Third Party Advertisers

Ontario residents, corporations and trade unions that will incur expenses for advertisements related to the promotion, support or opposition of a candidate, or take a position on a “yes” or “no” question on the ballot, in any broadcast, print, electronic, or other medium must register as a third party advertiser. They can begin filing their Notice of Registration on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8:30 am by appointment only. The last day to register as a Third Party Advertiser is Friday. October 23, 2026.

Who is Eligible?

Only the following persons and entities are eligible to file a notice of registration:

• 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.

Who is Ineligible?

Persons and entities that are not eligible to file a notice of registration include:

• A candidate whose nomination has been filed under section 33.
• 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.

How to Register?

An individual, corporation or trade union may register as a third party by filing the Notice of Registration - Third Party (Form 7) at the City Clerk's Office, located on the ground floor of Stratford City Hall, 1 Wellington Street, Stratford, during regular office hours, beginning Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8:30 am. The Notice of Registration may not be faxed, mailed or emailed, as an original signature is required. The last day to register as a Third Party Advertiser is Friday, October 23, 2026.

The individual filing the Notice of Registration will be required to present proof of identity as well as a declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be.

Required Documents?

What you will need for registering:

• A completed Notice of Registration Form
• A declaration of qualification signed by the individual or by a representative of the corporation or trade union, as the case may be
• Proof of identity
• Evidence that the Union or Corporation you represent has authorized the registration of a Third Party Advertiser

Note: Notices of Registration are public documents and are available for inspection at the City Clerk's Office.

Campaigning

The campaign period for a registered third party begins on the day their Notice of Registration is filed and ends on December 31, 2026. On this date, the registered third party's campaign is automatically closed. Registered third parties cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses after the end of the campaign period.

If at the end of the campaign period a registered third party’s campaign expenses are greater than their campaign income, their campaign will be in deficit. The registered third party may take action to extend their campaign in order to do some additional fundraising.

If a registered third party’s campaign has a surplus, the registered third party must pay the surplus to the City Clerk when filing their financial statement.

Extending Your Campaign

If a registered third party has a deficit at the end of the campaign period, they can extend their campaign for an additional six months to attempt to erase the deficit.

To extend a campaign, a registered third party must:

• file a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period (Form 6) on or before December 31, 2026
• submit the form in person to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall during regular office hours.

Registered third parties that extend their campaign must submit two financial statements by the statutory deadline dates:

• Filing of Initial Financial Statements - due March 30, 2027, at 2 pm
• Supplementary Financial Filing - Friday, September 24, 2027, at 2 pm

Financial Statements

Registered third parties are responsible for filing a complete and accurate financial statement by March 30, 2027. The statement covers the period from the day the registered third party filed their Notice of Registration until December 31, 2026.

A registered third party must notify the City Clerk, in writing, of any Court extension by 2 p.m. on March 30, 2027. 

Contributions to Campaigns

Campaign contributions are any money, goods or services that are given to a registered third party for use in their campaign, including money and goods that a third party contributes to their own campaign. Registered third parties must issue a receipt for every contribution they receive. The receipt should show who made the contribution, the date, and the value of the contribution.

The following persons and entities may make a contribution to a registered third party:

• Any person who is a resident of Ontario.
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario.
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
• The registered third party and, in the case of an individual, his or her spouse.

The following persons and entities shall not make a contribution to a registered third party:

• 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 a local board. 

Contributors may contribute a total of $1,200 to a registered third party in relation to third party advertisements that appear during an election in Stratford. The maximum total amount that a contributor can give to third parties registered in Stratford is $5,000.

Contributions greater than $25 may not be made in cash. All contributions above $25 must be made by cheque, money order, or by a method that clearly shows where the funds come from.

Registered third parties are required to inform each of their contributors of these contribution limits.

Mandatory Information

In All Advertisements

All third party advertisements must contain the following information:

• The name of the registered third party.
• The municipality where the registered third party is registered.
• A telephone number, mailing address or email address at which the registered third party may be contacted regarding the advertisement.

For Broadcasters and Publishers

Registered third parties must provide the following information to the broadcaster or publisher in writing:

• The name of the registered third party.
• The name, business address and telephone number of the individual who deals with the broadcaster or publisher under the direction of the registered third party.
• The municipality where the third party advertiser is registered.

Broadcasters and publishers are prohibited from running a third party advertisement unless the above-noted information is provided.

The broadcaster or publisher of a third party advertisement is required to retain the following information for a period of four years after the date the advertisement appears:

The mandatory information that is required for broadcasters and publishers (the name of the registered third party; the municipality where they are registered; and the contact information for the person who deals with the broadcaster or publisher);

• A copy of the advertisement, or the means of reproducing it for inspection; and
• A statement of the charge made for its appearance.
• The broadcaster or publisher must also permit the public to inspect these records during normal business hours.