2025 CCSD By-election: third party advertising
Third party advertisers during the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) By‑election must follow the rules in the Local Authorities Election Act Part 8.
Who is a third party advertiser?
A third party advertiser (TPA) can be:
- an individual,
- a corporation, or
- a group, and
- does not include a candidate.
A third party advertiser promotes or opposes a candidate's election during the election advertising period.
Advertising period
The 2025 CCSD By‑election advertising period is:
Oct. 24, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025
When should a third party advertiser register?
Third parties should register with Elections Calgary when they have:
- spent (or plan to spend) $1,000 or more for election advertising,
- accepted (or plan to accept) contributions of $1,000 or more, or
- advertised or plan to advertise during the election advertising period.
Contributions and expenses
What is considered a contribution?
Advertising contributions include any money and non-monetary contributions (i.e.,properties, goods or services) for the benefit of the third party. See the Local Authorities Election Act 162(1)(b) for the complete definition of advertisingcontributions.
A TPA must issue a receipt for every election advertising contribution that includes the following information:
- date of contribution;
- name of contributor;
- address of contributor; and
- amount contributed.
What is the contribution limit?
The maximum amount allowed per contributor is $5,000 across all third party advertisers during the election advertising period.
Who can contribute?
Only Alberta residents and Alberta trade unions, employee organizations and corporations that do business in Alberta may contribute to a third party advertiser. You, or your representative, are responsible for informing prospective contributors ofthe limits and restrictions for contributing. Contributors are responsible for ensuring that they are eligible and that they do not exceed their contribution limits.
Who cannot contribute
The following shall not make an election advertising contribution:
- an individual ordinarily resident outside Alberta;
- a prohibited corporation as defined in the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act,
- a trade union or employee organization that is not an Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization;
- a registered charity;
- a group of which any member of the group is ineligible under clause (a), (b) or (c).
What is considered an expense?
Advertising expense is any expense incurred in relation to the production andtransmission of an election advertising message. See section 162(1)(c) of the Local Authorities Election Act for the complete definition of advertising expenses.
What is the expense limit?
Expense limits are outlined in the Expense Limit Regulation (ELR) which comes into force Oct. 31, 2024.
Expense limits during the election advertising period: Third party advertisers are permitted to spend $0.50 per person based on the population of the municipality during the election advertising period.
All election advertising expenses must be paid from the TPA's advertising account.
Every TPA must appoint a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and all expenses must be authorized by the CFO or their delegate.
All election advertising expenses must be recorded in the advertising return.
What are the disclosure requirements?
All registered third party advertisers for the CCSD by-election must file:
- Form 28 Third Party Advertising Contribution Statement, and
- an advertising return,
on or before the deadline of June 2, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
Complete Form 28
Third party advertising contribution statement including:
Total amount of contributions of $250.00 or less.
Total amount of contributions of $250.01 and greater.
Itemized list of contributions of $250.01 and greater, including:
- Contributor’s full name (first and last name, corporation, trade union or employee organization)
- Contributor’s address (address, city, province, and postal code)
- Contribution amount
- Date of contribution
Form will be added here when available.
Provide an election advertising return
The Chief Financial Officer of a registered third party advertiser must file an election advertising return including:
- A financial statement.
- An election advertising expense limit report relating to third party advertising expenses in relation to election advertising.
- A list of the time and place of broadcast or publication of the advertisements.
- Original bill, voucher or receipt for any election advertising expense of more than $50.
- Any supporting information and documents relating to the election advertising return.
How to handle advertising account funds
A third party advertiser may:
Continue to hold funds to be used in the next election advertising period
OR
Decide not to use the funds for the next election advertising period, in which case the funds must be either:
- Transferred to another registered third party advertiser.
- Donated to a registered charity.
- Returned to the contributors.
- Paid to The City of Calgary.
Submit disclosure statements to Elections Calgary
File your disclosure statement with original signatures and documents. Emails and scanned documents will not be accepted. Retain a copy for your own records.
Elections Calgary must receive the disclosure statement by the deadline of June 2, 2025. Allow for mailing time. Mailing dates or postmarks do not qualify as meeting legislative deadlines.
Submit the statement to the Elections Calgary office in-person or by mail or courier. For addresses, contact Elections Calgary.
Maintaining records
All TPAs must retain all records for a period of three years following the deadline to file according to the Section 185 of the Local Authorities Election Act.
Note: Information on this website is provided for reference only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. All political participants including candidates, local political parties, slates and third party advertisers are subject to further requirements. Political participants should refer to the Local Authorities Election Act and associated regulations and obtain legal advice regarding the full extent of their obligations.