Campaign Finances

All candidates, including withdrawn or acclaimed, must file a financial statement.

• Candidates exceeding $10,000 in contributions/expenses must include an auditor’s report.
• Filing period (reference): December 31, 2026 – March 30, 2027, with 30-day grace period until April 29, 2027.
• Late filings incur a $500 fee.
• Penalties for non-compliance include: forfeiture of office and ineligibility for the next election.
• All financial statements are public and posted online; contributors’ names and addresses are included.
• The Town of Stouffville does not accept electronic filing of financial statements. All statements must be filed in person at the Municipal Office.

Campaign Period Extensions
Candidates wishing to extend their campaign period beyond December 31, 2026 (allowing you to continue making expenses and receiving contributions up until June 30, 2027), should notify the Clerk in writing (on prescribed Form 6) advising of the request, on or before 4:00pm, December 31, 2026. Candidates who do this must file two financial statements:

• The initial filing (Form 4), which details all campaign finances from the day the nomination was filed until December 31, 2026 (due by 2:00pm on March 30, 2027).
• The supplementary filing (Form 5), which details all campaign finances from the day the nomination was filed until December 31, 2026 (due by 2:00pm on September 24, 2027).

On or before March 30, 2027, a candidate may apply to the Superior Court of Justice to extend the time for filing a financial statement. If the court is satisfied there are mitigating circumstances justifying a later date for filing the document, it may grant an extension of up to 90 days. If a candidate makes an application to the Court, the candidate shall notify the Clerk in writing before 2 p.m. on the last day for filing a financial statement (March 30).

Candidates may still file up to April 29, 2027 at 2:00 p.m. with a $500 late filing fee to avoid the automatic penalties set out under the Municipal Elections Act.

Campaign Surplus
If a candidate's financial statement (or supplementary financial statement) shows a surplus at the end of the campaign period, the candidate shall pay the entire surplus amount to the Clerk at the time of filing. The Clerk will hold the amount in a trust.

If a candidate has a surplus, and they or their spouse has made contributions to the campaign, after the campaign period ends (but before filing the statement(s)), the candidate may refund the candidate or spouse in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of the relevant contributions or the surplus.

If a candidate notifies the Clerk, in writing, that they are incurring further expenses due to a recount, a compliance audit, or controverted election, the Clerk shall return the surplus to the candidate, with interest.

The surplus will become the property of the Town when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The election campaign period has ended under paragraph 2, 3 or 4 of subsection 88.24 (1) of the MEA.
2. It is no longer possible to recommence the campaign period under paragraph 5 of subsection 88.24 (1).
3. No recount, proceeding under section 83 (controverted elections) or compliance audit has been commenced.
4. The period for commencing a recount, a proceeding under section 83 or a compliance audit has expired.

If a candidate notifies the Clerk, in writing, that they are incurring further expenses related to a compliance audit, the candidate may use the surplus to pay these expenses. However, they can only incur expenses relating to the compliance audit. The first reporting period begins on the day after the surplus is returned and ends 90 days later. Each successive period of 90 days is a further reporting period. For each reporting period, the candidate shall file a financial statement in the prescribed form reflecting their expenses for the reporting period with the Clerk. This financial statement must be filed no later than 2:00pm on the tenth day after the end of the reporting period.