The powers and functions of the Committee are set out in sections 88.33 to 88.36 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32. The powers and functions are generally described as:

(a)    Within 30 days of receipt of an application requesting a compliance audit, the Committee shall consider the compliance audit application and decide whether it should be granted or rejected.

(b)    If the application is granted, the Committee shall appoint an auditor to conduct a compliance audit of the candidate's election campaign finances.

(c)    The Committee will review the auditor 's report within 30 days of receipt and, if the auditor’s report concludes there are apparent contraventions of the MEA, decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced.

(d)    Within 30 days after receipt of a report from any Participating Municipality's Clerk of any apparent over-contributions to candidates or registered third parties ("Report of the Clerk"), the Committee shall consider the Report of the Clerk and decide whether legal proceedings should be commenced.

In recognition of the provisions of section 88.37 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (the “Act”), the Municipalities of Brighton, Port Hope, and Trent Hills; the Town of Cobourg; and the Townships of Alnwick/Haldimand, Cramahe, and Township of Hamilton (the "Participating Municipalities") established a Joint Compliance Audit Committee whose members were appointed by the Councils of the participating municipalities.
 
When an Application or Clerk's Report is received, the Clerk shall appoint a panel of Members from the Members of the Joint Compliance Audit Committee to constitute the Compliance Audit Committee to hear the Application or to consider the Clerk's Report.

Five (5) to seven (7) Committee members shall be selected to be a roster, any three (3) of whom shall constitute quorum to conduct the business of the Committee. Such members shall be appointed by the Participating Municipaliti

When a Participating Municipality receives either an application for a compliance audit or a Report of the Clerk, the Clerk of the Participating Municipality shall, within 10 days, contact the roster of Committee members and arrange for a minimum of three (3), and not more than seven, Committee members to sit as the Compliance Audit Committee for the purpose of considering the compliance audit request or report of the Clerk (a “Panel”). Thereafter, the Panel shall be required to participate in all meetings and any other proceedings pertaining to the application or Report of the Clerk.
Term

The term of the Committee is the same as the terms of office of Council following the 2026 Municipal Election, and the term of office of the members of the Committee is the same as the term of the Committee, until successors have been appointed. For greater clarity, the Committee shall be deemed to be a continuing body, and the Committee shall have authority to continue any matter started by a previous Committee.

Meetings of the Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure that are established jointly by the Clerks of the Participating Municipalities, attached as Schedule A. Meetings may be held in person, electronically, or by a combination of in person and electronic participation.

Three (3) members shall constitute quorum to conduct the business of the Committee.

The following skills and experience will be used by the Selection Committee to determine suitability for appointment to the Committee:

(a) Excellent analytical decision-making and communication skills;

(b) A working knowledge of the election process and election campaign finance (an asset);

(c) Experience working on a government board or quasi-judicial body (an asset); and

(d) Flexibility to attend meetings during daytime and evening hours.

The following persons are not eligible for appointment or to serve on the Committee:

(a) Employees of any of the Participating Municipalities;

(b) Members of Council or Members of Local Boards of any of the Participating Municipalities;

(c) Council candidates for the 2026 Municipal Election and any by-election(s) held during the 2026-2030 Council term of office; or

(d) Any persons who are Registered Third Parties in any of the Participating Municipalities.

Staff from the Clerk’s Office of the host municipality requiring the compliance audit review will provide administrative support to the Committee.

Any responsibilities not clearly identified within the Terms of Reference shall be in accordance with Section 88.33, 88.34, 88.35, 88.36, and 88.37 of the MEA. The Clerk has delegated authority to make administrative changes to these Terms of Reference that may be required from time to time due to legislative changes, or if, in the opinion of the Clerk, the amendments do not change the intent of the Terms of Reference.

Municipal Elections Act, Superior Court of Justice