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Political Financing Handbook for Nomination Contestants and Financial Agents (EC 20182) –DRAFT– June 2021

This document is Elections Canada's draft guideline OGI 2021-06.

Click on the link for the latest Political Financing Handbook for Nomination Contestants and Financial Agents.

About This Document

Introduction to the handbook

This handbook is designed to help nomination contestants and their financial agents in the financial administration of the nomination contestant's campaign.

This document is a general guideline issued pursuant to section 16.1 of the Canada Elections Act. It is provided for information and is not intended to replace the Act.

Elections Canada will review the contents of this handbook on a regular basis and make updates as required.

Note: The term "individual" used in this handbook refers to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

What's new in this release?

Release Where Title Summary
June 2021 All n/a Contribution limits for 2021 updated in tables and examples.
Chapter 1 Important reminders for nomination contestants and their financial agents Added a reminder about transactions that must go through the campaign bank account. Corrected to state that anyone can pay the contestant’s personal or litigation expenses.
Chapter 2 Volunteer labour Content added from OGI 2019-01, Volunteer Labour, about conditional compensation and capital assets as gifts. New content added on supporting documents. Examples added and amended. Standardized with compensation of workers in Chapter 8.
Ineligible contributions New example of an ineligible contribution received in exchange for the purchase of goods.
Chapter 3 Types of loans Clarified that loans should have a term ending no later than three years after the selection date.
Chapter 4 Party memberships purchased by the nomination contestant’s campaign New section on the practice of nomination campaigns buying party memberships for supporters.
Irregular transfers New section on consequences of irregular transfers, as per OGI 2020-07, Irregular Transfers Between Affiliated Political Entities.
Chapter 6 Regulated fundraising events Clarified when a leadership contestant ceases to be a prominent attendee. New content added on virtual events, as per OGI 2020-06, Regulated Fundraising Events.
Chapter 7 Who can incur expenses? Added a definition of what it means to incur an expense.
Chapter 8 Advertising expenses Added a definition of partisan advertising and clarified that influencer advertising is not subject to online platform registry requirements.
Mass text messaging New section on telecommunications rules for text messages.
Rental of a campaign office Added example of installation expenses and prorated expenses.
Cell phones New section on nomination contest expenses related to personal and campaign cell phones.
Campaign workers and related expenses New position that return trips after the contest period may be nomination contest expenses. New details on nomination contest expenses related to campaign workers. Standardized with volunteer labour in Chapter 2.
High-profile campaigners and invited guests New section on nomination contest expenses related to the participation of high-profile campaigners.
Chapter 9 Childcare Added examples of childcare expenses that may and may not be claimed as personal expenses.
Chapter 10 Use of travel reward points Content added on nomination contestants using reward points for campaign travel.
Meals and incidentals Clarified that a contestant’s per diem can be a nomination contest expense if it is part of their compensation.
Chapter 12 Auditor’s fees Deleted the statement that campaigns mistakenly filing an auditor’s report are never eligible for a subsidy.
Replacement or repair of damaged property New section on excluding some expenses for damaged property from nomination contest expenses.
Chapter 13 Submitting reports to Elections Canada New process added for submitting reports online.
Requesting a filing deadline extension Content added on requesting an extension from a judge.

Contact information

Internet

elections.ca

Telephone

Political Entities Support Network
1-800-486-6563

Regular Hours
Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time)

Elections Canada General Enquiries
1-800-463-6868

Fax

Political Financing
1-888-523-9333 (toll-free)
1-819-939-1803

Mail

Elections Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M6

Email

Political Financing Enquiries
political.financing@elections.ca

Electronic Financial Return (EFR)—Enquiries and Submissions
efr-rfe@elections.ca