Election - municipal - eligibility - Do the same criteria apply for election to all municipal offices whether they are to a municipal council, public utilities commission, school board or the office of police village trustee? (See also heading Eligibility and Disqualification to follow.)

No. While certain criteria, such as the nomination procedures are the same, the legislation recognizes significant differences in the various offices, both to composition of the particular bodies and to areas of jurisdiction. Legislation of this nature is subject to ongoing change. Currently, the qualification criteria for the offices mentioned may be found in the following statutes:

• municipal council (other than a region) - Municipal Act;
• regional chair - the regional government statute applicable to that particular region (for example, see particular regional statute);
• school boards - Education Act;
• public utilities commission - Municipal Act and Public Utilities Commission Act;
• police village trustees - Municipal Act.

The procedures for election to all such offices, however, are set out in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

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While the foregoing response is derived primarily from Ontario legislation, practices and procedures, many of the principles will be applicable in other Canadian jurisdictions. In no circumstances should the information and advice given be construed as a legal opinion.