Important Reminders for Candidates and Their Official Agents

Do's

  • Do appoint an official agent, who must open a separate bank account for the sole purpose of the campaign before any contribution is accepted, or any expense is incurred (contracted for) or paid
  • Do ensure that the official agent is involved in all budgeting and financial decisions related to the campaign and is consulted before electoral campaign expenses are incurred
  • Do ensure that only the official agent, the candidate or a person authorized in writing by the official agent incurs campaign expenses
  • Do ensure that all money received is turned over to the official agent for deposit into the campaign bank account
  • Do ensure that all expenses (except for those paid out of petty cash by a person authorized by the official agent, or the candidate's personal expenses paid by the candidate) are paid out of the campaign bank account by the official agent
  • Do issue receipts for all contributions over $20
  • Do return all official tax receipts issued by the returning officer within 1 month after election day; this applies to both unused official tax receipts and the returning officer copies of all issued official tax receipts
  • Do ensure all claims are presented within 3 months and paid within 4 months after election day
  • Do ensure that all loan, overdraft and line of credit conditions, including repayment schedules, are submitted with the return
  • Do provide the Candidate's Statement of Personal Expenses to the official agent no later than 3 months after election day, even if it is a NIL statement
  • Do allow your auditor sufficient time before the submission deadline to review financial documents and prepare the audit report
  • Do submit the Candidate's Electoral Campaign Return and related documents within 4 months after election day, ensuring that the following are included:
    • Candidate's return, including the declaration in part 1, signed by the candidate and the official agent
    • Auditor's report, checklist and invoice
    • Candidate's Statement of Personal Expenses
    • All supporting bank statements, cancelled cheques, deposit slips, loan agreements and vouchers
    • Candidate's Statement of Gifts or Other Advantages Received
  • Do dispose of any surplus, after the campaign has met all of its financial obligations, in compliance with the Act, and notify the Chief Electoral Officer within 7 days of the disposal

Don'ts

  • Do not allow anyone other than the official agent, candidate or a person authorized in writing by the official agent to incur electoral campaign expenses
  • Do not allow anyone other than the official agent to pay for electoral campaign expenses (except for petty cash payments by a person authorized by the official agent, or the candidate's personal expenses paid by the candidate)
  • Do not accept contributions from any source other than an individual
  • Do not accept transfers from the registered party or registered electoral district association before you are officially confirmed as a candidate by the returning officer
  • Do not accept monetary transfers of trust funds from registered parties or registered associations
  • Do not issue official tax receipts for contributions received before you are officially confirmed as a candidate by the returning officer
  • Do not accept contributions from ineligible sources (e.g. foreign sources, corporations, trade unions and unregistered associations)
  • Do not accept contributions that exceed an individual's contribution limits
  • Do not accept cash contributions over $20
  • Do not appoint an auditor who is not accredited UNDER PROVINCIAL LAW to perform accounting services
  • Do not pay unpaid claims later than 4 months after election day without first obtaining the Chief Electoral Officer's authorization
  • Do not place election advertising without including mention that it is authorized by the official agent (for example: Authorized by the official agent of “candidate”)