Definition [C.E.A., s. 2]

• Election expenses means:

• amounts paid;
• liabilities incurred;
• the commercial value of goods and services donated or provided, other than volunteer labour; and
• amounts that represent the differences between amounts paid and liabilities incurred for goods and services, other than volunteer labour, and the commercial value thereof where they are provided at less than their commercial value;

for the purpose of promoting or opposing, directly and during an election, a particular registered party, or the election of a particular candidate, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes:



• the cost of acquiring the right to the use of time on the facilities of any broadcasting undertaking, or of acquiring the right to the publication of an advertisement in any periodical publication;
• the cost of acquiring the services of any person, including remuneration and expenses paid to the person or on behalf of the person, as an official agent or registered agent or otherwise, except where the services are donated or provided at materially less than their commercial value;
• the cost of acquiring meeting space, of provision of light refreshment and of acquiring and distributing mailing objects, material or devices of a promotional nature; and
• the cost of goods or services provided by a government, crown corporation or any other public agency,

when those costs are incurred for a purpose set out in this definition.

Limit for political parties [C.E.A., s. 39(1)]

• Political party expenses should not exceed in the aggregate the product obtained by multiplying:

• the product obtained by multiplying 30¢ by the number of names appearing on all preliminary lists of electors at the election for the electoral districts in which there is an official candidate who has the endorsement of the party;

by



• the fraction published by the Chief Electoral Officer before April 1 of each calendar year that is in effect on the date of the issue of the writ for the election.

Limit for candidates [C.E.A., s. 210]

• Candidates are subject to a limit of election expenses. The amount is the aggregate of:

• $1 for each of the first 15 000 names appearing on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district;
• 50¢ for each name in excess of 15 000 but not in excess of 25 000 appearing on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district; and
• 25¢ for each name in excess of 25 000 appearing on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district.

• Where an electoral district has on average less than 10 electors, calculated on the basis of the number of names of electors on the preliminary lists of electors, in each square kilometre in the electoral district, the amount determined for that electoral district must be deemed to be the aggregate of:

• the amount determined under the above; and
• 15¢ for each such square kilometre;

but in no case must this amount exceed 25 percent of the amount calculated previously.

• Where a candidate for an electoral district dies after the close of nominations but before the closing of the polls, the amount determined for that electoral district, is deemed to be one and one-half times that amount.

Definition [E.A., s. 269(1)]

• Election expenses means all expenses, except personal expenses of a candidate, incurred during a campaign period for the purpose of promoting or opposing, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate or that of the candidates of a party and includes all expenses incurred before a campaign period directly related to the contesting of an election.

Limit for political parties [E.A., s. 310(1), 310(3)-(4)]

• Election expenses of a registered party must be limited so as not to exceed for a general election, an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying $3.125 by the number of persons on the revised list of electors in the aggregate of the electoral districts in which the party has candidates; and for a by-election, an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying $3.125 by the number of people on the revised list of electors in the electoral district in which the by-election is held.
• In no case must the election expenses of a registered political party be limited in relation to an electoral district to an amount less that $12 000.
• The limit on election expenses for each electoral district must be set by the Chief Electoral Officer on the day the writ of election is issued.

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 310(2)-(3)]

• Election expenses of a candidate must be limited so as not to exceed an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying $3.125 by the number of persons on the revised list of electors in the electoral district for which he or she is a candidate.
• In no case must the election expenses of a candidate be limited in relation to an electoral district to an amount less that $12 000.

Definition [E.E.A., s. 1]

• Election expenses means all expenses incurred during an election period for the purpose of promoting or opposing, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate, or a person who becomes a candidate, or the program or policy of a candidate or party, and includes expenditures incurred before an election for literature, objects or materials of an advertising nature used during the election.
• Election expenses do not include:

• expenses incurred by a candidate in seeking nomination;
• the cost of holding a convention in respect of an electoral district for the selection of a candidate but not including publicity costs up to $1 000;
• reasonable expenses incurred by a candidate for his or her lodging and food and transportation costs;
• the transportation costs of any person other than a candidate;
• a candidate's deposit;
• audit fees;
• expenses for "victory" or "thank-you" parties; or expenses incurred for the administration of the registered party.

