Toronto’s mayoral election officially begins today

Candidate registration opens Monday morning at City Hall, kicking off the start of the campaign that ends with the vote on June 26.

Thestar.com
April 3, 2023
Edward Djan

The race to become Toronto’s next mayor officially starts Monday.

Nomination papers for candidates will start being accepted at City Hall on Monday, and the window of opportunity closes on May 12 at 2 p.m.

Those looking to run in the June 26 byelection are asked to bring no more than four guests with them when submitting their nomination at City Hall. Prospective candidates are also being asked to register online for a time slot to file their nomination; the city said in a news release that this would “ensure quick service, minimize wait times and reduce crowding.”

To be eligible to run, candidates must file their nomination paper bearing their original signature, show proof that they live at a valid address in Toronto, pay a $200 fee and receive at least 25 original signatures from eligible voters in Toronto endorsing their candidacy. Anyone who does not file a nomination is not allowed to raise or spend money on their campaign.

Toronto city council declared the mayor’s seat vacant on March 29, opening the way for prospective candidates to state their intentions in the wake of John Tory’s sudden resignation. Prominent Torontonians who have informally declared their candidacy include Councillors Brad Bradford and Josh Matlow, former councillors Ana Bailao and Giorgio Mammoliti, Liberal MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood Mitzie Hunter, former police chief Mark Saunders, urbanist Gil Penalosa, policy analyst Chloe Brown, and former Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey.

Anyone looking to file a nomination must do so in person at the Toronto Elections City Hall office at 100 Queen St. W. but they can file their nominations there on any weekday, excluding statutory holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. That’s until the final day, May 12, when the hours narrow to 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.