Definition [C.E.A., s. 406, 407(1)-(3)]

• An electoral campaign expense of a candidate is an expense reasonably incurred as an incidence of the election, including:

  • an election expense;

  • a personal expense; and

  • any fees of the candidate's auditor, and any costs incurred for a recount of votes cast in the candidate's electoral district, that have not been reimbursed by the Receiver General.

• An election expense includes any cost incurred, or non-monetary contribution received, by a registered party or a candidate, to the extent that the property or service for which the cost was incurred, or the non-monetary contribution received, is used to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader or a candidate during an election period.

• Expenses for a fund-raising activity and expenses to directly promote the nomination of a person as a candidate or as leader of a registered party, other than expenses that are related to such fund-raising and promotional activities, are not election expenses.

• An election expense includes a cost incurred for, or a non-monetary contribution in relation to:

  • the production of advertising or promotional material and its distribution, broadcast or publication in any media or by any other means;

  • the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of a person for their services as an official agent, registered agent or in any other capacity;

  • securing a meeting space or the supply of light refreshments at meetings; and

  • any product or service provided by a government, a Crown corporation or any other public agency.

Limit for political parties [C.E.A., s. 422(1)]

• The maximum amount that is allowed for election expenses of a registered party for an election is the product of:

  • $0.62 multiplied by the number of names on the preliminary lists of electors for electoral districts in which the registered party has endorsed a candidate or by the number of names on the revised lists of electors for those electoral districts, whichever is greater; and

  • the inflation adjustment factor published by the Chief Electoral Officer that is in effect on the date of the issue of the writs for the election.

Limit for candidates [C.E.A., s. 441(1)-(4)]

• The base amount of a candidate's election expenses in an electoral district is the aggregate of the following amounts, based on the number of electors on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district or on the revised lists of electors for the electoral district, whichever is greater:

  • $2.07 for each of the first 15 000 electors;

  • $1.04 for each of the next 10 000 electors; and

  • $0.52 for each of the remaining electors.

• If the number of electors on the preliminary lists of electors for an electoral district is less than the average number of such electors for all electoral districts in a general election or, in the case of a by-election, in the immediately preceding general election, then the number of electors is deemed to be the number that is half-way between the number referred to above and that average number.

• If the number of electors per square kilometre on the preliminary lists of electors for an electoral district is less than 10, the base amount for that electoral district is increased by the lesser of $0.31 per square kilometre and 25 percent of the base amount.

• If a candidate for an electoral district whose nomination was endorsed by a registered party dies in the period beginning at 2:00 p.m. on the fifth day before the closing day for nominations and ending on polling day, the base amount for that electoral district is increased by 50 percent.

Readjustment of spending limits

• Before April 1 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer must cause to be published in the Canada Gazette an inflation adjustment factor that must be in effect for a period of one year beginning on that date.

• On October 15 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer must calculate the maximum amount referred to in section 440 for each electoral district, based on the lists of electors in the Register of Electors, as if an election were then to be held.
• The maximum amount for an electoral district must be sent:
• to any person on request; and
  
  
• to the member and each registered party that endorsed a candidate in the electoral district in the last election, together with the copy of the lists of electors referred to in subsection 45(1).

• The maximum amount calculated above is an estimate and, as such, may be increased or decreased for an electoral district in the subsequent election period.

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)], 311(1)]

• 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, and the monetary amounts must be adjusted with effect from January 1 in each year.

Limit for candidates [E.A., s. 310(2)-(3)], 311(1)]

• 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.

• 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, and the monetary amounts must be adjusted with effect from January 1 in each year.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.A., s. 310(4), 311(1)]

• 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.
• The monetary amounts set out in section 310 must be adjusted with effect from January 1 in each year.

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.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.E.A., s. 18(8)]

• The amounts set out in subsection (1) and (2) 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 $1.79 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 $4 516.

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

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

• $4.47 per elector in respect of not more than 5 000 electors;
• $3.80 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
• $3.35 per elector in respect of the number of electors in the district in excess of 10 000.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.A., s. 181(5)-(6)]

• The maximum expenses set out in this section must be increased or decreased in accordance with the Consumer Price Index of the province published by Statistics Canada using the annual 1969 index as the base and the latest available index, as determined by the Chief Electoral Officer, as the current index.
• During an election the Chief Electoral Officer must calculate the maximum expenses pursuant to subsection (4) and must provide this calculation to each official agent of a candidate or of a recognized party.

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.

Readjustment of spending limits [P.P.F.A., s. 77.1(1)]

• The monetary amounts set out in section 77 must be adjusted on January 1, 1988, and on January 1 in every succeeding year, by multiplying each of the amounts by the ratio that the Consumer Price Index for the 12 month period that ended on the 30th day of September next before that year bears to the Consumer Price Index for the 12 month period that ended on the 30th day of September, 1986.

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 her own 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¢.

Readjustment of spending limits

• N/A

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)-(2), 38(4)]

• 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.
  

