Third Party Advertisers | City of Pickering

Who is a Third Party Advertiser?

A third party advertiser is an individual, corporation, or trade union that can create ads that support, promote, or oppose a candidate, or a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party in this context means a person or entity who is not a candidate. Third party advertising is separate from any candidate’s campaign and must be done independently from a candidate.

Third party advertisers who wish to spend money on advertisements during the election must register with the City Clerk and must file a financial statement.

Third Party Advertiser Registration

Registrations will be accepted by the City Clerk, or designate, on the prescribed Form, between the 1st day for filing nominations, Friday, May 1, 2026 and 4:30 pm on the Friday before Voting Day, October 23, 2026. Third party advertisers must be registered in each municipality where they want to advertise.

The notice must be filed in the prescribed Form and must include a declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be. A notice of registration may be filed in person or by an agent.

If a registration is submitted by an agent who is acting on behalf of an individual who wishes to register as a Third Party Advertiser, they must provide the City's form at the time of registration which authorizes the agent to register on their behalf. The form must be signed by the Third Party Advertiser and commissioned or notarized by a person authorized under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act or Notaries Act.

Until the City Clerk certifies your registration, a Third Party Advertiser may not incur campaign expenses, accept contributions or begin advertising.

Notice of Registration - Third Party - Form 7

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Eligible Third Party Advertisers

Only the following persons and entities are eligible to file a notice of registration to be a third party advertiser:

an individual who is normally a resident in Ontario
a corporation that carries on business in Ontario
a trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario

Ineligible Third Party Advertisers

The following persons and entities are not eligible to file a notice of registration:

a nominated candidate
a federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party
a provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act
the Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or local board

Note: Section 88.6(6) of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA) states that third party advertisements shall not be under the direction of a candidate whose nomination has been filed under section 33 of the MEA.

Resources

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing - 2026 Third Party Advertisers' Guide

Notice of Registration - Third Party - Form 7

Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Third Party - Form 8

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