Pre-election period registration requirements

You are considered a third party and are required to register with Elections Canada at the beginning of the pre-election period if:

• You fall into one of these categories:
  • An individual who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or resides in Canada
  • A corporation incorporated in Canada, or if it carries on business in Canada²; or
  • A group, if the person responsible for the group is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or resides in Canada
• You are not:
  • a registered party
  • an eligible party
  • a registered electoral association
  • a potential candidate³
  • a nomination contestant
• You incurred expenses totalling $500 or more for regulated activities that take place during the pre-election period.

Return to source of ² A foreign corporation cannot register as a third party if, during the pre–election period, its only activity in Canada is to influence electors to vote or refrain from voting, either in general or for a particular candidate or registered party.

Return to source of ³ In defining who is not a third party, a potential candidate means someone who is selected in a nomination contest, is deemed to be a candidate because they have conducted political financing transactions, or has the support of a political party to be a candidate of that party.