Local political parties and slates contributions and expenses

Registered local political parties and slates must follow the rules in the Local Political Parties and Slates Regulation (The Regulation).

Slates may not accept financial contributions or have an account at a financial institution.

The candidate members of a registered slate must make sure the slate follows its obligations under The Regulation.

Expenses incurred by slates

If a slate pays for shared campaign expenses on behalf of its candidates, the total amount of those expenses must be allocated equally among the candidates and included in their campaign expenses.

No slate and no person acting for a slate shall incur shared campaign expenses in the first two years of a campaign period in respect of a general election.

Records of shared campaign expenses that are incurred and allocated to candidate members must be kept for three years after the election they relate to.

No local political party or any person acting on behalf of a local political party shall accept a contribution or incur a campaign expense unless the local political party is registered with Elections Calgary.

Keep finances separate from endorsed candidates

A registered local political party must:

• collect contributions separately from its endorsed candidates,
• incur campaign expenses separately from its endorsed candidates, and
• maintain separate organization financing.

Set up a campaign account

A local political party must open a campaign account at a financial institution once total contributions exceed $1,000. All contributions must be deposited into the campaign account.

Money in the account can only be used to pay campaign expenses.

Contributions can only be accepted from eligible contributors.

Eligible contributors

• Alberta residents
• Alberta trade unions or Alberta employee organizations
• Corporations other than a prohibited organization.

Contributors are responsible for ensuring that they are eligible and that they do not exceed their contribution limits.

Every registered local political party and anyone acting for them must make every reasonable effort to inform potential contributors about the rules in The Regulation regarding contributions.

Ineligible contributors

No prohibited organization as defined in section 147.1(1)(f) Local Authorities Election Act, individual ordinarily resident outside Alberta or trade union or employee organization other than an Alberta trade union or an Alberta employee organization shall make a contribution to a registered local political party.

What is considered a contribution?

A contribution is any money, personal property, real property or service that is provided to or for the benefit of your election campaign. Any service provided by an individual who volunteers their time or service and receives no direct or indirect compensation is not considered a contribution.

What are the contribution limits for a registered local political party?

The maximum amount allowed per contributor is $5,000 per year to all registered local political parties.

Contribution receipts

For every contribution a local political party must issue a receipt that includes:

• date of contribution;
• name of the individual contributor;
• address of individual contributor; and
• amount contributed.

Registered local political parties must keep records of contributions and campaign expenses for a period of three years following the election day to which they relate.

Anonymous and unauthorized contributions

Anonymous contributions or any contributions in violation of The Regulation accepted by a local political party or person acting on its behalf must not be used or expended, and the registered local political party or the person acting on its behalf must:

• Return the contribution to the contributor if they can be identified, or
• If the contributor cannot be identified, give an amount equal to the contribution to a registered charity or to The City of Calgary.

What is considered an expense?

A campaign expense is any expense incurred, or non-monetary contribution received that is used to directly promote or oppose a candidate during a campaign period. Examples of campaign expenses include, but are not limited to:

• cost of advertising or promotional materials; 
• the distribution, broadcast or publication of advertising or promotional material in any media or by any other means during a campaign period; 
• the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of a person for the persons services as a chief financial officer or in any other capacity (e.g., fees for a chief financial officer); 
• fees to secure a meeting place; 
• costs to conduct surveys or research during a campaign period; 
• cost of a review engagement.

Expense limits for election years

 During the campaign period of an election year, (e.g. Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025) registered local political parties may spend up to $1 per person based on the average population of the wards in the municipality, for each ward in which the local political party has endorsed candidates running.

Expense limits for non-election years

In the year before a general election, (e.g. Oct. 31 to Dec. 31, 2024) registered local political parties may spend up to $0.50 per person based on the average population of all wards in the municipality, for each ward in which the party has candidates who have committed to run for election as of November 1.

No registered local political party and no person acting on its behalf shall incur campaign expenses in the first two years of a campaign period in respect of a general election. For example, for the next general election in 2029, a local political party will not be able to incur campaign expenses between Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027.

Receipts for expenses

A local political party must obtain a receipt for every expense incurred.

A fund-raising function includes any social function held for the purpose of raising funds for a registered local political party for an election.

The gross income from any fund-raising function must be recorded by the registered local political party on whose behalf the function was held.

If a fund-raising function is held though the sale of tickets, the following rules around contributions must be followed:

• If the ticket cost is $50 or less, it is not considered to be a contribution unless the individual who pays the charge specifically requests that it be considered as part of their contribution. If the individual requests this, half of the amount is permitted as expenses and half is considered a contribution. The local political party may still choose to issue a receipt and keep a record of the transaction even if the amount is not considered a contribution.
• If the ticket cost is more than $50, but less than $100, $25 is permitted for expenses and the balance is to be considered a contribution, and;
• If the ticket cost is more than $100, 25% of the amount is permitted for expenses and the balance is considered to be a contribution.

The price paid at a fund-raising function in excess of the fair market value at the time for goods and services received is considered to be a contribution to the registered local political party.

The registered local political party or a person acting on their behalf must issue a receipt for every contribution received. For any contributions over $50, the name and address and the amount of the contribution must be recorded as that information is to be included in the campaign disclosure statements.