Information for Candidates Voting Day is October 26, 2026

So, you want to run for Council?

Potential candidates, their families, and anyone interested in learning more about local government is invited to attend a free Candidate Information Workshop to gain a better understanding of Council's roles and responsibilities as well as the impact public office can have on one's life.

This event will cover topics like municipal powers, the difference between governance and administration, and municipal conflict of interest and other personal responsibilities. It will feature speaker Nigel Bellchamber, who has been guiding elected and appointed officials for more than 20 years.

Bring your questions on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6 p.m. at North Bay's City Hall, in the Council Chambers on the second floor. This event is being hosted by the City of North Bay, the Township of Nipissing, the Municipality of Powassan, and the Municipality of Callander. 

The Nomination Period is May 1, 2026 to August 21, 2026.

Between May 1, 2026 and August 20, 2026, nomination papers can be filed during regular municipal office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

On Nomination Day (August 21, 2026), nomination papers can be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. On Nomination Day, candidates must make their presence known to the City Clerk prior to 2:00 p.m. Nomination papers will not be accepted after the deadline.

See the Notice of Nomination for Office.

Nomination Paper (Form 1)

Endorsement of Nomination (Form 2)

Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Candidate (Form 4)

EL18(a) - Declaration of Qualification - Municipal Council Candidates

Nomination papers must be signed by the candidate and filed in person or by an agent (no fax or email), accompanied by 25 signatures from eligible electors (excluding school board candidate trustees).

Potential candidates are required to make an appointment with the City Clerk to ensure availability to receive the nomination. Please call 705-474-0626 ext. 2506 or 2507 to make an appointment to file your nomination paper.

Nominations may be made by completing and filing nominations on the prescribed form and accompanied by the Declaration of Qualification in the City Clerk's Office, including acceptable identification (must be valid and contain the candidate's name, qualifying address and signature), the prescribed nomination filing fee ($200 for the Office of Mayor, $100 for all other offices), and such other documentation as required for the filing process. The filing fee is payable by cash, debit, certified cheque, bank draft or money order payable to the City of North Bay.

A candidate is entitled to receive a refund of the nomination filing fee if they file the documents under s.88.25(1) - the financial statements and auditors report, on or before 2:00 p.m. on the filing date. In the case of the 2026 regular election, the filing date is Tuesday, March 30, 2027 for the reporting period ending December 31, 2026.

If, after having filed a nomination form, a candidate wishes to file a nomination for a different office in the same election, the first nomination shall be deemed to have been withdrawn at the time the second nomination is filed. The 25 signatures endorsing the candidate's nomination may be transferred. The filing fee is deemed to have been paid with the latest filing if the two nominations are for the same council/board unless changing offices.

If a greater number of candidates are certified than are required to fill the said office, there will be an election. If the number of nominations for an office is less than the number of candidates to be elected an additional Notice of Nomination will be advertised on the website only and additional nominations may be filed between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on the Monday following Nomination Day (August 24, 2026).

You qualify to be elected or hold office if, as of the day you file your nomination, you:

• are entitled to be an elector under Municipal Elections Act (s.17)
• are a Canadian citizen;
• are at least 18 years of age;
• reside in the local municipality, or is the owner or tenant of land in the local municipality, or the spouse of such a person;
• are not prohibited from voting as noted or otherwise, by law;
• are not disqualified for violation of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information;
• are not disqualified by any Act from holding such office; and
• are not disqualified under the provisions as outlined in MEA s.90(2) and 91(1).

The following persons are disqualified for Mayoral or Councillor candidacy:

• Except in accordance with MEA, s.30 (Leave of Absence), an employee of the municipality or a person who is not an employed of the municipality, but who is the Clerk, Treasurer, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman or registrar referred to in s.223.11 of the Municipal Act or an investigator referred to in s.239.2(1) of the municipality or a person who is not an employee of the municipality, but who holds any administrative position of the municipality.
• A judge of any court.
• A Senator, a Member of Parliament, a Member of Provincial Parliament.
• A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution, including a sentence being served in the evening or on weekends (this does not include a person serving a sentence at home).
• A corporation.
• A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity.
• A person who was convicted of the corrupt practices described in MEA, s.90(3) if Voting Day in the current election is less than 5 years after Voting Day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.
• A person disqualified for violations of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.

The following persons are disqualified for School Board Trustee candidacy:

• An employee of any district school board or school authority, except as provided in MEA s.30 (Leave of Absence), unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence, beginning no later than the day the person is nominated and ending on Voting Day.
• A Clerk, Treasurer, Deputy Clerk or Deputy Treasurer of a municipality or an upper-tier municipality, all or part of which is included in the are of jurisdiction of the district Board or school Authority unless he or she takes an unpaid leave of absence, beginning no later than the day the person is nominated and ending on Voting Day.
• A Senator, Member of Parliament, a Member of Provincial Parliament.
  An inmate of a penal or correctional institution under sentence of imprisonment including a sentence being served in the evening or on weekends (this does not include persons serving house arrest).
  A corporation.
• A person acting as executor or trustee or in any other representative capacity.
• A person who was convicted of the corrupt practice described in MEA, s.90(3) if Voting Day in the current election is less than 5 years after Voting Day in the election in respect of which he or she was convicted.
• A person disqualified for violations of financial requirements or violations of requirements for filing financial information.
• Otherwise ineligible or disqualified under the Education Act or any other Act.

If a candidate wishes to withdraw completely, the candidate must file a written withdrawal of their candidacy by no later than 2:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026 (Nomination Day) in the Clerk's Office at City Hall.

Any withdrawals sent by mail, email or fax are not permitted; all withdrawals must be filed in person in the Clerk's Office at City Hall.

Prior to 4:00 p.m. on the Monday following Nomination Day (August 21, 2026) the City Clerk shall examine each nomination filed and if satisfied the person is qualified to be nominated and that the nomination complies with the Act, the Clerk shall certify as such on the nomination filed.

If not satisfied, the City Clerk shall reject the nomination and as soon as possible, give notice to the person who sought to be nominated and all other candidates for that office.

The City Clerk's decision to certify or reject a nomination is final. Under the Municipal Elections Act (MEA), the City Clerk is required to reject or certify nominations of candidates. The City Clerk may wish to consider the following criteria in their decision to reject or clarify individual nominations:

• Candidate has refused or declined to provide proof of identification suitable to the City Clerk;
• Candidate does not satisfy the requirements set out in MEA, s.29(1) (eligibility requirements);
• The nomination form is incomplete;
• The prescribed filing fee has not been paid; and
• The necessary financial disclosure was not filed for the previous election or any by-election in which the individual may have been a candidate.