Expense Limits
The Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act (EFCDA) applies limits on the amount that registered political participants can spend during an electoral event. Penalties apply for over-spending or attempting to evade spending limits.
Political participants are not subject to spending limits outside of an election period.
Spending limits apply to election expenses, which are the use, distribution, or consumption of property, goods, or services for the participant’s promotion or for opposing other participants. Examples of election expenses include advertising in all formats, advertising production, events, polling including surveys and research, honoraria and salaries, office and technology etc.
Limits per political participant are summarized below.
Terms used:
- Writ Day is the date a Writ of Election is issued by the Chief Electoral Officer
- Date of Official Call is the start date of a contest held by a political party
- Order Issue Date is the date an Order is issued by the Lieutenant Governor
Participant | Election Expense Limit | Limit Applies To |
---|---|---|
Political Party | $2,121,368 | General Election Period – Writ Day to Election Day |
$24,396 per electoral division | By-Election Period – Writ Day to Election Day | |
$106,068 per Senate candidate | Senate Election Period – Writ Day to Election Day | |
Constituency Association | N/A – but must report election expenses incurred on behalf of a candidate or party, which count toward the party’s or candidate’s expense limit | N/A |
Candidate | $53,034 | Election Period – Writ Day to Election Day |
Senate Candidate | $530,342 | Senate Election Period – Writ Day to Election Day |
Nomination Contestant | $10,607 | Nomination Contest Period – Date of Official Call to Selection Date |
Leadership Contestant | N/A – no expense limit | Leadership Contest Period – Date of Official Call to Vote Date |
Political TPA | N/A – cannot advertise during an election | Political Advertising Period – N/A |
Election TPA | General Election Limit $159,103 from December 1st to the day before writ‑day plus $150,103 from writ day to election day |
Election Advertising Period – December 1 to the day before Writ Day (“Pre-Writ Period”) plus Writ Day to Election Day (“Election Period”) |
By-Election Limit $3,182 per electoral division |
Election Advertising Period – Writ Day to Election Day | |
Senate TPA | $31,821 | Senate election held in conjunction with a municipal election – Senate election advertising period starts on May 1st and ends on Election Day. |
Senate election held in conjunction with a provincial election, or on a date fixed by an order in council – Senate election advertising period commences at the beginning of the campaign period for that election and ends on Election Day. | ||
Referendum TPA | $530,342 | Referendum Advertising Period – Order Issue date to Election Day |