ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT (RSA 2000 cE-2)
RSA 2000 cE-2
Alberta — Consolidated Statutes
© Published by Alberta King’s Printer Alberta King’s Printer Suite 700, Park Plaza 10611 - 98 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2P7 Phone: 780-427-4952 E-mail: kings-printer@gov.ab.ca Shop on-line at kings-printer.alberta.ca Province of Alberta Office Consolidation Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000
Chapter E-2 Current as of April 16, 2026 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT
Copyright and Permission Statement The Government of Alberta, through the Alberta King’s Printer, holds copyright for all Alberta legislation. Alberta King’s Printer permits any person to reproduce Alberta’s statutes and regulations without seeking permission and without charge, provided due diligence is exercised to ensure the accuracy of the materials produced, and copyright is acknowledged in the following format: © Alberta King’s Printer, 20__.* *The year of first publication of the legal materials is to be completed.
Note All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that it has no legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. Amendments Not in Force This consolidation incorporates only those amendments in force on the consolidation date shown on the cover. It does not include the following amendments: 2025 cP-25.5 s240 amends s1(1)(a.02). 2025 c10 s16 amends s1(1)(l)(i).
Regulations The following is a list of the regulations made under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act that are filed as Alberta Regulations under the Regulations Act Alta. Reg. Amendments Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act Prohibited Corporations ................................. 193/94 Excess Contribution Threshold ...................... 149/2025
1 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT
Chapter E-2 Table of Contents 1
Interpretation 1 . 1 Campaign expenses
Part 1 The Chief Electoral Officer 4 Duties of Chief Electoral Officer 5 Powers of Chief Electoral Officer 5 . 0 1 Chief Electoral Officer’s advice 5 . 2 Disclosure 5.3 Duty to provide doc ument or information 5.4 Duty to refer complaint s and allegations and to report acts or omissions
Part 2 Registration, Requirements and Records 6 Qualifications for registra tion of political parties 7 Registration of political parties 8 Registration of constituency associations 8 . 1 Registration of prospective candidate associations 9 Registration of candidates 9.01 Candidate deposit 9.1 Registration of third parties 9.2 Leadership contest and contestants 9.3 Registered party candidates 1 0 Cancellation of registration 10.1 Records 1 1 Access to documents
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Part 2.1 Registration of Successor Party 11.1 Application for registration of successor party 11.2 Registration for eligible successor parties 11.3 Effect of registration of successor party 11.4 Constituency associations 11.5 Transfers 11.6 Financial statements
Part 3 Contributions 1 2 Continuing use of campaign funds 12.2 Surpluses — leadership contestants 12.3 Surpluses — prospective candidate associations 1 3 E x e m p t i o n s 1 4 Deposit of contributions 15.1 Responsibility of contributors 1 6 Contributions prohibited 1 7 Limitation on contributions 1 8 Limitation re Alberta Senate Election Act 1 9 Excess contributions 20 Excess contributions re Senate election 21 Prohibition re Senate election 21.1 Anonymous and unauthor ized contributions 21.2 Contributions to predecessor party 2 2 Valuing contributions other than money 2 3 Fund-raising functions 23.1 Sale of merchandise 2 4 General collections 2 5 Annual membership fees
Part 4 Collection of Contributions 2 9 Chief financial officers 3 0 Duties of chief financial officers 3 1 Acceptance of contributions 3 2 Records of contributions 3 3 Receipts 3 4 Contributions not belonging to contributor 3 5 Prohibited contributions 3 6 Transfer of funds re elections and contests 3 7 Transfer of funds re Senate elections
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 3 3 8 Authorized transfers 39.2 Monetary claims against candidat e, nomination contestant or leadership contestant 39.3 Payment of late claim
Part 5 Loans and Guarantees 4 0 Borrowing 4 1 Guarantees
Part 5.1 Maximum Expense Limits 41.2 Election expense limit s — registered parties 41.3 Election expense limits — registered candidates 41.41 Activities by third parties 41.42 Collusion 41.43 Avoidance of expense limit 41.5 Inflation adjustment/indexing
Part 6 Financial Statements 4 2 Filing of annual financial statements 4 3 Filing of campaign return 43.02 Leadership contestant campaign return 43.1 Campaign deficits 43.2 Late filing fee 4 4 Effect of non-compliance
Part 6.1 Third Party Advertising 44.1
Definitions 44.11 Election advertising spending limit 44.2 Eligibility to make advertising contributions 44.201 Restrictions on advertising contributions and expenses 44.21 Payments made by third party 44.22 Deposit of advertising contributions 44.3 Additional rules for groups 44.31 Valuing contributions other than money 44.32 Fund-raising functions 44.33 Advertising contributions less than $50 44.4 Loans 44.5 Anonymous contributions and unauthorized contributions 44.51 Contributions not belonging to contributor