• Election expenses must be deemed to include the value of any goods held in inventory or any fees or expenses for services for any candidate or political party, and any contribution of goods and services to the political party or candidate registered under the Act, for use in whole or in part during the election period.

Limit for political parties [E.E.A., s. 18(1)]

• The total election expenses incurred by a registered party and any person, corporation, trade union, unincorporated association or organization acting on behalf of that party during any campaign period must not exceed the aggregate amount determined by multiplying $6.00 by:

• in relation to a general election, the number of electors entitled to vote, as certified by the Chief Electoral Officer under the Election Act, in the electoral districts in which there is an official candidate of that party; and
• in relation to a by-election in an electoral district, the number of electors entitled to vote, as certified by the Chief Electoral Officer, in that electoral district.

Limit for candidates [E.E.A., s. 18(2), 18(8)]

• The total election expenses incurred by a registered candidate, and any person, corporation, trade union, unincorporated association or organization acting on behalf of that candidate during any campaign period must not exceed $1.75 for each elector entitled to vote, as certified by the Chief Electoral Officer, in the candidate's electoral district.
• The amounts set out in the above must be increased or decreased in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (Charlottetown/Summerside) published by Statistics Canada using the annual 1995 index as the base and the latest available index, as determined by the Chief Electoral Officer, as the current index.

Definition [E.A., s. 3(i)]

• Election expenses means all expenses incurred during an election for the purpose of promoting or opposing directly or indirectly the election of a candidate, or a person who becomes or is likely to become a candidate, or the program or policy of a candidate or party and includes expenditures incurred before an election for literature, objects or materials of an advertising nature used during the election for a purpose referred to above.
• Election expenses do not include:

• the cost of publication in a newspaper or other periodical of editorials, news, reports or letters to the editor that are published in the same manner and under the same rules as outside the election period without payment, reward or promise of payment or reward, provided that the newspaper or other periodical is not established for the purpose of the election or with a view to the election and that the frequency and circulation of publication do not differ from what obtains outside the election period;
• the cost of transmission by a radio or television station of a broadcaster of news or comment that is made in the same manner and under the same regulations as outside the election period without payment, reward or promise of payment or reward;
• the necessary cost of holding a convention in respect of an electoral district for the selection of a candidate including the reasonable expenses of the candidates at the convention, the cost of renting a hall and the convening of delegates but not including publicity costs and, apart from expenses of candidates other than the candidates selected, must not exceed $1 000;
• reasonable expenses incurred by a candidate or any other person, out of his or her own money, for his or her lodging and food during a journey for election purposes if those expenses are not reimbursed to him or her;
• a candidate's transportation costs;
• the transportation costs of any person other than a candidate, paid out of his or her own money if those costs are not reimbursed to him or her;
• the sum deposited with a nomination paper;
• the usual expenses usually incurred for the current operation of one permanent office in the Province of a recognized party if the leader of the party, before the seventh day following the issue of the writ has given written notice to the Chief Electoral Officer of the existence of the office, of its exact address and of any change of address.

Limit for political parties [E.A., s. 181(1)-(2)]

• The election expenses of a party during a general election must not exceed in the aggregate 40¢ multiplied by the number of electors in the electoral districts in which the party has one or more official candidates.
• The official agent of a party must not incur election expenses during a by-election to an amount greater than $1 000.

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 181(3)]

• The election expenses of a candidate must not exceed during any election the aggregate of:

• $1 per elector in respect of not more than 5 000 electors;
• 85¢ per elector in respect of the number of electors in the electoral district in excess of 5 000 and not in excess of 10 000; and
• 75¢ per elector in respect of the number of electors in the district in excess of 10 000.

