Notice to Broadcasters and Publishers – Municipal Elections Act Campaign Advertising Rules
Back to SearchThe Municipal Elections in the City of Stratford will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The Municipal Elections Act (MEA) establishes rules for election campaign advertising. This notice is intended to inform broadcasters and publishers of their obligations under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (the Act) if they broadcast or publish a third party or candidate campaign advertisement during the upcoming election.
Broadcaster and Publisher Obligations
Broadcasters and publishers have responsibilities related to the campaign advertisements of candidates and third party advertisers. The campaign period begins on May 1, 2026 and ends on December 31, 2026.
Broadcasters and publishers must maintain records of:
- the information collected in writing (noted in each section below);
- a copy of the advertisement (or the means of reproducing the advertisement for inspection); and
- a statement of the charge made for its appearance.
These records must be kept for four years after the date the advertisement appears. Broadcasters and publishers must allow the public to inspect the records.
Candidate Campaign Contributions Prohibited
For the purposes of the Act, money, goods and services given to and accepted by a person for their election campaign, or given to and accepted by another person who is acting under the candidate’s direction are contributions to the campaign of a candidate. For more information, see Section 88.15 of the Act.
For the purposes of the Act, money, goods and services given to and accepted by an individual, corporation or trade union in relation to third party advertisements, or given to and accepted by another person who is acting under the direction of the individual, corporation or trade union, are contributions to the third party advertising campaign. For more information, see Section 88.15 of the Act.
Only individuals who are normally residents in Ontario, or the candidate and their spouse may make contributions to a campaign. Corporations and trade unions shall not make contributions. For more information, see Section 88.8 of the Act.
Broadcasters and publishers should consider how this prohibition may affect their activities as it relates to municipal elections. Please note that the value of free political advertising, provided that such advertising is made available to all candidates and is in accordance with the Broadcasting Act (Canada) is not considered to be a contribution.
Candidate Election Campaign Advertisement
An election campaign advertisement means an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic, or other medium that has the purpose of promoting or supporting the election of a candidate. In accordance with the Act, an election campaign advertisement purchased by, or under the direction of, a candidate shall identify the candidate. For more information, see Section 88.3 of the Act.
An expense shall not be incurred by, or under the direction of, a person unless they are a registered candidate. Additionally, an expense shall not be incurred by, or under the direction of, a candidate outside their election campaign period. For more information, see Section 88.20 of the Act.
Candidates file their nomination with Stratford’s City Clerk or the Clerk for the City of London for the Conseil scolaire viamonde - French language public district school board Trustee position. The City’s website will include a list of registered candidates, and this list will be updated regularly.
Third Party Advertisement
A third party advertisement means an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic, or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting, or opposing a candidate in the election, corporations or trade unions who wish to undertake third party advertising between May 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 in Stratford must:
- Register between May 1 and October 23 with the Clerk in each municipality where they intend to conduct third party advertising; and,
- Ensure third party advertising contains:
- The name of the registered third party advertiser;
- The municipality where the third party advertiser is registered; and,
- A telephone number, mailing address, or email address at which the registered third party may be contacted regarding the advertisement.
For more information, see Section 88.4, Section 88.5, and Section 88.6 of the Act.
The City of Stratford will include and regularly update a list of registered third party advertisers on our election website. As noted above, third party advertisers have to register in every municipality that they intend to advertise in.
Broadcaster and Publisher Obligations
Broadcasters and publishers must comply with the following obligations under the Act:
Broadcaster or Publisher as a Third Party Advertiser
Broadcasters or publishers who wish to conduct third party advertising must register as a third party advertiser and follow the requirements of the Act. Requirements include specific responsibilities relating to campaign contributions and expenses, spending limits and financial reporting. For more information on these requirements, please see Section 88.5 of the Act, consult with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, or consult with Stratford’s City Clerk.
Mandatory Information for Broadcasters
Broadcasters and publishers are required to collect certain mandatory information from a candidate or third party advertiser before an advertisement can appear.
For Candidate Advertisements:
The candidate must provide the following information to a broadcaster or publisher, in writing:
- Name of the candidate; and,
- Name, business address, and telephone number of the individual who deals with may be the candidate themselves).
For more information, please see Section 88.3 of the Act.
For Third Party Advertisements:
The third party advertiser must provide the following information to a broadcaster or publisher, in writing:
- Name of the third party advertiser (Note: this may be the name of an individual, a corporation, or a trade union);
- Municipality where the third party advertiser is registered; and,
- Name, business address, and telephone number of the individual who deals with the broadcaster or publisher under the direction of a registered third party advertiser.
For more information, please see Section 88.5 of the Act.
Maintaining Records
Broadcasters and publishers shall maintain records of candidate advertisements and third party advertisements for a period of four years after the date the advertisement appears. The public must be allowed to inspect these records during normal business hours.
Records maintained must include:
- The mandatory information collected in writing, as described above;
- A copy of the advertisement, or a means of reproducing it for inspection; and,
- A statement of the charge made for the appearance of the advertisement.
For more information, please see Section 88.3 and Section 88.5 of the Act.
Ongoing Obligations
Broadcasters and publishers should be mindful of other requirements under the Act, including any rules that may apply if they contribute money, goods, or services to the campaign of a third party advertiser.
Additional Resources
Broadcasters or publishers who have additional questions are invited to contact the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing or Stratford’s City Clerk using the contact information provided below.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Central Municipal Services Office Website: www.ontario.ca/municipalelections
Phone: 416.585.6226 or 1.800.668.0230
Email: mea.info@ontario.ca
City of Stratford
Website: stratford.ca/elections
Phone: 519-271-0250 extension 5237
Email: elections@stratford.ca
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