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The Electoral System of Canada

Political Financing

How is money regulated throughout federal elections?

The Canada Elections Act provides a framework designed to make the financing of the political system transparent and fairer. This includes requirements respecting contributions to and spending by various entities involved in the federal electoral system.

Disclosure requirements have existed for candidates since the beginning of the 20th century, but the current regime was essentially laid out with the introduction of political party registration and the Election Expenses Act in 1974. The latter introduced limits on election expenses for both candidates and political parties, as well as the first forms of public funding through partial reimbursement of expenses and tax credits for contributions. As of January 1, 2004, the scope of the legislation was extended to electoral district associations, nomination contestants and leadership contestants.

Limits on contributions adopted in 2003 became effective in January 2004. Further restrictions were imposed as of January 1, 2007; consequently, corporations and trade unions are no longer allowed to make political contributions.

Legislation passed in 2014 introduced a new set of rules on political financing. The legislation increased contribution limits and set matching limits on testamentary dispositions. It raised by 5 percent the spending limits for parties and candidates. In the case of an election period longer than the statutory minimum of 36 days, the legislation provided for proportionate increases in spending limits for registered parties, candidates and third parties. The legislation modified and standardized rules for loans to registered parties, registered associations, candidates, and nomination and leadership contestants.

Transparency measures and limits are also imposed on election advertising by third parties – persons or groups other than candidates, registered parties or electoral district associations of a registered party.

Contribution Limits

Major changes to the political financing regime that came into effect in 2004 and 2007 set limits on political contributions. These were revised upward in 2014 and will increase annually by $25 after 2015.

Limits on Contributions, Loans and Loan Guarantees, 2015*

To see current limits, click here.

Political Entities Citizens and Permanent Residents Only
Political parties A maximum of $1,500 per calendar year to each of the registered political parties
Electoral district associations A maximum of $1,500 per calendar year, in the aggregate, to the registered electoral district associations, nomination contestants and candidates of each of the registered political parties
Nomination contestants
Party-endorsed candidates
Independent candidates A maximum of $1,500 per election to each independent candidate
Leadership contestants A maximum of $1,500 per calendar year, in the aggregate, to all of the contestants in a leadership contest

* Amounts increase yearly by $25, as of January 1, 2016.

A cap of $5,000 is placed on the amount that candidates may contribute to their own campaigns. For leadership contestants, the cap is $25,000. Nomination contestants can contribute an amount that does not exceed $1,000 in total out of their own funds to their own campaign in addition to the permitted contribution limit.

Tax Credits for Political Contributions

Although contributions can take the form of money, goods or services, only a contribution of money to a registered political party, a registered electoral district association or a candidate qualifies for an income tax credit under the Income Tax Act. According to a Canada Revenue Agency interpretation, a monetary contribution to a candidate is eligible for a credit only if it is received between the date that the candidate's nomination is confirmed by the returning officer and 30 days after election day.

Tax Credits
Contribution Tax Credit
$0.01 to $400 75 percent
$400.01 to $750 $300 plus 50 percent of the amount by which the contribution exceeds $400
$750.01 and over The lesser of:
  • $475 plus 33 1/3 percent of the amount by which the total exceeds $750; and
  • $650

Expenses Limits

The Canada Elections Act (CEA) defines an election expense as any cost incurred, or non-monetary contribution received, by a registered party or a candidate that is used to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader or a candidate during an election period. Such expenses are subject to limits for candidates and registered political parties. These limits are calculated according to a formula based on the number of names on the preliminary or revised lists of electors for each electoral district. For a party, the electoral districts are those in which the party has endorsed confirmed candidates.

Expenses limits are also calculated for nomination contests. The CEA defines a nomination campaign expense as an expense reasonably incurred by or on behalf of a nomination contestant during a nomination contest as an incidence of the contest. For a nomination campaign, a nomination contestant can spend 20 percent of the amount allowed for a candidate's election expenses in the same riding during the previous general election if the boundaries of the electoral district have not changed since then. In any other case, a nomination contestant can spend the amount that the Chief Electoral Officer determines.