Definition [P.P.F.A., s. 67(1)-(2), 67(5)]

• Election expenses means all expenditures incurred during an election period for the purpose of promoting or opposing directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate or that of the candidates of a party, including every person who subsequently becomes or who is likely to become a candidate, and includes all expenditures incurred before an election period for literature, objects or materials of an advertising nature used during the election period for such purposes.
• Election expenses does not include:

• the publishing in a newspaper or other periodical of editorials, news, reports, or letters to the editor, if they are published in the same manner and under the same standards as prevail outside an election period, without payment, reward or promise of payment or reward; and if the newspaper, or other periodical is not established for the purpose of the election or with a view to the election;
• the transmission by a broadcasting undertaking of a broadcast of news or comment, if such broadcast is made in the same manner and under the same standards as prevail outside the election period, without payment, reward or promise of payment or reward;
• the reasonable expenses incurred by a candidate or any other person, out of his or her own money, for his or her own transportation, lodging and food during a journey for election purposes, if such expenses are not reimbursed to him or her;
• the sum required to be deposited with a candidate's nomination paper;
• the reasonable expenses incurred for the publication of explanatory commentaries on the Elections Act and the instructions issued under its authority, if such commentaries are strictly objective and contain no statements of such a nature to support or oppose a candidate or a political party;
• the reasonable expenses usually incurred for the current operation of the principal permanent office of a registered political party in the province, if the leader of such party, before the seventh day following the issue of the writs of election has given written notice to the Supervisor or the existence of such office, and of its exact address; and
• expenditures incurred by any person in the course of or for the purpose of making a donation not considered a contribution under the Act.

• Election expenses may be incurred only in accordance with the Act and only by or on behalf of registered political parties or candidates.

Limit for political parties [P.P.F.A., s. 77(1)]

• Election expenses of a registered political party must be limited so as not to exceed, for a general election, an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying $1 by the number of electors in the aggregate of the electoral districts in which such party has candidates.
• For a by-election, the limit is set at $7 000 for each by-election.

Limit for candidates [P.P.F.A., s. 77(2)-(3)]

• Election expenses of a candidate must be limited so as not to exceed, for a general election, an amount equal to the sum obtained by allowing $1.75 for each of the electors in the electoral district for which he or she is a candidate; and for a by-election, an amount equal to the sum obtained by allowing $2 for each of the electors in the electoral district for which he or she is a candidate.
• In no case must the election expenses of any candidate be limited to an amount less than $11 000 or exceed $22 000.

Definition [E.A., s. 402, 404]

• The cost of any goods or services used for the following purposes during an election period is an election expense:

• to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate or the candidates of a party;
• to propagate or oppose the program or policies of a candidate or party;
• to approve or disapprove courses of action advocated or opposed by a candidate or party; or
• to approve or disapprove any act done or proposed by a party, a candidate or their supporters.

• The following are not election expenses:

• the cost of publishing articles, editorials, news, interviews, columns or letters to the editor in a newspaper, periodical or other publication, provided that they are published without payment, reward or promise of payment or reward, that the newspaper, periodical or other publication is not established for the purposes or in view of the election and that the circulation and frequency of publication are as what obtains outside the election period;
• the cost at fair market value of producing, promoting and distributing a book that was planned to be put on sale at the prevailing market price regardless of the election order;
• the cost of broadcasting by a radio or television station of a program of public affairs, news or commentary, provided that the program is broadcast without payment, reward or promise of payment or reward;
• the necessary costs of holding a meeting in an electoral division for the selection of a candidate, including the cost of renting a hall, of convening the delegates and of the publicity made at the meeting; the costs cannot exceed $4 000 nor include any other form of publicity;
• the reasonable costs incurred by a candidate for attending a meeting to select a candidate in an electoral division; the costs cannot include any publicity except that made by the candidate at the meeting;
• the reasonable expenses incurred by a candidate or any other person, out of his or her own money, for meals and lodging while traveling for election purposes, if the expenses are not reimbursed to him or her;
• the transportation costs of a candidate, if not subject to reimbursement;
• the other reasonable personal expenses incurred by a candidate, other than publicity expenses, if the expenses are not reimbursed to him or her;
• the transportation costs of any person other than a candidate, paid out of his or herown money, if the costs are not reimbursed to him or her;
• the cost of the food and beverages served at a political activity where the cost is included in the entrance fee paid by participants;
• the reasonable expenses incurred for the publication of explanatory commentaries on the Act and the regulations thereunder, provided the commentaries are strictly objective and contain no publicity of such a nature as to favour or oppose a candidate or a party;
• the reasonable ordinary expenses incurred for the day-to-day operations of not more than two permanent offices of the party the addresses of which are entered in the register of the Chief Electoral Officer;
• interest accrued from the beginning of the election period to the day occurring 90 days after polling day, on any loan lawfully granted to an official representative for election expenses, unless the official agent has paid the interest and declared it as an election expense in his or her return of election expenses;
• the expenses incurred for the holding of meetings, the total of which does not exceed $200 for the entire election period, including the renting of halls and the convening of participants, provided the meetings are not directly or indirectly organized on behalf of a candidate or party;
• the publicity expenses, the total of which does not exceed $300 for the entire election period, incurred by an authorized individual intervenor, without directly promoting or opposing a candidate or party, to publicize or obtain support for the intervenor's view on a matter of public interest or to advocate abstention or the cancellation of the vote.

