Site MenuTranscript of Video on Limits on Contributions, Loans and Loan Guarantees
The Canada Elections Act imposes a limit on political contributions. An individual can donate up to that limit in four separate categories.
The limit applies not only to total contributions, but to the unpaid balance of loans made during the contribution period and to the amount of any loan guarantees made during the contribution period that an individual is still liable for. The sum of these three amounts cannot at any time exceed the contribution limit.
Let's see how the limit applies to the four separate categories of contributions.
An individual can give up to the limit in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to each registered party.
The same individual can also give a combined total up to the limit in contributions, loans, and loan guarantees to the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of each registered party.
If a leadership contest is called, the same individual can give a combined total up to the limit in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to all leadership contestants in a particular contest.
And finally, the same individual can give up to the limit in contributions, loans and loan guarantees per election to each independent candidate.
Note that in the case of independent candidates, the limit is per election rather than per year.
The contribution limit will increase by $25 on January 1st in each subsequent year.
While these are the basic rules, there are some exceptions to the limits on contributions. We will discuss those in another module.