Regulated political entities

The political financing regime regulates the way in which political entities at the federal level obtain resources, spend money, and report their transactions.

Six political entities are covered by the regime: political parties, electoral district associations, candidates, nomination contestants, leadership contestants, and third parties.

Political parties

As defined by the Canada Elections Act (CEA), a political party must have as one of its fundamental purposes to 'participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election'.

In order to be eligible for registration, a party must also have a minimum of at least 250 members (who are electors), three officers and a leader. An eligible party may become registered if it supports at least one candidate in a by-election or general election.

A party that registers with Elections Canada receives these key benefits, among others:

• has its name appear on the ballot with its candidates
• can issue tax receipts for contributions
• can access voter lists for electoral districts where it runs candidates
• may be eligible for a partial reimbursement of its election expenses and accessibility expenses

See the list of registered political parties

More information on political parties

Electoral district associations

An electoral district association is a group of party members in a particular electoral district. It must register with Elections Canada to perform these key activities, among others:

• accept contributions and issue tax receipts
• transfer resources to the registered party and affiliated candidates

A registered party can have only one registered association in each electoral district. Not all parties have associations and some parties have a limited number.

More information on electoral district associations

Nomination contestants

A nomination contestant is someone who runs in a registered party's or registered electoral district association's nomination contest in an electoral district to be selected as a candidate for the next election.

Nomination contests are not mandatory, and the results are non‑binding on the party or association under the CEA. It is ultimately up to parties to decide who their candidates are and how they are selected.

Elections Canada's role in nomination contests is limited, and it is exclusive to political financing. The agency does not administer any aspects of a contest. There is no advance reporting of nomination contests or contestants to Elections Canada.

Within 30 days after the contest, the party or association that held it must file a report with the contest dates, the contact information of nomination contestants, and the winner's name. Elections Canada uses the information to communicate with contestants about reporting obligations, deadlines and extensions.

A contestant's financial return is usually due four months after the contest, unless the end date of the contest occurs during an election or within 30 days of the start of an election.

Search the Nomination Contestants database

More information on nomination contests

Candidates

Most Canadian citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to run for election to the House of Commons. There are a few exceptions, such as people convicted of serious election offences or who failed to file a mandatory document (e.g. financial return and related documents) for a previous federal election.

A candidate can run for election in only one electoral district per election. They do not have to live in that district. They can run for a party that endorses them in writing to Elections Canada or as an independent or non-affiliated candidate.^{footnote 1}

Candidates must have their candidacy confirmed by the Elections Canada returning officer in the electoral district where they plan to run. This can be done from the day the election is called until the Monday three weeks before election day.

More information on candidates

Leadership contestants

A leadership contestant is someone who runs in a registered party's leadership contest to select the party leader.

Leadership contests are not mandatory, and the results are non-binding on the party under the Canada Elections Act. It is ultimately up to parties to decide who their leader is and how they are selected.

Most leadership contest rules are set by the party, such as who can run, who can vote, entrance fees and spending limits. Some rules are set by the CEA, such as contribution limits and financial reporting obligations.

The party must inform Elections Canada that a leadership contest is happening. Leadership contestants have to register with Elections Canada, and they can do so only with the party's approval.

Search the leadership contest database

More information on leadership contestants

Third parties

A third party is a person or a group that wants to influence an election, other than a registered party, an electoral district association or a candidate. They do not seek to be elected themselves but may support certain political parties or candidates.

Third parties must register with Elections Canada immediately after conducting regulated activities with combined expenses of $500 or more in a pre-election period, starting on June 30 in the year of a fixed-date general election and ending the day before the election is called, or $500 or more in an election period. Regulated activities are partisan advertising, election advertising, partisan activities and election surveys, as defined by the CEA.

Only the following are eligible to register as a third party:

• an individual who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or someone who lives in Canada
• a corporation carrying on business in Canada, as long as it is not a foreign third party as defined in the CEA
• a group, if a person responsible for the group is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or lives in Canada

Foreign third parties cannot register and cannot incur expenses for regulated activities.

Search the database of registered third parties

More information on third parties

Footnote

Back to footnote ¹ A candidate who indicates "independent" in the political affiliation section of their nomination paper will have "Independent" appear under their name on the ballot. If they leave the section blank, they will simply have dashes under their name.