
- English Separate School Board
- French Separate School Board