Financing Rules for Proponents

The proponent for a citizen initiative petition is the applicant. The Chief Electoral Officer must publish a Notice of Initiative Petition before the proponent can raise and spend funds related to the petition. Each proponent must appoint a chief financial officer (proponent cannot be their own chief financial officer). Chief financial officers are responsible for tracking and reporting all financial activities.

A citizen initiative petition may be withdrawn at any time by the proponent by giving a written notice to the Chief Electoral Officer. If a proponent dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated, the proponent’s chief financial officer must deliver a written notice within 14 days confirming the replacement proponent and replacement chief financial officer (if applicable), or the petition will be withdrawn by the Chief Electoral Officer.

This page provides basic information for proponents and their chief financial officers on raising and spending funds related to an approved citizen initiative petition. For advertising guidelines see the Advertising Guidelines for Political Participants.

Online Financial System

Contributions

Through their chief financial officer, proponents can accept contributions during the citizen initiative petition period, starting on the date the Chief Electoral Officer publishes a Notice of Initiative Petition, and ending on the date the signature sheets are submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer or when the citizen initiative petition signing period expires, whichever is earlier.

Contributions can only be accepted from individuals ordinarily resident in Alberta, an Alberta corporation other than a prohibited corporation, or an Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization. Contributions can be money or in-kind donations of goods or services. The maximum a proponent can receive from any person or organization is $4,600 during the initiative petition period. The rules also apply to proponents who self-fund.

The chief financial officer is responsible for depositing contributions into the appropriate account on record with Elections Alberta, reporting contributions to Elections Alberta, and issuing official contribution receipts to contributors. Contributions made to proponents cannot be claimed for income tax credits.

Get more information on contributions and receipts.

Fundraising Events

A proponent, or any person acting on their behalf, can hold events and activities during the citizen initiative petition period to raise funds related to the citizen initiative petition. Examples of fundraising events include a luncheon, meet & greet, rally, golf tournament, silent auction, etc. Contribution rules limit who can pay to attend events and who can donate/bid at a silent auction. All fundraising revenues and expenses must be reported on the proponent’s financial report.

Get more information on fundraising events.

Expenses

Through their chief financial officer, proponents can incur expenses during the citizen initiative petition period, starting on the date the Chief Electoral Officer publishes a Notice of Initiative Petition, and ending on the date the signature sheets are submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer or when the signature signing period expires, whichever is earlier.

A spending limit of $572,200 applies to initiative petition expenses which are defined as any property, goods, or services used, distributed, or consumed to directly promote the petition during the citizen initiative petition period. Examples include:

the production of citizen initiative petition advertising;
the transmission, distribution, broadcast or publication of citizen initiative petition advertising in any media;
the conduct or sponsorship of opinion surveys or other surveys or research;
the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of an individual for their services as a chief financial officer or in any other capacity;
securing a meeting space; and
expenses for canvassers.

Other expenses that must be reported but are not subject to the spending limit include fees charged by the Chief Electoral Officer, costs for producing copies of the petition, and legal or accounting services provided for compliance with the Act.

Filing Deadlines

Through their chief financial officer, proponents must disclose their financial activities to Elections Alberta, including filing nil reports (no financial activity) if applicable. A citizen initiative petition expense report consisting of a financial statement, contribution report, expenses report, and supporting information and documentation must be filed within 30 days after the signature sheet submission date or within 30 days after the petition signing period expires, whichever is earlier, even if the petition is withdrawn or terminated. Audited financial statements are required within six months after the citizen initiative petition period if the citizen initiative petition expenses exceed $350,000. Automatic late filing fees apply for failure to file the financial report on time.

Get more information on filing deadlines.

Financial Reporting

Proponents are required to disclose, through their chief financial officer, the information as listed above and these will be reported on the Elections Alberta website.

Online Financial System (OFS)

Proponents and their 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 the financial reports.