HALDIMAND—Haldimand County is now allowing all-candidate meetings to be held in County-owned facilities under certain conditions, despite making no formal amendment to the election policy that previously appeared to prohibit them.
The County’s municipal election webpage now states: “Haldimand County buildings may be booked for all-candidates meetings at the discretion of the Clerk.”
County spokesperson Kyra Hayes clarified to The Haldimand Press that the Use of Corporate Resources for Election Campaign Purposes Policy itself has not changed.
“To be clear, there was no amendment to the policy,” Hayes said. “The Returning Officer has authority with regard to interpretation and application of the policy.”
Municipal Clerk Chad Curtis serves as the Returning Officer for the 2026 election.
Anyone seeking to book a County facility for an all-candidates meeting must first meet with Curtis to discuss the application and requirements.
Hayes said the process is intended “to ensure that the meeting is inclusive to all candidates and to ensure the safety of all participants at the facility.”
Requests and booking inquiries are to be directed to the County’s election office.
The clarification follows concerns raised in July after multiple requests to host all-candidate debates in County facilities were denied. In response to a request to rent the Caledonia Lions Community Centre, as for previous debates, a Haldimand County representative told The Haldimand Press, “After consulting with the County Clerk, I have been advised that no Haldimand County property/buildings can be used for any election purposes, including a candidate debate.”
As reasoning, the County directed The Press to its Use of Corporate Resources for Election Campaign Purposes Policy, which was unanimously approved by Council on March 9, 2026. It states that “candidates and registered third parties may not rent any Haldimand County facilities for campaigning purposes, including candidate debates.”
The restriction was initially applied more broadly to any organizations or people looking to rent County-owned facilities for any election-related event, including all-candidate meetings. The Press asked Curtis to reconsider at the time, as the organizations being denied – including The Press, the Haldimand Federation of Agriculture (HFA), and the Selkirk District Chamber of Commerce – are neither candidates nor registered third parties.
Curtis replied, “The municipal government must remain neutral during elections. Hosting a debate at a corporate facility could be seen as endorsing or supporting a candidate or issues, even unintentionally.”
CAO Michael Di Lullo agreed, stating in a July interview that the restriction was intended to protect the County’s neutrality during the municipal election.
“To ensure fairness, transparency, and public confidence in the electoral process, County property remains unavailable for election-related use until the election period has concluded,” Di Lullo said at the time.
The Press asked Di Lullo what had changed from the County’s previous policy, what legal or best-practice guidance informed the decision, and why community organizations were subject to the same restrictions as candidates and registered third parties. No further response was provided at the time.
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley was among those who called for the policy to be reconsidered.
“I also believe that events such as all-candidates debates should be allowed as they were,” Bentley told The Press in July.
On August 7, Bentley contacted The Press to say the situation had changed, writing that “the clerk has amended the policy” and indicating The Press could again host a debate at the Caledonia Lions Community Centre as in previous elections.
The County has since clarified that no policy amendment occurred. Instead, the change reflects the Returning Officer’s authority to interpret and apply the existing policy.
The HFA and Selkirk Chamber were both considering their options when denied the use of the Kohler Agricultural Hall and the Selkirk Centennial Community Hall, respectively. Both raised concerns that the loss of those community spaces could jeopardize their plans to host debates at all.
HFA President Wayne Downie said the association is still interested in hosting a debate and will be holding a board meeting to discuss their options, including meeting with the County Clerk.
“We would like to host a debate later on so the public can take part,” said Downie.
The Press contacted the Selkirk Chamber for their reaction to the County’s change in position and how it will affect their plans for the 2026 municipal election, but did not receive a response as of press time.
More information about The Haldimand Press’ mayoral debate and candidate meet and greet will be released when available.
—With files from Mike Renzella.