Limit for political parties [E.A., s. 426, 428]

• Election expenses must be limited so as never to exceed for a party, during a general election, 50¢ per elector for all the electoral divisions in which such party has an official candidate.
• The official agent of an authorized party cannot incur election expenses during a by-election.

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 426]

• The election expenses for each candidate must be limited so as never to exceed $1.00 per elector during a general election.
• During a by-election, the maximum limit of election expenses for each candidate is increased by 50¢.

Definition [E.F.A., s. 1(1)]

• Campaign expense means any expense incurred for goods or services in relation to an election by or on behalf of a political party, constituency association or candidate registered under the Act for use in whole or in part during the period commencing with the issue of a writ for an election and terminating on polling day, other than:

• expenses incurred by a candidate in seeking nomination;
• a candidate's deposit as required under the Election Act;
• auditor's and accounting fees;
• interest on loans authorized under the Election Finances Act;
• expenses incurred in holding a fundraising activity;
• expenses incurred for "victory parties" held and "thank you" advertising published after polling day;
• expenses incurred in relation to the administration of the political party or constituency association;
• transfers authorized under the Act;
• fees paid in respect of maintaining a credit card facility;
• expenses relating to a recount in respect of the election;
• child care expenses of a candidate and other expenses not of partisan value that are set out in guidelines provided by the Chief Election Officer;
• expenses relating to research and polling; and
• travel expenses;

but must be deemed to include the value of any goods held in inventory or any fees or expenses for services for any candidate or political party, and any contribution of goods and services to the political party, constituency association or candidate, for use in whole or in part during the period commencing with the issue of the writ for an election and terminating on polling day.

Limit for political parties [E.F.A., s. 38(1)]

• The total campaign expenses incurred by a registered party and any person, corporation, trade union, unincorporated association or organization acting on behalf of the party during a campaign period must not exceed the amount determined by multiplying the applicable amount by:

• in relation to a general election, the number of electors in the electoral districts in which there is an official candidate of that party; and
• in relation to a by-election, the number of electors in that electoral district.

Limit for candidates [E.F.A., s. 38(3)]

• The total campaign expenses incurred by a registered candidate, the constituency association endorsing that candidate and any person, corporation, trade union, unincorporated association or organization acting on behalf of the candidate during a campaign period must not exceed the amount determined by multiplying the applicable amount by the number of electors in the candidate's electoral district.

Definition [E.F.A., s. 1]

• Election expenses means:

• money spent or liabilities incurred; and
• the value of donations in kind accepted;

before or during an election period in respect of goods or services used during the election period to support or oppose, directly or indirectly, a candidate or registered political party in the election, and without restricting the generality of the foregoing, includes money spent or liabilities incurred, and the value of donations in kind accepted, prior to or during an election period in respect of:

• advertising, including related production expenses;
• the services of any person who is compensated for acting as official agent, organizer, manager, office worker or other campaign worker;
• the services of any person to run as a candidate, except by way of paid leave of absence under a collective agreement or other employment agreement;
• transportation, accommodation and food and refreshment for candidates, campaign workers and leaders of registered political parties;
• reasonable personal expenses, including related child care expenses, incurred by a candidate in an election period to enable the candidate to campaign in an election;
• rental or purchase of office space, including office equipment and supplies and costs of utilities;
• hall rental and other meeting space;
• posters, leaflets, pamphlets, letters, cards and other promotional material;
• signs and banners;
• lumber and other structural supports for signs and banners;
• mailing or other distribution of election materials;
• a reasonable portion of the cost of capital assets;
• the value of direct costs to make or acquire an inventory of goods;
• fundraising functions; and
• goods which were acquired in a previous election but not used;

but does not include money spent or liabilities incurred, and the value of donations in kind accepted, in respect of:

