The Chief Electoral Officer may also establish categories of personal expenses and fix maximum amounts that may be incurred by candidates in each category. However, at the time of writing, no personal expense limits appear to exist. Electoral District Associations During the election period, electoral district associations of registered parties are prohibited from transmitting election advertising or incurring any expenses for election advertising. Electoral district associations are therefore not subject to spending limits. Regulation of Contributions to Registered Parties, Candidates, etc. The provisions discussed in this section apply to contributions to candidates, registered political parties, registered electoral district associations, nomination contestants, and leadership contestants. a) Definition of “contribution” Under the CEA, a can be monetary or non-monetary and includes money “contribution” from a candidate’s own funds. Loans are also subject to source restrictions and count towards contribution limits. The outstanding amount of a loan cannot exceed an individual’s contribution limit when combined with any other contributions made by that individual. Transfers and loans between the party, its electoral district associations, and its candidates are not included under the definition of Thus, the CEA targets “contribution”. being transferred from the private to the political domain”, not transfers within “money the political domain. Other exclusions from the definition of include annual “contribution” party membership fees of $25 or less. However, the CEA expressly includes fees for party and leadership conventions within the definition of The CEA also clarifies “contribution.” that, if a candidate or party sells tickets to a campaign fundraising event, the amount of the contribution will be the difference between the price of the ticket and its fair market value. b) Source Restrictions Contributions must come from individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Similarly, loans are permitted only from certain financial institutions or from individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This means corporations, unions, and other non-natural legal persons cannot donate or make loans to a political party or candidate. However, these entities can make contributions to third-party campaigners for the purpose of election advertising, as discussed further below, or engage in third-party campaigning themselves. Attempts to conceal the identity of the source of a contribution are prohibited by section 368 of the CEA. Indirect contributions and loans are also prohibited, as source restrictions and contribution limits could otherwise be circumvented. This means an individual cannot
The Chief Electoral Officer may also establish categories of personal expenses and fix maximum amounts that may be incurred by candidates in each category. However, at the time of writing, no personal expense limits appear to exist. Electoral District Associations During the election period, electoral district associations of registered parties are prohibited from transmitting election advertising or incurring any expenses for election advertising. Electoral district associations are therefore not subject to spending limits. Regulation of Contributions to Registered Parties, Candidates, etc. The provisions discussed in this section apply to contributions to candidates, registered political parties, registered electoral district associations, nomination contestants, and leadership contestants. a) Definition of “contribution” Under the CEA, a “contribution” can be monetary or non-monetary and includes money from a candidate’s own funds. Loans are also subject to source restrictions and count towards contribution limits. The outstanding amount of a loan cannot exceed an individual’s contribution limit when combined with any other contributions made by that individual. Transfers and loans between the party, its electoral district associations, and its candidates are not included under the definition of “contribution”. Thus, the CEA targets “money being transferred from the private to the political domain”, not transfers within the political domain. Other exclusions from the definition of “contribution” include annual party membership fees of $25 or less. However, the CEA expressly includes fees for party and leadership conventions within the definition of “contribution.” The CEA also clarifies that, if a candidate or party sells tickets to a campaign fundraising event, the amount of the contribution will be the difference between the price of the ticket and its fair market value. b) Source Restrictions Contributions must come from individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Similarly, loans are permitted only from certain financial institutions or from individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. This means corporations, unions, and other non-natural legal persons cannot donate or make loans to a political party or candidate. However, these entities can make contributions to third-party campaigners for the purpose of election advertising, as discussed further below, or engage in third-party campaigning themselves. Attempts to conceal the identity of the source of a contribution are prohibited by section 368 of the CEA. Indirect contributions and loans are also prohibited, as source restrictions and contribution limits could otherwise be circumvented. This means an individual cannot
Ch.-13_April2018_v5.docx