Candidate

Anyone who would like to run in an election for the position of commissioner may do so in only one school board and in only one electoral division of the school board.

It is not necessary to be a property-owner or to pay school taxes to run as a candidate, but the person must be entitled to be entered on the list of electors of the school board and, on the date of the election, have been domiciled on this territory for at least 6 months.

The nomination paper can be obtained from the office of the returning officer of the school board. The nomination paper must include, among other things, the surname and given name of the candidate and his signature. In addition, it must be supported by the names and addresses of at least 10 electors of the electoral division in question.

The period during which a person may file his duly completed nomination paper along with the appropriate documents at the office of the returning officer begins on the 40th day and ends at 5 p.m. on the 35th day preceding that set for the poll. Be sure to check the days and times when the office of your returning officer is open.

Authorized candidate

School candidates must obtain an authorization to solicit or receive contributions, incur election expenses or contract loans.

The authorization is granted by the returning officer of the school board to any elector who is committed to running as a candidate, as from January 1st of the year in which the general elections in the school board are held or, in the case of a by-election, from the day when the position becomes vacant. It can also be granted at anytime during the election period, until polling day.

A candidate must provide the following information to obtain an authorization:

• his name, the address of his domicile and his telephone number;
• the name of the school board in the council of commissioners in which he intends to run;
• the address where the books and accounts relating to the funds that he would obtain as a candidate, expenses that he will incur and loans that he will contract are kept.

It is worth noting that the Act Respecting School Elections forbids the creation of political parties. However, candidates with common interests may form a ticket recognized by the returning officer. In this light, a ticket must present to the returning officer, within the prescribed deadline, a written application for recognition. The name of the ticket, if any, appears under the candidate's name on the ballot paper.

A candidate does not have to appoint an official representative or an official agent, unlike in the case of a provincial or municipal election. Furthermore, he must ensure that information about him that is held by the Directeur général des élections du Québec is accurate and transmit any modifications to the latter.

The authorized candidate may:

• solicit or collect con­tri­butions;
• participate financially in his campaign. However, his contribution must be made in accordance with the annual limit ($1,000);
• lend money to his campaign up to a maximum annual amount of $10,000 (loan and surety);
• contract loans with third parties;
• incur election expenses;
• pay an election expense himself.

He must also:

• issue contribution receipts to contributors or make sure that these receipts are issued to them;
• ensure that contributions comply with the provisions of the Act;
• deposit the sums collected during political activities or rallies;
• pay annually the interest on loans;
• submit a financial report and, where applicable, the additional financial report;
• make sure that every payment of election expenses is supported by an invoice and that the going market price is paid;
• make sure that all advertising bears the remark "Authorized by: name of the candidate";
• make sure that the limit on election expenses is respected;
• file a return of election expenses.