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Written Opinions, Guidelines and Interpretation Notes: 2015-09 (July 2015) – Archived Content

This document is Elections Canada's archived guideline 2015-09 and is no longer in effect.

An updated version may be available in the Registry.


The Chief Electoral Officer issues guidelines and interpretation notes on the application of the Canada Elections Act to registered parties, registered associations, nomination contestants, candidates and leadership contestants, in accordance with section 16.1 of the Canada Elections Act. Before the issuance of any guideline or interpretation note, registered federal political parties and the Commissioner of Canada Elections are consulted and invited to provide comments on a draft version. Guidelines and interpretation notes provide guidance and promote consistency in the interpretation and application of the Act. However, they are for information only and do not displace the provisions of the Act.

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The content will become a part of the Political Financing Handbook for Registered Parties and Chief Agents.

Election Advertising by Registered Parties

Election Advertising

Election advertising is the transmission to the public of an advertising message promoting or opposing a registered party during the election period. Election advertising has to be authorized by the chief agent or a registered agent of the party. This authorization has to be mentioned in or on the message – for example, "Authorized by the registered agent of the XYZ Party of Canada."

Expenses incurred for advertising conducted during the election period, including the cost of production and distribution, are to be reported as election expenses.

Traditional election advertising

Advertisements distributed through traditional means such as signs, billboards, flyers, pamphlets, radio, television, newspapers or magazines during an election period are election advertising and have to be authorized by a registered agent of the party. This authorization has to be in or on the message.

Some advertising material, such as signs, can often be used for more than one election. If these signs are reused in a second or subsequent election, the amount of the election expense to be recorded is the current commercial value of equivalent signs.

Examples

  1. In anticipation of an upcoming election, the chief agent purchases flyers before the election is called and distributes them during the election period to promote the party. The commercial value of the flyers – including their design, printing and distribution – is an election expense of the party. The flyers are election advertising and have to include an authorization statement from the chief agent.
  2. The chief agent purchases an advertisement that is broadcast during the election period on the local radio station, promoting the party. The expenses for the advertisement – including its design, recording and transmission – are election expenses of the party. The advertisement is election advertising and has to include an authorization statement from the chief agent.

Election advertising on the Internet

Election messages communicated over the Internet are election advertising only if they have, or would normally have, a placement cost.

The chief agent has to authorize any election advertising, and this authorization must be mentioned in or on the advertisement. Where the authorization statement cannot be included on the advertising message because of its size, this is acceptable if the statement is made immediately apparent to the viewer by following the link in the advertising message.

The following are not election advertising:

  • messages sent or posted for free on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook
  • messages sent by e-mail or through other messaging services (including texts sent through a cellular or mobile network)
  • content posted on the party's website

However, any associated costs are election expenses.

If online content such as a video, website or Facebook page stays online during the election period, it has to be reported as an election expense. Alternatively, the party may remove all online content before the election period.

Note: A registered agent has to report as election expenses all the expenses related to the design, development and distribution of online communications used during an election, regardless of whether or not they are election advertising.


Examples

  1. The party hires a media firm to place banners on websites and social media platforms during the election period, directing users to a video posted on YouTube. There is a placement cost for the banners; therefore, they are election advertising and have to be authorized by the registered agent. Because there is no placement cost to post the video, it is not election advertising, but all expenses related to designing and developing the video are election expenses.
  2. A group page has been created for the party on a free social networking site. Volunteers manage the page and post articles related to the party. This is not election advertising. As long as the volunteers are helping outside their regular working hours and are not self-employed in the business of managing social media, the volunteer labour is not an expense.
  3. The chief agent hires a media firm to post content on the party's website, promoting the party. This is not election advertising, but all expenses related to designing, developing and posting the content are election expenses.

Broadcasting time allocation

During an election period, every broadcaster must make broadcasting time available for registered parties to purchase for the transmission of political announcements and other programming.

In addition, selected broadcasters must also provide a certain amount of free broadcasting time for registered parties.

The amount of broadcasting time is determined by the Broadcasting Arbitrator. For details about how the broadcasting time is allocated, please consult the Broadcasting Guidelines on the Elections Canada website.