Registered Party Handbook

Table of Contents

PDF Format

• 1. Introduction
  
  
  • 1.1 Purpose and scope of the handbook
  • 1.2 Questions about this handbook
  • 1.3 Additional reference material
  • 1.4 Symbols used here
    
    
• 2. Roles and Responsibilities
  
  
  • 2.1 Registered party definition
  • 2.2 Chief agent
    • Appointing a chief agent
    • Appointing registered agents
    • Appointing corporations as registered agents
    • Ineligibility for the position of chief agent or registered agent
  • 2.3 The chief agent’s role
    • Issuing receipts
  • 2.4 Auditor
    • Appointing an auditor
    • Eligibility for the position of auditor
    • Ineligible persons
    • Appointment process
    • Change of auditor
    • Auditor's right of access to documents
    • Responsibility of the auditor
    • Auditor's fees
      
      
• 3. Registration, Deregistration and Mergers of Parties
  
  
  • 3.1 Overview
  • 3.2 Application requirements
    • The applicant
    • Contents of application
    • Sending the application
    • Verification of the application by the Chief Electoral Officer
    • Eligibility for registration
    • Loss of eligibility for registration
    • Withdrawing the application before registration
  • 3.3 Becoming registered – nomination of candidates
    • One candidate per electoral district
    • Nomination process
    • Benefits of filing nomination papers early
    • Close of nominations
    • Eligibility of candidates
    • Confirmation or refusal of the candidate's nomination
    • Confirmation of registration of the eligible party
  • 3.4 Benefits of being a registered political party
  • 3.5 Deregistration
    • Involuntary deregistration
    • Voluntary deregistration
    • Court-ordered deregistration
    • Publication of notice of deregistration
    • Effect of deregistration
    • Option for deregistered parties
    • Filing requirements for deregistered parties
  • 3.6 Advertising expenses for deregistered parties
  • 3.7 Mergers of registered parties
    • Applying for a merger
    • Effective date of a merger
    • Consequences of a merger
    • Financial information to be reported
      
      
• 4. Financial Administration
  
  
  • 4.1 Contributions
    • Definition
    • Monetary contributions
    • Non-monetary contributions
    • Illegal contributions
    • Eligible contributors
    • Acceptance of a contribution
    • Cash contribution limit
    • Ticketed fundraising functions
    • Volunteer labour
    • Commercial value
    • Contribution limits
    • Issuing receipts
    • Anonymous and ineligible contributions
  • 4.2 Loans
  • 4.3 Registered party expenses
    • Definition of an election expense
    • Election expenses limits
    • Application of election expenses
    • Use of capital assets
    • Documentation
    • Petty cash
    • Presentation of claims
    • Deadline for payment of claims
    • Unpaid claims
  • 4.4 Transfers from a registered party
    • Transfers from a registered party to a candidate
    • Transfers from a registered party to a registered association
    • Transfers from a registered party to a nomination or leadership contestant
  • 4.5 Transfers to a registered party
  • Transfers to a registered party from a candidate or registered association
  • Transfers to a registered party from a nomination or leadership contestant
  • 4.6 Incurring election expenses on behalf of a candidate
  • 4.7 Reimbursement of election expenses
    • Quarterly allowances to registered parties
      
      
• 5. Reporting Requirements
  
  
  • 5.1 Overview
  • 5.2 Reporting changes
    • Changes that must be reported
    • Non-financial filing requirements
  • 5.3 Filing requirements for nomination and leadership contests
    • Nomination contest report
    • Leadership contest report
  • 5.4 Financial reporting for registered parties
    • Upon registration
    • Annual financial reporting
    • Quarterly reporting for qualified registered parties
    • General election expenses reporting
  • 5.5 Corrections and extensions
    • Correction by the Chief Electoral Officer
    • Correction at the request of the Chief Electoral Officer
    • Registered party requesting authorization to correct a return
    • Registered party requesting authorization for an extension
    • Registered party requesting authorization to pay an unpaid claim
      
      
• 6. Compliance and Enforcement
  
  
  • 6.1 Commissioner of Canada Elections and Director of Public Prosecutions
  • 6.2 Offences and penalties
    
    
• Appendix A: Broadcasting
  
  
• Appendix B: Key Terms and Definitions
  
  
• Appendix C: Resolutions