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Political Financing Handbook for Registered Parties and Chief Agents (EC 20231) – June 2016 – Archived Content

This document is Elections Canada's archived guideline OGI 2016-04 and is no longer in effect.

An updated version of this document is available in Tools for Political Parties.

Tables and Reminders

The tables and reminders in this section are quick reference tools for the use of registered parties, chief agents and registered agents.

The section contains the following:

Limits on contributions, loans and loan guarantees

Limits on Contributions, loans and loan guarantees
Political entity 2016 annual limit Limit per election called between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2016
To each registered party $1,525* n/a
In total to all the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of each registered party $1,525* n/a
In total to all leadership contestants in a particular contest $1,525* n/a
To each independent candidate n/a $1,525*

Notes:

  • The contribution limits apply to: total contributions, the unpaid balance of loans made during the contribution period and 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.
  • A nomination contestant is permitted to give an additional $1,000 in total per contest in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to his or her own campaign.
  • A candidate is permitted to give a total of $5,000 in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to his or her campaign.
  • A candidate is also permitted to give an additional $1,525* in total per year in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to other candidates, registered associations and nomination contestants of each party. (This includes contributions to the registered association in the candidate's electoral district and contributions to the candidate's own nomination campaign.)
  • A leadership contestant is permitted to give a total of $25,000 in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to his or her campaign.
  • A leadership contestant is also permitted to give an additional $1,525* in total per year in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to other leadership contestants.

* The limits will increase by $25 on January 1st in each subsequent year.

Transfers – types and rules

This table shows the allowable monetary and non-monetary transfers between related registered political entities.

FROM TO
Nomination Contestant Leadership Contestant Candidate Registered Electoral District Association Registered Party
Monetary Non- monetary Monetary Non- monetary Monetary Non- monetary Monetary Non- monetary Monetary Non- monetary
Nomination Contestant No No No No Yes1 No Yes2 No Yes No
Leadership Contestant No No No No No No Yes No Yes No
Candidate Yes3 Yes3 No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Registered Electoral District Association No Yes4 No Yes4 Yes7 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Registered Party No Yes4 No5 Yes4 Yes7 Yes Yes6 Yes6 N/A N/A

1 A nomination contestant may transfer funds (but not property or services) to a candidate of the same party in the electoral district in which the nomination contest was held.

2 A nomination contestant can only transfer funds to the registered electoral district association that held the nomination contest.

3 Candidates may transfer property, services and funds to their own nomination contestant campaign for the same election.

4 Non-monetary transfers must be offered equally to all contestants.

5 Directed contributions are the only exception: they may be transferred to the leadership contestant.

6 Registered parties may transfer property, services and funds to electoral district associations, whether registered or not.

7 Monetary transfers other than trust funds are allowed. After election day, monetary transfers are allowed only to pay claims and loans related to the candidate's campaign.

Note: Independent candidates may not send or accept transfers of funds, property or services to or from other political entities.

Reporting requirements

Reporting requirements

Reporting requirements
Text version of "Reporting requirements" diagram

* Required if the candidates endorsed by the party received at least 2% of the valid votes cast at the most recent general election, or 5% of the valid votes cast in the electoral districts where the party endorsed a candidate.

Filing deadline extensions

Registered party reports – extension requests
Document to submit Extension from Elections Canada Additional extension from Elections Canada Extension from a judge
Registered Party Financial Transactions Annual Return Yes No Yes
Registered Party Return in Respect of General Election Expenses Yes No Yes
Corrected or revised Registered Party Financial Transactions Annual Return requested by the registered party Yes Yes No
Corrected or revised Registered Party Return in Respect of General Election Expenses requested by the registered party Yes Yes No
Corrected or revised Registered Party Financial Transactions Annual Return requested by Elections Canada No No No*
Corrected or revised Registered Party Return in Respect of General Election Expenses requested by Elections Canada No No No*

* Corrections or revisions requested by Elections Canada are not eligible for extensions and must be filed within the specified period. However, the chief agent can apply to a judge to be relieved of the obligation of complying with the request.