2026 election rules replace 2018 special provisions for certain Ontario municipalities

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The special election rules that applied to Toronto and certain regional municipalities during the 2018 election have been removed and replaced with new provisions governing the 2026 regular election. Any person who had already filed a nomination for head of council in a municipality listed under the relevant section of the Municipal Act, 2001, or for any council seat in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, is deemed to have automatically withdrawn that nomination when the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent. The Minister now has authority to make regulations to manage the 2026 election for the affected municipalities, handle transitional matters arising from related Municipal Act changes, and address nominations filed before certain provisions came into force. Ministerial regulations under this section override conflicting legislation and can apply retroactively. Candidates who had filed nominations for affected offices and municipal election administrators in the named municipalities should review whether those nominations remain valid and plan accordingly.

Who this affects: municipal election candidates in affected regional municipalities · candidates for head of council in municipalities listed under Municipal Act s. 218.1(2) · candidates for Regional Municipality of Niagara council seats · municipal clerks in affected municipalities · municipal election administrators