• a leadership convention or other conference or convention of a registered political party;
• meetings to nominate candidates for an election;
• reasonable expenses incurred in the operation of any permanent office of a registered political party, including salaries and wages paid to permanent staff members working in the office during the election period;
• auditor's fees;
• any recount for an election in an electoral division;
• a commentary, letter to the editor or similar expression of opinion of a kind normally published without charge in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication or normally broadcast without charge on radio or television;
• polling costs;
• reasonable expenses incurred by a disabled candidate in relation to a candidate's disability to enable him or her to campaign in an election period;
• a service provided without compensation by a person outside the person's working hours, other than a service provided by a self-employed person if the service is normally sold or otherwise charged for by that person;
• the services of any person who serves without compensation as a chief financial officer, an official agent or a legal counsel to a candidate or registered political party; and
• goods or services used after 8:00 p.m. on polling day including goods and services used after 8:00 p.m. on polling day for social functions and for communicating with voters and campaign workers.

Limit for political parties [E.F.A., s. 50(1)]

• The total election expenses incurred by or on behalf of a registered political party, including election expenses incurred by any person or organization acting on behalf of the registered political party with the knowledge and consent of the registered political party, must not exceed:

• in relation to a general election, the amount determined by multiplying $1.40 by the number of names on the final voters lists for all the electoral divisions in which the registered political party endorses candidates; and
• in relation to a by-election in an electoral division, the amount determined by multiplying $2.60 by the number of names on the final voters lists for the electoral division.

Limit for candidates [E.F.A., s. 50(2)]

• The total election expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate, including election expenses incurred by any person or organization acting on behalf of the candidate with the knowledge and consent of the candidate, must not exceed in the case of a candidate in an electoral division having an area:

• of less than 30 000 square miles, the amount determined by multiplying $2.20 by the number of names on the final voters lists for the electoral division; and
• of 30 000 square miles or more, the amount determined by multiplying $3.50 by the number of names on the final voters lists for the electoral division.

Variation of spending limits [E.F.A., s. 52]

• The above amounts are adjusted by the change in the Winnipeg Consumer Price Index from June 1996.

Definition [E.A., s. 220]

• Election expenses means the cost of goods and services used during an election for the purpose of promoting or opposing, directly or indirectly, a registered political party or the election of a candidate, regardless of whether those costs are incurred before, during or after the election, and includes the following:

• the cost of acquiring the right to use time on the facilities of any broadcasting undertaking or of acquiring the right to publish an advertisement in any newspaper;
• the cost of acquiring the services of any person, including remuneration and expenses paid to him or her or on his or her behalf, as a chief official agent or business manager or otherwise;
• the cost of acquiring meeting space and acquiring, distributing and mailing objects, material or devices of a promotional nature;
• the cost of the salary, candidate campaign expenses or other remuneration paid or agreed to be paid to a candidate, on account of his or her being a candidate, by his or her business manager or by a registered political party;
• the cost incurred for literature, posters, signs or audio or visual materials, including films, recordings, records or video tapes or other materials or devices of an advertising nature used during an election;
• in the case of the leader of a registered political party, the reasonable costs incurred during the election for the purposes of campaigning for the registered political party;
• interest accrued during the election on loans or lines of credit taken to acquire goods and services used during the election;

but does not include any exempt election expense.

Limit for political parties [E.A., s. 243(1)]

• No registered political party and no chief official agent and no other person acting within the scope of that person's authority on behalf of a registered political party must incur election expenses that exceed in the aggregate:

• in the case of a general election, the adjusted amount of $651 355;
• in the case of an election other than a general election:

• in a northern constituency, the adjusted amount of $39 082 with respect to a candidate endorsed by the registered political party at the election;
• in a southern constituency, the greater of the following amounts with respect to a candidate endorsed by the registered political party at the election: the adjusted amount of $32 567; or the amount obtained when the adjusted amount of $2.60 is multiplied by the number of names on the voters list for the candidate's constituency.

