Lake of Bays updates rules on use of municipal resources during election campaigns

Councilors approved the policies on how municipal resources may or may not be used during an election

Lake of Bays Council agreed to update the rules on use of municipal resources during election campaigns, in the February 10, 2026, meeting.

The updated policy governs how municipal resources may—and may not—be used during municipal election campaign periods, ahead of the 2026 municipal election this fall.

Staff reported that the update is intended to protect fairness, transparency and public trust by ensuring no candidate gains an advantage through access to municipal assets, staff, or technology.

They told Council that this is “a uniform policy that can be applied across the District.”

Under the revised Use of Municipal Resources during Election Campaign Periods policy, municipal information, technology and equipment are strictly prohibited from being used for campaign purposes. This includes municipal email systems, voicemail, computer networks, databases, websites, and social media platforms.

It adds that municipal technology also may not be used to create, store, distribute or link to campaign materials, and municipal databases may only be accessed if they are publicly available or specifically created for election purposes.

Council members remain in office during the campaign period and may continue to attend municipally organized events or take part in ceremonial roles. However, they are not permitted to engage in campaign activities or distribute campaign materials at those events.

When supporting political parties or candidates in a personal capacity, council members must clearly distinguish those activities from their official municipal role and avoid any appearance of using municipal resources.

The policy also outlines how campaign-related communications must be handled. For instance, if a council member receives campaign-related messages through municipal email, voicemail or computer systems, they are required to redirect the sender to campaign-specific contact information and inform them that municipal resources cannot be used for campaigning.

Any technology or equipment used for campaign purposes must be personally owned and not supported by the municipality.

The report continues that candidates and third-party advertisers may attend municipal events as private citizens but may not conduct campaign activities while there.

Also, municipal facilities are generally not permitted to host campaign events during the campaign period, with limited, clearly defined exceptions.

For residents, the policy includes clear accountability measures. If members of the public believe municipal resources are being misused during an election campaign, concerns may be raised with the Township office, or be addressed through the municipality's compliance process, which can include review by the appropriate integrity or compliance authorities as outlined in provincial legislation.

Staff indicated that the updated policy aligns with Muskoka-wide best practices and reinforces the principle that elections must be conducted without the influence of public resources.

Mayor, Terry Glover, inquired about whether candidates “have to wait to declare before campaigning or can they campaign first.”

The Clerk said that “technically” nominations are filed first, however, “some want to see if they have support first.”

She later added that according to legislative requirements candidates can get up to 25 signatures “prior to submitting a nomination package.”