Third Party Advertisers
2026 Municipal Elections
Are you planning to advertise in support of a candidate in the 2026 Municipal Elections? The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 includes rules for third party advertising. Third party advertiser registration begins on May 1, 2026.
- A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing a candidate in the election OR a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.
- A third party advertiser is any individual, corporation or trade union that causes an election campaign advertisement to appear. A third party advertiser is required to register with the City Clerk of the municipality where they want to advertise before spending any money, accept contributions or begin advertising.
| Third Party Advertiser Eligibility | ||||
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To become a third party advertiser in the 2026 Municipal Elections you must register with the Office of the Clerk. The registration period is from Friday, May 1, 2026, until Friday, October 23, 2026. Until the Office of the Clerk certifies a third party advertiser's registration, no money can be spent on advertisements, the third party advertiser cannot accept contributions, nor can the third party advertiser begin advertising.
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| How to Register as a Third Party Advertiser | ||||
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To register:
Registration must be filed in person or by an agent and appointments are required. Contact candidates@richmondhill.ca to schedule an appointment. Appointments will be held at: Access Richmond Hill Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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| Requirements for Third Party Advertisers | ||||
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Third party advertisers must identify themselves and provide mandatory information on all advertising. Third party advertisements must contain the following information:
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| Spending Limits for Third Party Advertisers | ||||
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In accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, spending limits apply to third party advertisers. Spending limits are calculated early in the election period and are based on the number of voters in the municipality. Spending limits are re-calculated once the Voters’ List is available. A final spending limit is the greater of the two amounts. This means that the spending limit will never be less than the limit shown on the Preliminary Expense Limit amount, but the recalculation may result in spending limits being increased. View the Preliminary Estimate of Maximum Campaign Expenses for Third Party Advertisers. Third Party Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable campaign finance rules under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. City staff are not able to interpret rules or legislation for a third party advertiser, so if you are unsure about any of your obligations you may wish to consult a legal professional. |
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| List of Registered Third Party Advertisers | ||||
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Elections staff will post the list of third party advertisers registered for the 2026 Municipal Elections showing the name and date of registration filing, as well as other contact information (address, email, social media) if provided by the third party advertiser. The City of Richmond Hill is not responsible for the information on any individual third party advertiser's website or social media pages, nor does The City of Richmond Hill verify, authorize, or endorse the information provided by any third party advertiser.
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