The CEA does not set limits on the amount of leadership campaign expenses that each contestant may incur. A registered party may set its own limits by internal rules, but such limits are not enforceable through the Act.

The CEA imposes separate expense limits to third parties for regulated activities that take place during a pre-election period or an election period.

Electoral district associations cannot incur election expenses for a candidate or party.

Reporting

Each electoral participant or political entity must submit financial reports to the Chief Electoral Officer. The reports must include the name and address of anyone contributing more than $200. All financial reports are published at www.elections.ca.


Reporting Schedule
Entity Return Deadline Requirement
Registered political party Statement of assets and liabilities Six months after registration Mandatory
Quarterly return 30 days after the end of the quarter Mandatory (if received 2% of votes cast nationally or 5% of votes cast in all electoral districts where it endorsed candidates in the last general election)
Financial transactions return June 30 each year Mandatory
General election expenses return Eight months after the election Mandatory
Registered electoral district association Statement of assets and liabilities Six months after registration Mandatory
Financial transactions return May 31 each year Mandatory; include auditor's report if contributions or expenses equalled $5,000 or more in the year
Candidate Electoral campaign return Four months after election day Mandatory
Nomination contestant Nomination campaign return Four months after selection date (or election day in certain circumstances) Only when $1,000 or more received in contributions or incurred in nomination campaign expenses; include auditor's report if contributions or nomination contest expenses equalled $10,000 or more for the contest
Leadership contestant Report on contributions On registration Mandatory
Two interim reports on contributions Three weeks before and two days before end of contest Mandatory if $10,000 or more received in contributions or incurred in leadership campaign expenses
Leadership campaign return Six months after end of contest Mandatory; include auditor's report if $5,000 or more received in contributions or incurred in leadership campaign expenses
Third party Third party interim expenses returns Various deadlines Mandatory, if certain conditions are met
Third party electoral campaign return Four months after election day Mandatory

Reimbursements for Candidates

A candidate who is elected or receives at least 10 percent of the valid votes cast in their electoral district and who complies with the financial reporting provisions of the Canada Elections Act is eligible to a reimbursement of:

  • 60 percent of their paid election expenses, paid travel and living expenses, and paid personal expenses (other than personal expenses detailed below);
  • 90 percent of their paid childcare expenses and expenses relating to the provision of care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for whom the candidate normally provides such care; and
  • 90 percent of paid accessibility expenses, to a maximum of $5,000.

These reimbursements are publicly funded.

Reimbursements for Political Parties

If they comply with the financial reporting provisions of the Canada Elections Act and receive at least 2 percent of the valid votes cast nationally or 5 percent of the valid votes cast in electoral districts where they endorsed candidates, registered parties are eligible to:

  • a reimbursement of 50 percent of their paid election expenses for a general election; and
  • a reimbursement of 90 percent of their paid accessibility expenses for a general election, up to a maximum of $250,000.

Audit Report and Subsidy

Audit Report

Registered electoral district associations that incur expenses or accept contributions of $10,000 or more during a calendar year must submit, along with their annual financial return, a report prepared by an auditor.

Candidates, nomination contestants and leadership contestants that incur expenses or accept contributions of $10,000 or more with regards to a specific event must submit, along with their financial return, a report prepared by an auditor.

Registered parties must submit, along with their annual and election financial returns, a report prepared by an auditor.

Third parties that incur partisan activity expenses, partisan advertising expenses, election advertising expenses or election survey expenses in an aggregate amount of $10,000 or more must submit, along with their election expenses return, a report prepared by an auditor.

Audit Subsidy

Registered electoral district associations, candidates, nomination contestants and leadership contestants may be eligible to receive an audit subsidy of up to $1,500. The audit subsidy amount is multiplied by the inflation adjustment factor in effect on polling day and is paid directly to the auditor.

Registered parties and third parties are not eligible to receive an audit subsidy.

Regulation of Third Parties

The Canada Elections Act regulates third parties that participate in the electoral process.

Please consult the Political Financing Handbook for Third Parties, Financial Agents and Auditors (EC 20227) for more details.