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 252(1)]

• No candidate and no business manager or other person acting on behalf of a candidate within the scope of that person's authority must incur election expenses that exceed in the aggregate:

• in a northern constituency, the greater of the following amounts: the adjusted amount of $52 108; or the amount obtained when the adjusted amount of $5.21 is multiplied by the number of names on the voters list for the candidate's constituency;
• in a southern constituency, the greater of the following amounts: the adjusted amount of $39 082; or the amount obtained when the adjusted amount of $2.60 is multiplied by the number of names on the voters list for the candidate's constituency.

N/A

Definition [E.A., s. 183(1)-(3), 183(5)-(8)]

• An election expense is the value of property or services used during a campaign period by or on behalf of a candidate, registered constituency association or registered political party to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate or a registered political party.
• An election expense includes such an expense incurred by an individual who becomes a candidate before that individual in fact became a candidate under the Act.
• A deficit incurred in holding a fundraising function during a campaign period is an election expense.
• If, during a campaign period, a candidate for a registered political party incurs nomination contestant expenses that in total exceed 10 percent of the candidate's election expenses limit, the excess is deemed to be election expenses of the candidate.
• The personal contestant expenses of the candidate are not to be included as contestant expenses.
• Election expenses incurred by the leader of a registered political party, other than those election expenses directly related to that individual as a candidate in an electoral district, are election expenses of the registered political party.
• The value of the following is not an election expense:

• services and property that are not political contributions under the Act;
• services provided by a candidate in relation to that individual's candidacy and goods produced by a candidate in relation to that individual's candidacy from the property of the candidate;
• goods produced by an individual as a volunteer from the property of the individual.

Limit for registered political parties [E.A., s. 198]

• The total value of election expenses incurred by a registered political party during a campaign period for a general election must not exceed the limit calculated by multiplying the applicable amount of $1.25 and the number of registered voters for those electoral districts in which the political party has a candidate on general voting day.
• The total value of election expenses incurred by a registered political party during a campaign period for a by-election in which the party has a candidate must not exceed the limit calculated by multiplying the applicable amount of $1.25 and the number of registered voters for the electoral district for which the election is held.

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 199(1)-(3)]

• In the case of an electoral district for which there are 25 000 or fewer registered voters, the total value of election expenses incurred by a candidate during a campaign period must not exceed $50 000.
• In the case of an electoral district for which there are more than 25 000 registered voters, the total value of election expenses incurred by a candidate during a campaign period must not exceed the total of $50 000 and the applicable amount of 50¢ for each registered voter for the electoral district.
• If an electoral district has an average of fewer than two registered voters for each square kilometre, the limit on election expenses is increased by the amount calculated by multiplying the amount of 30¢ and the total number of square kilometres in the electoral district. The limit, however, must not exceed 25 percent of the electoral district's limit determined by the number of voters in the electoral district.

Definition [E.A., s. 168(1)]

• Election expenses means any amounts paid or liabilities incurred during a campaign period to promote or oppose the election of a candidate and includes any contribution of services or goods.

Limit for political parties

• N/A

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 177(1), 178.1(1)]

• A person who becomes a candidate may incur pre-election expenses and election expenses that cumulatively do not exceed $30 000.
• A candidate may pay his or her reasonable travel and living expenses.

Definition [E.A., s. 342-348]

• A candidate can pay personal expenses but all other payments are by the official agent, approved by the candidate.
• Late claims must be approved by a judge for payment.

Limit for political parties

• N/A

Limit for candidates

• N/A

Definition [E.A., s. 168(1)]

• Election expenses means any amounts paid or liabilities incurred during a campaign period to promote or oppose the election of a candidate and includes any contribution of services or goods.

Limit for political parties

• N/A

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 177(1), 178.1(1)]

• A person who becomes a candidate may incur pre-election expenses and election expenses that cumulatively do not exceed $30 000.
• A candidate may pay his or her reasonable travel and living expenses.