Third Party Advertisers

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. 

A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that supports, promotes or opposes a candidate, or supports, promotes or opposes a “yes” or “no” answer to a question on the ballot.

Third party advertising does not include issues-based advertising, so groups that do public outreach can continue their issues-based advocacy work throughout the municipal election period.

Activities that do not involve spending money, such as discussions or expressing an opinion about a candidate will not be considered to be third party advertising. Examples include:

• speaking to friends and neighbours
• posting on social media
• sending an email to a group or mailing list

Internal communications from an employer to their employees, a corporation to its shareholders, directors, members or employees, or by a trade union to its members or employees will not be considered to be third party advertising.

Individuals, corporations, and trade unions can register as third party advertisers and can also make contributions to third party advertisers.

Third party advertisers will need to register with the municipality where they want to advertise. If they want to advertise in more than one municipality, they have to register in each municipality.

Registration allows a third party advertiser to promote or oppose any candidate that the electors in the municipality can vote for (local council, school board trustee positions, and regional or county council offices).

Third party advertising must be done independently of candidates, who are not able to direct a third party advertiser.

Candidates are not able to register as third party advertisers.

In order to register, third party advertisers must complete an application in the municipality in which they wish to advertise.

The notice of registration must be filed between May 1, 2026 and October 23, 2026 when the Clerk's office is open (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm) by submitting a completed "Notice of Registration - Third Party" Form 7 and a "Release of Campaign Information" Form OS11.

A third party advertiser will be registered and allowed to engage in third party advertising from the date on which the City Clerk certifies their Notice of Registration.

There is no registration fee for third party advertisers.

If approached by third party advertisers, it is very important that broadcasters and publishers adhere to the following mandatory rules:

• Under Section 88.5 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, broadcasters and publishers may only permit third party advertisements to appear between May 1, 2026 and the close of voting on October 26, 2026;
• A registered third party must provide the following information to the broadcaster or publisher in writing before the third party advertisements appears:
  • 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 registered third party is registered.

Third party advertisers must identify themselves and provide mandatory information on all advertising beginning May 1, 2026.

A third party advertiser must provide the following information on all of its advertisements, signs, and other materials:

• The legal name of the registered third party advertiser (if the third party advertiser is a corporation or trade union, the name of the corporation or trade union must appear, not the name of the representative who filed the registration).
• The municipality where the third party advertiser is registered.
• A telephone number, mailing address or email address where the third party advertiser may be contacted regarding the advertisement.

Yes, campaign finance rules for third party advertisers are similar to the rules for candidates.

• Third party advertisers have spending limits and there are contribution limits for those wishing to contribute to a third party advertiser.
• Corporations carrying on business in Ontario, and trade unions that hold bargaining rights for employees in Ontario, are permitted to make contributions to third party advertisers but are not permitted to make contributions to candidates.
• The maximum contribution from a single contributor is $1,200 to a registered third party advertiser and $5,000 to two or more registered third party advertisers in a municipality.

A list of registered third party advertisers will be made available on the City of Owen Sound website.