Election TPAs

An Election Third Party Advertiser engages in election advertising to promote or oppose, or take a position on an issue associated with, a registered party or candidate in an MLA election.

Any eligible person, corporation, trade union, or group that engages in election advertising is required to register with Elections Alberta when it has incurred or plans to incur election advertising expenses of $1,000 or more, or has accepted or plans to accept election advertising contributions of $1,000 or more.

An Election TPA can only advertise during an election advertising period.

Registered Election TPAs

Last Updated: August 9, 2024

Deregistered Election TPAs

Last Updated: August 9, 2024

Contributions

Through their chief financial officer, a registered Election TPA can accept advertising contributions at any time from the following persons or entities:

• persons ordinarily resident in Alberta,
• corporations carrying on business in Alberta and are not prohibited corporations, and
• Alberta trade unions, and
• Alberta employee organizations.

Contributions are defined as any money or in-kind donations of real property, goods, or services.

The maximum contribution an Election TPA’s chief financial officer  can accept from an eligible contributor is $5,000 per year, less any other contributions the contributor may make to other registered Election TPAs and to any registered Political TPAs in the year.

The Election TPA’s chief financial officer is responsible for reporting contributions to Elections Alberta and issuing official contribution receipts to contributors.

Get more information on contributions.

Fundraising Functions

A registered Election TPA can hold events and activities to raise funds for election advertising.

Examples of fundraising events and activities include luncheons, meet & greet events, rallies, golf tournaments, and auctions. Contribution rules limit who can pay to attend events and who can donate/bid for auctions.

Get more information on fundraising functions.

Expenses

A registered Election TPA can spend a maximum of $1,000,000 on advertising expenses during the election advertising period for a general election: $500,000 from the fourth Monday in May to the day before the Writ of Election, and $500,000 from the Writ of Election until the end of Election Day.

A registered Election TPA can spend a maximum of $10,000 per electoral division. This limit applies for general elections and by-elections.

• Administration and office costs,
• Honoraria and salaries,
• Paid advertising,
• Polling and research,
• Production costs,
• Promotional materials,
• Public relations, and
• Technology costs.

Get more information on expenses.

Filing Deadlines and Audit Requirements

Through their chief financial officer, registered Election TPAs must disclose the details of their financial activities to Elections Alberta through the submission of weekly contribution reports during an election advertising period and filing election advertising reports. The reports are required regardless of the level of financial activity, including nil activity if applicable, and are due as follows:

• weekly contribution reports due each Thursday of the election advertising period,
• election advertising report due 6 months after Election Day, consisting of a financial statement, contribution report, expense report, and supporting documentation, and
• annual financial statements due March 31^st each year if funds remain in the advertising account and/or the TPA has engaged in any fundraising activity outside the election advertising period.

In addition, independently audited financial statements are required to be filed if the Election TPA’s advertising expenses exceed $100,000.

An automatic late filing fee of $500 applies for missing a filing deadline.

Get more information on filing deadlines.

Financial Reporting and Online Financial System (OFS)

The Financial Reporting website contains registration and financial information for all registered Election TPAs.

Registered Election TPA chief financial officers are granted access to Elections Alberta’s secure Online Financial System (OFS) to report contributions, issue official contribution receipts to contributors, and submit financial reports.

Contact finance@elections.ab.ca with any questions.

Registered Political TPA chief financial officers are granted access to Elections Alberta’s secure Online Financial System (OFS) to report contributions, issue official contribution receipts to contributors, and submit financial reports.

Contact finance@elections.ab.ca with any questions.