08/12/2026
To confirm whether Dean Robinson is eligible to run under Section 88.23 of the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, 1996, it helps to understand how that specific section works in practice.
Understanding Section 88.23 (Effect of Default)
Section 88.23 outlines the penalties if a candidate fails to file their required financial statements or reflection documents by the statutory deadline following an election.
Specifically:
Penalties for Default: Under s. 88.23(1), if a candidate fails to file their financial statement, incurs expenses exceeding the limit, or fails to pay over a surplus, they forfeit any office to which they were elected and become ineligible to run as a candidate in any municipal election until after the next regular election.
Duration of Ineligibility: Ineligibility resulting from a default applies for the remainder of the current council term plus the full duration of the following regular election cycle.
Exceptions & Relief: Under s. 88.23(4) or s. 88.23(7), a candidate is not disqualified if:
They applied to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for a filing extension before the deadline and the court granted it.
A court grants relief from penalties after reviewing the circumstances of the late filing or default.
Verifying Candidate Eligibility
Whether Dean Robinson is currently fully eligible depends on his history in recent municipal elections:
No Prior Default: If he filed all required campaign financial statements on time for any previous candidacy, Section 88.23 penalties do not apply to him, and he remains fully eligible.
Prior Default Cleared: If he was previously subject to default under s. 88.23, he becomes eligible again once the statutory penalty period expires (i.e., after the subsequent regular municipal election cycle has concluded) or if relief was explicitly granted by court order.
How to Confirm Official Status
Municipal clerks maintain the official public record regarding candidate qualifications and compliance:
Check the Notice of Default registry published on the relevant municipal clerk’s website.
Contact the municipal clerk's office directly to request confirmation of the certified candidate list or check any outstanding campaign finance compliance filings under the Municipal Elections Act.
