Financing Rules for Authorized Participants
In this section, an authorized participant for a recall petition refers to the applicant and the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) who is the subject of the petition. The Chief Electoral Officer must approve the petition application before the applicant or MLA named in the petition can raise and spend funds to promote or oppose the petition. Each authorized participant must appoint a chief financial officer (participant cannot be their own chief financial officer). Chief financial officers are responsible for tracking and reporting all financial activities.
This page provides basic information for authorized participants and their chief financial officers on raising and spending funds related to an approved recall petition. For advertising guidelines click here.
Note: In the case of a recall vote, click here for more information.
Contributions
Authorized participants can accept contributions during the petition canvassing period, starting on the date the Chief Electoral Officer issues the recall petition, and ending on the date the recall petition is submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer or when the 60-day canvassing period expires, whichever is earlier.
Authorized participants can only accept contributions from persons ordinarily resident in Alberta and within the electoral division. Contributions can be money or in-kind donations of goods or services. The maximum an authorized participant can receive from any given contributor is $4,600, less any contributions the person may make to any other authorized participant during that canvassing period. The rules also apply to authorized participants who self-fund.
The authorized participant’s 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 authorized participants cannot be claimed for income tax credits.
Click here for more information on contributions and receipts.
Fundraising Events
An authorized participant, or any person acting on their behalf, can hold events and activities during the canvassing period, to raise funds related to the recall 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 authorized participant’s financial report.
Click here for more information on fundraising events.
Expense Limits
Authorized participants can only spend funds during the petition canvassing period, starting when the Chief Electoral Officer issues the recall petition, and ending on the date the recall petition is submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer or when the 60-day canvassing period expires, whichever is earlier.
A spending limit of $26,400 applies to “recall petition expenses” which are any property, goods or services used, distributed or consumed to directly promote the petition during the canvassing period. Examples include the production of recall advertising; the transmission, distribution, broadcast or publication of recall 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.
Click here for more information on expense limits.
Filing Deadlines
Authorized participants must disclose their financial activities, including filing nil reports (no financial activity) if applicable, to Elections Alberta. A recall petition expense limit report consisting of a financial statement, contribution report, expenses report, and supporting information and documentation must be filed within 30 days after the petition submission date or within 30 days after the petition canvassing period expires, whichever is earlier. Automatic late filing fees apply for failure to file the financial report on time.
Click here for more information on filing deadlines.
Financial Reporting
View financial information for authorized participants.
View Financial Reporting Website
Online Financial System (OFS)
Authorized participants 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 report.
Contact us for access and login queries.