General info
This section of the website is intended to provide voters with general information regarding the Ajax Municipal Election.
Eligible electors in the Town of Ajax will elect the following candidates to serve a four year term effective December, 2010 until November, 2014:
- Mayor
- Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 2
- Regional Councillor, Wards 3 & 4
- Ward 1 Councillor
- Ward 2 Councillor
- Ward 3 Councillor
- Ward 4 Councillor
- Trustee, Durham District School Board, Wards 1 & 2
- Trustee, Durham District School Board, Wards 3 & 4
- Trustee, Durham Catholic District School Board, x2 Town-wide
- Trustee, Conseil Scolaire de District du Centre Sud-Ouest, Town-wide
- Trustee, Conseil Scolaire de District Catholique Centre-Sud, Town-wide
Click here to see the current Nominated Candidate List for the 2010 Municipal Election.
Voting is not only a democratic right, it is also the easiest way to have a say in how your community is governed. When you cast a ballot, you are choosing someone who will represent you. Local government makes many important decisions that impact you as a resident and/or property owner. Aside from establishing a property tax rate, municipalities regulate development, create and maintain roads and infrastructure as well as operate various community programs and safety services. Voting does not require a lot of time or effort, however, it is a powerful way to send a message to those who represent you and your interests.
Please Note: This page will be updated on an ongoing basis to provide voters with up to date information with respect to the 2010 Municipal Election in the Town of Ajax. For additional information regarding the electoral process and with respect to local government in general, please visit the Municipal Affairs and Housing.
2010 KEY DATES |
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January 4, 2010 – September 10, 2010 |
Nomination Period - Individuals may file for candidacy |
September 7, 2010 – October 25, 2010 |
Revision Period - Eligible electors may add themselves to the voters' list or correct their voter information. |
September 13, 2010 |
Certification of Candidates - The candidate list for the 2010 Municipal Election is confirmed |
September 13, 2010 – October 25, 2010 |
Proxy Voting Certificates - Proxy Voting Certificates are available for processing at Town Hall |
October 9 & 10 from 12pm to 5pm |
Advance Voting Period - Voters may attend either the McLean Community Centre (95 Magill Drive) or the Ajax Community Centre (75 Centennial Road) on any of the dates/times indicated in order to cast their ballot. |
October 25, 2010 |
Voting Day - Voting Places will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. For a full schedule of voting opportunities available in the 2010 municipal election, click here. |
On March 30, 2009 Council passed Town of Ajax By-law 26-2009 in order to establish new ward boundaries for the Town which will be effective for the 2010 municipal election (street level detail map available here). The new ward structure improves the population balance between all four wards and serves to strengthen fair and effective representation for all electors.
Bill 212 Changes to the Municipal Elections Act
Bill 212, The Good Government Act, made various amendments to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Many of these impact candidates, but several also effect the electorate. Voting Day has been moved to the last Friday in October of an election year (Monday, October 25, 2010). Electors are required to provide identification prior to receiving a ballot. And a contributor to a campaign cannot contribute more than $5,000 to all candidates running for office within a municipality or school board jurisdiction. Visit the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for further information on Bill 212.
Elector Qualifications
A qualified elector for the 2010 Municipal Election in the Town of Ajax is:
- A Canadian citizen; and,
- At least 18 years of age (as of voting day); and,
- A resident* of the Town of Ajax or an owner or tenant of land in the Town of Ajax, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and,
- Is not prohibited from voting (see below).
*Please Note: A “resident” is considered to be an individual who lives in a permanent lodging place, to which, whenever absent, intends to return. A person may only have one residence at a time, however, he or she may have residences in two municipalities at the same time. If a person lives in one residence for the purpose of attending an educational institution but not with the intention of changing his or her permanent lodging place, he or she is considered to be an eligible elector in the municipality where his or her permanent lodging place resides.
The following are prohibited from voting in the 2010 Municipal Election:
- A person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;
- A corporation;
- A person acting as executor/trustee or in any other representative capacity, except as a voting proxy
- A person who was convicted of a corrupt practice.
As noted above, Bill 212 amended the Municipal Elections Act to require an elector to present the prescribed proof of identity and residence or complete an application in the prescribed form, including a statutory declaration prior to receiving a ballot. Ontario Regulation 500-09 lists which identification will be accepted in order to cast a ballot. Please review this to ensure that you have an acceptable form of identification with you when adding yourself to the voters’ list and/or attending a voting place
As of September 13, 2010, a qualified elector may appoint another qualified elector in the same municipality to vote on his/her behalf. Both electors must be identified on the voters' list in order to do so. An elector may not act as a proxy for more than one person except when the person voting by proxy is the parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister or spouse of the voting proxy. If the voting proxy is to vote on behalf of multiple family members, a separate Appointment of Voting Proxy Form is required in each case. A voting proxy may act for one other person OR the family members noted above, but NOT both. The appointment of a proxy does not remain in force after voting day.