• For the purposes of the above, the applicable amount is 60¢, multiplied by the indexation factor determined under section 40.1 and rounded to the nearest cent.
  
  
• Where the total campaign expenses incurred by a registered party and any person, corporation, trade union, unincorporated association or organization acting on behalf of that party exceed the amount determined under subsection (1) or where 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 that candidate exceed the amount determined under subsection (2), the amount of the subsidy, if any, payable to the political party's chief financial officer under subsection 44(6) or to the candidate's chief financial officer under subsection 44(1), as the case may be, must be reduced by an amount equal to the excess.

Limit for candidates [E.F.A., s. 38(3), 38(3.3)-(3.4)]

• 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.
• The amount determined above must be increased by the applicable amount in relation to candidates in the following electoral districts: Kenora-Rainy River, Thunder Bay-Nipigon, Thunder Bay-Atikokan, Timmins-James Bay, Algoma-Manitoulin, Nickel Belt, Timiskaming-Cochrane.

• The applicable amount is $7 000, multiplied by the indexation factor determined under section 40.1 and rounded to the nearest dollar.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.F.A., s. 40.1(1)]

• For the purposes of subsection 18(1), subsections 38(2), (3.1) and (3.4), and subsection 40(7), the indexation factor is:
  
  
  • in the five-year period consisting of the calendar years 1999 to 2003, 1;
    
    
  • in each subsequent five-year period, beginning with the period consisting of the calendar years 2004 to 2008, the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Canada for prices of all items for the 60-month period ending October 31 of the last year of the previous five-year period, as published by Statistics Canada, rounded to the nearest two decimal points.
    
    

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.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.F.A., s. 52, 53]

• The above amounts are adjusted by the change in the Winnipeg Consumer Price Index from June 1996.
  
  
• Forthwith after the issue of a writ or writs for an election, the Chief Electoral Officer must calculate, in accordance with the formula set out in section 52, the maximum amounts to be permitted on a per voter basis for the election expenses of candidates and registered political parties in the election and must cause the results of the calculation to be published in the Manitoba Gazette.

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.

• Exempt election expense means:

  • expenses incurred by a candidate in seeking a nomination;

  • the candidate's election deposit required by the Act;

  • expenses for goods and services incurred at any time and used after 8:00 p.m. on polling day for social functions, meetings or gatherings, or for communicating with voters and campaign workers;

  • in the case of the donor, contributor or transferor, contributions, donations or other transfers of money, goods or services between a registered political party, its constituency associations and the candidates that the registered political party endorses;

  • expenses incurred in the administration of a registered political party or constituency association, including reasonable expenses incurred to operate a permanent office for a registered political party;

  • expenses related to recounts or additions;

  • the costs of campaigns or conventions related to the leadership of a registered political party;

  • the costs of opinion polling during an election;

  • personal expenses of a candidate incurred by the candidate on account of or in connection with or incidental to an election;

  • the cost of time on the facilities of a broadcasting undertaking where the time is provided:

    • to all registered political parties endorsing candidates during an election; and

    • without charge pursuant to an agreement between the registered political parties and the broadcasting undertaking;

  • the costs of fund-raising functions.

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.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.A., s. 221(2), 221(6)-(7)]

• Any amount that needs to be adjusted is to be adjusted by taking into account the Consumer Price Index for Saskatchewan as published monthly by Statistics Canada.
• If a writ is issued in one year and the polling day is in the next year, the adjusted amount for any item related to the election is the adjusted amount for the year in which the writ was issued.
• As soon as is practicable after the beginning of each year, the Chief Electoral Officer must:
• calculate the adjusted amounts for that year;
  
  
• publish in the Gazette a notice of the adjusted amounts; and
  
  
• deliver to each registered political party a written notice of the adjusted amounts.
  
  

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.

Readjustment of spending limits [E.A., s. 204(2)-(4)]

• Before the end of the nomination period for the election the Chief Electoral Officer must establish the applicable amounts for the election by:
• determining the ratio between the Consumer Price Index at the end of that time period and the Consumer Price Index at the time the election was called; and
  
  
• applying the ratio to adjust the amounts under the Act.
  
  
• The Chief Electoral Officer must have notice of adjusted amounts published in the Gazette, and give notice of them to the candidates in the election, the registered political parties represented by those candidates and the registered constituency associations for the electoral district.
• For the purpose of making an adjustment, the Chief Electoral Officer has the discretion to determine whether to use a Consumer Price Index prepared by the director under the British Columbia Statistics Act or published by Statistics Canada under the Statistics Act (Canada) and to determine which Consumer Price Index is applicable for a particular time.
  
  

Definition [E.A., s. 393(a)]

• Election expenses includes goods and services used in the election period, whether purchased or received as a contribution and, if purchased, regardless of when payment is made or due.

Limit for political parties

• N/A

Limit for candidates

• N/A

Readjustment of spending limits

• 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.

Readjustment of spending limits

• 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.

Readjustment of spending limits

• N/A