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 4 44.6 Receipts 44.7 Third party advertising expenses 44.8 Identification of third parties 44.81 Disclosure of contributions for election advertising 44.82 Disclosure of contributions for political advertising 44.9 Third party election advertising return 44.91 Audited financial statements 44.92 Disposition o f advertising account funds 44.93 Late filing fee 44.94 Application
Part 6.11 Third Party Advertising — Senate Elections 44.941
Definitions 44.942 Election advertising spending limit 44.943 Restrictions on advertising contributions and expenses 44.944 Payments made by third party 44.945 Deposit of advertising contributions 44.947 Valuing contributions other than money 44.948 Fund-raising functions 44.949 Advertising contributions less than $50 44.9491 Loans 44.9492 Anonymous contributions and unauthorized contributions 44.9493 Contributions not belonging to contributor 44.9494 Receipts 44.9495 Third party advertising expenses 44.9496 Identification of third parties 44.9497 Disclosure of advertising contributions 44.9498 Third party advertising return 44.9499 Audited financial statements 44.94991 Disposition o f advertising account funds 44.94992 Late filing fee
Part 6.12 Third Party Advertising — Referendum Act 44.94993
Definitions 44.94994 Referendum advertising spending limit 44.94995 Restrictions on referendum advertising contributions and expenses 44.94996 Payments made by third party 44.94997 Deposit of referendum advertising contributions 44.94999 Valuing contributions other than money
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 5 44.949991 Fund-raising functions 44.949992 Advertising contributions less than $50 44.949993 Loans 44.949994 Anonymous contributions and unauthorized contributions 44.949995 Contributions not belonging to contributor 44.949996 Receipts 44.949997 Third party referendum advertising expenses 44.949998 Identification of third parties 44.949999 Disclosure of referendum advertising contributions 44.9499991 Third party advertising return 44.9499992 Audited financial statements 44.9499993 Disposition of referendum advertising account funds 44.9499994 Late filing fee
Part 6.21 Deepfakes 44.9499995 Deepfakes
Part 6.3 Election Commissioner 44.95 Duties of Election Commissioner 44.951 Identification and investigation of excess contribution 44.96 Powers of Election Commissioner 44.97 Notice of investigation and conclusion 44.971 Powers re deepfakes
Part 7 Prohibitions, Offences and Prosecutions 44.98
Definitions 4 5 Obstruction 4 6 False documents 4 7 False statements 4 8 Failure to provide financial statements and returns 48.1 Prohibition — expenses more than maximum 48.11 Circumvention of expense limits 48.2 Failure to comply with directions 4 9 Offences by corporations, etc. 49.1 Third party election advertising offences 5 0 General offences 50.1 Contravention of compliance agreement 5 1 Penalties — transitional 51.01 Administrative penalties 51.02 Time limit
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 6 51.03 Appeal of administrative penalty 51.04 Compliance agreements 51.05 Notice of compliance agreement 51.06 Failure to comply 51.08 Application for injunction 51.1 Election Commissioner’s orders 5 2 Prosecution 5 3 Consent to prosecute 54 Judicial review
Part 7.1 Regulations 54.1 Regulations
Part 8 Transitional Provisions 55 Transitional — foundations 5 6 Transitional — existing unincorporated registered party 5 7 Transitional — registration of political parties HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:
Interpretation 1(1) In this Act, (a) “Alberta employee organization” means any organization that bargains collectively for employees in Alberta, and for the purposes of this Act all branches in Alberta of an employee organization are deemed to be one employee organization; (a.01) “Alberta trade union” means a trade union as defined by the Labour Relations Code, the Public Service Employee Relations Act or the Canada Labour Code (Canada) that holds bargaining rights for employees in Alberta, and for the purposes of this Act all locals of a trade union are deemed to be one trade union; (a.02) “audited financial statement” means a financial stateme nt that has been independently audited by a professional accounting firm registered under the Chartered Professional Accountants Act and authorized to perform an audit engagement;
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 7 (a.1) “by-election” means an e lection other than a general election; (a.2) “campaign expense” means a campaign expense described in
section 1.1; (b) “campaign period” means (
i) repealed 2021 c24 s5(2), (ii) in the case of a genera l election as defined in the Election Act, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the election and ending 2 months after election day, (iii) repealed 2021 c24 s5(2), (iii.1) in the case of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act held in conjunction with a general election as defined in the Election Act, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the election and ending 2 months after election day, (iii.2) in the case of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act held in conjunction with the general elections under the Local Authorities Election Act, the period from January 1 to December 31 in the year in which the election is held, (iii.3) in the case of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act held separately on a date provided for in an order under