Voting Proxy appointments can be made by completing an Appointment of Voting Proxy Form . This form must be completed by both parties pursuant to the instructions included at the top of the form. The elector intended to be the voting proxy will be required to take a statutory declaration before a Commissioner of Oaths. The form must be submitted to the Clerk's Department at Town Hall (65 Harwood Ave. S.) during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the weekends of advance voting (October 9-10 and October 16-17).
Please Note: The Appointment of Voting Proxy Form is a public record and the copy on file with the Clerk may be inspected by any person.
The following may make contributions to a candidate's campaign:
- An individual who is normally a resident in Ontario
- A corporations that carries on business in Ontario
- A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario
- A candidate and his or her spouse (subject to Section 70(5), MEA, if not normally a resident in Ontario, a candidate and his or her spouse may make contributions only to the candidate's election campaign)
The following shall not contribute to a campaign:
- A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act or any federal constituency association or registered candidate in a federal election
- 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
No contributor shall make a contribution exceeding $750 to any one candidate in an election. This limit is never to be exceeded regardless of the number of offices a candidate may have been nominated for during an election period. In addition to this, a contributor shall not make contributions exceeding a total of $5,000 to multiple candidates for office on the same council or local board. Cash contributions of $25 or more, are not to be accepted by candidates.
Pursuant to Town of Ajax By-law 6-2008, electors qualified to vote in the 2010 Municipal Election are eligible for a campaign contribution rebate issued by the Town of Ajax. Although individuals pursuant to Section 70(3), are able to contribute to a campaign, only qualified electors appearing on the voters' list as of the end of voting day are eligible to receive a rebate. Rebates are paid to contributors with the exception of the candidate, the candidate's spouse and/or children, corporations and/or trade unions. Only monetary contributions will be rebated, the value of goods and services are not eligible. Rebates will be issued 90 days following the submission of a candidate's financial statement, providing there is no contravention of the Municipal Elections Act by either the contributor or candidate. If the candidate extends his or her campaign, any associated rebates will be deferred until such time as the final financial statement is issued and the review period has ended.
Rebates can be received for multiple contributions made to more than one candidate but the total of all rebates cannot be more than the allowable maximum. For the 2010 Municipal Election the maximum rebate a qualified elector may receive with respect to their contribution(s) is $150. Rebates will only be issued to individuals who contribute to a candidate's campaign between the day in which they file their nomination up to and including the close of voting on voting day (8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010). Rebates will not apply to any contributions made after the close of voting. Rebates are calculated using the following formula:
- A minimum contribution of $25 is required to be eligible for a rebate.
- If the contribution is $25 and no more than $100, the rebate is 75% of the contribution
- If the contribution is greater than $100, the rebate is $75 plus 50% of the difference between the total contribution and $100 up to a maximum of a $150 rebate
Participation in the Town's rebate program by candidates and contributors is optional. Only contributions using the Receipt for Campaign Contributions Form will be eligible for a rebate. The responsibility is on the candidate to ensure that the proper procedure is followed and the necessary information is collected in order to ensure that a rebate is issued.
As per Section 81.1, MEA, a Compliance Audit Committee has been constituted and delegated full authority to address applications requesting an audit of a candidate's financial statement. The Committee's term will be equal to that of the elected council. As encoded within the Terms of Reference, the central role of the Committee will be to review applications and grant or reject audit requests. Where granted, the Committee will appoint an auditor to review the final statement and, if deemed to be warranted, the Committee will decide whether legal proceedings shall be commenced.
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 provides for various offenses and penalties with respect to election related contraventions. The following provides for some of these:
- Interfere or attempt to interfere with an elector who is marking the ballot;
- Obtain or attempt to obtain, at a Voting Place, information about how an elector intends to vote or has voted;
- Communicate any information obtained at a voting place about how an elector intends to vote or has voted;
- Votes more than once;
- Votes without being entitled to do so;
- Induces or procures a person to vote when that person is not entitled to do so;
- Takes a ballot away from the voting place;
- At an election, takes, opens or otherwise deals with a ballot, a ballot box, or a book or package of ballots without having the authority to do so;
- Offer, give, lend or promise or agree to give or lend any valuable consideration, in connection with the exercise or non-exercise of an elector's vote;
- Submitting any false statement or declaration.
Bill 212 has strengthened the penalties for any individual convicted of an offense under the Act. For any offence, a convicted party may be fined up to $25,000 and be subject to imprisonment for up to six months. Corporations and trade unions may be fined up to $50,000 and are subject to additional penalties provided for by the Act.
As per amendments to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, the Clerk is now required to ensure that each voting location is accessible to electors and candidates with disabilities. The Town has made great efforts in promoting a barrier free community. This commitment has been echoed in the implementation of an Accessible Customer Service Policy and training program pursuant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 as well as the annual development of an Accessibility Plan in accordance with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001.
In order to ensure that equal access is provided to all voters in the 2010 Municipal Election, a 2010 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan has been developed. Following the election, a report on the results and implementation of this plan will delivered.
