Candidates in municipal elections could have less money to spend on their campaigns this fall because of a change in how the voters' lists are compiled.

For the first time, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation issued preliminary voters' lists indicating those whose citizenship is in question.

Campaign spending

Candidates for mayor can spend $7,500, plus 70 cents per voter. Candidates for council can spend $5,000, plus 70 cents per voter. Official spending limits will be announced on Oct. 10.

The change has reduced the number of eligible voters for local municipalities by an average of nine per cent, but in some communities like Toronto with a large number of immigrants, the reduction amounts to 16 per cent.

Because local politicians are allowed to spend 70 cents for every voter on the final list, this could cut the amount of money they spend on campaigns.
 
The city of Toronto asked the Municipal Affairs Minister to raise the spending limit, but John Gerretsen has said no.  According to one official, Gerretsen doesn't think it's appropriate to change the rules in the middle of a campaign period, and that the municipalities can carry out voter registration initiatives to increase the number of people on the voters' list.

Toronto is sending letters to potential voters, warning them they have to sign a declaration by Sept. 8 that they are Canadian citizens or they'll be eliminated from the final voters' list.

But officials say that those eligible to vote can still do so on election day by making a declaration at a polling station.