section 5(1) of that Act, the period commencing on the date that the order under
section 5(1) of that Act is passed and ending 2 months after election day, (iv) in the case of a by-election, the period commencing with the issue of a writ for the by-election and ending 2 months after election day, and (
v) repealed 2025 c7 s7(2); (vi) in the case of a leadership contest, the period beginning on the date the leadership contestant is required to register under
section 9.2 and ending 2 months after the day on which a leadership contestant is selected to be the leader of the registered party; (c) “candidate” means
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 8 (
i) with respect to an election under the Election Act, a person (
A) who is endorsed as the ca ndidate of a registered party for the electoral division, or (
B) who, after the commencement of the campaign period, declares the person’s candidacy as an independent candidate at the election in the electoral division; (ii) with respect to an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act, a person (
A) who is endorsed as a candi date of a registered party for the purposes of that election, or (
B) who, after the commencement of the campaign period, declares the person’s candidacy as an independent candidate at the election; (d) “constituency association” with reference to an electoral division means the association or organization endorsed by a registered party or an elected independent member of the Legislative Assembly as the official association of that party or independent member in the electoral division; (e) “contribution” means, subject to subsection (5), and excep t where otherwise indicated, the provision of money, real property, goods or services, or the use of real property, goods or services, without compensation (
i) to a political party, constituency association, prospectiv e candidate association, candidate or leadership contestant, or (ii) for the benefit of a political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate, prospective candidate or leadership contestant with the consent of the person or entity receiving the benefit; (f) “election” means (
i) an election of a person as a member of the Legislative Assembly conducted under the Election Act, and (ii) an election of a person under the Alberta Senate Election Act; (f.01) “Election Commissioner” means the Election Commissioner as defined in the Election Act;
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 9 (f.02) “election day” means the day set pursuant to the Election Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Recall Act or the Referendum Act for voting at an election, a recall vote or a referendum, as the case may be; (f.03) “election expense” means , subject to
Part 5.1, an expense incurred or a non-monetary contribution accepted by any of the following to the extent that the expense or contribution is used during an election period to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader or a registered candidate: (
i) a registered party; (ii) a registered cons tituency association; (iii) a registered prospectiv e candidate association; (iv) a registered candidate; (f.1) “election period” means the period commencing the day th e writ of election is issued for an election and ending at the end of the election day; (g) “employee organization” means an organization, other than a trade union, that bargains collectively for employees; (g.1) “federal political party” has the same meaning as “polit ical party” in the Canada Elections Act (Canada); (h) “financial institution” means a bank, a treasury branch, a credit union, a loan corporation or a trust corporation; (i) “general election” means a g eneral election as defined in the Election Act and includes an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act; (i.01) “General Revenue Fund” h as the same meaning as in the Financial Administration Act; (i.1) “leadership contest” me ans the procedure by which a registered party selects a leader; (i.2) “leadership contestant” means a person who seeks the leadership of a registered party at a leadership contest called by that party for that purpose; (i.3) “leadership vote” means th e vote at which the leader of a registered party is selected;
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 10 (i.31) “local political party” has the same meaning as in the Local Authorities Election Act; (i.4) repealed 2025 c7 s7(2); (i.5) “nomination contestant” means a person seeking endorsement as the candidate of a registered party; (i.6) “permitted person or entity” means (
i) a person ordinarily resident in Alberta, (ii) a corporation carrying on business in Alberta that is not a prohibited corporation, or (iii) an Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization; (j) “person” means an individual; (j.1) “political party” means an organization, one of the purposes of which is to participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election; (
k) repealed 2021 c24 s5(2); (k.1) “predecessor party” means a party that has merged with one or more registered parties to form a successor party and whose registration has been cancelled under
section 11.3(c); (l) “prohibited corporation” means (
i) a Provincial corporation as defined in the Financial Administration Act, and includes a management body within the meaning of the Alberta Housing Act and a provincial health agency, a regional health authority, a provincial health corporation and a subsidiary health corporation under the Provincial Health Agencies Act, (ii) a municipality, (iii) a Metis settlement, (iv) a board of a school division under the Education Act, (
v) a public post-second ary institution under the Post-secondary Learning Act, (vi) repealed 2012 c5 s58,
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 11 (vi.1) a corporation associated with a corporation referred to in subclauses (
i) to (
v) as determined under subsections (2.1) to (2.3), (vi.2) a corporation that does not carry on business in Albert a, (vi.3) a registered charity, (vi.4) a publicly funded corporation as determined by the regulations, or (vii) any corporation, or co rporation within a class of corporation, designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council as a prohibited corporation; (l.01) “prohibited person or entity” means (
i) a person not ordinar ily resident in Alberta, (ii) a prohibited corporation, (iii) a trade union or an employee organization that is not an Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization, and (iv) an unincorporated association or organization not operating in Alberta; (l.02) “prospective candidate” means a person for whose benefi t a prospective candidate association is established; (l.03) “prospective candidate association” means an entity established by or on behalf of a person as the official association of the person for the purpose of supporting the person’s prospective campaign for election as a member of the Legislative Assembly; (l.1) “recorded mail” means a form of document delivery by mail or courier in which receipt of the document must be acknowledged in writing; (m) “registered candidate” means a candidate registered under this Act; (m.1) “registered charity” mean s a registered charity within the meaning of subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada); (n) “registered constituency association” means a constituency association registered under this Act;
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 12 (n.1) “registered leadership co ntestant” means a leadership contestant registered under
section 9.2; (n.2) repealed 2021 c24 s5(2); (o) “registered party” means a political party registered under this Act; (o.1) “registered predecessor pa rty” means a registered party that is merging or intends to merge with one or more registered parties to form a successor party; (o.11) “registered prospective candidate association” means a prospective candidate association that is registered under
section 8.1; (o.2) “registered successor party” means a successor party registered under this Act; (o.21) “Senate election” means an election conducted under the Alberta Senate Election Act; (o.3) “successor party” means a p arty formed by the merger of 2 or more registered predecessor parties; (p) “trade union” means an organ ization of employees that has a written constitution, rules or bylaws and has as one of its objects the regulation of relations between employers and employees; (q) “unincorporated association or organization” includes a trade union and an employee organization.
(1.1) Definitions of terms in
Part 6.1, 6.11 or 6.12 apply, as the case may be, to those terms where used in the rest of this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a document that is required to be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer is filed when it is actually received by the Chief Electoral Officer.
(2.01) The Chief Electoral Officer may issue guidelines (
a) to identify which documents required to be filed under thi s Act may be filed electronically, and (
b) the manner in which they may be filed, and shall publish any guidelines on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website.
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(2.1) For the purposes of this Act, (
a) a corporation is associated with another corporation if on e of them is the subsidiary of the other or both are subsidiaries of the same corporation or each of them is controlled by the same person, and (
b) if 2 corporations are assoc iated with the same corporation at the same time, they are deemed to be associated with each other.
(2.2) For the purposes of this Act, a corporation is controlled by a person if (
a) securities of the corporation to which are attached more t han 50% of the votes that may be cast to elect directors of the corporation are held, other than by way of security only, by or for the benefit of that person, and (
b) the votes attached to thos e securities are sufficient, if exercised, to elect a majority of the directors of the corporation.
(2.3) For the purposes of this Act, a corporation is a subsidiary of another corporation if (
a) it is controlled by (
i) that other corporation, (ii) that other corporation and one or more corporations, each of which is controlled by that other corporation, or (iii) 2 or more corpo rations, each of which is controlled by that other corporation, o r (
b) it is a subsidiary of a corporation that is that other corporation’s subsidiary.
(3) Corporations that are associated with one another as determined under subsections (2.1) to (2.3) are considered a single corporation for the purposes of this Act.
(3.1) Repealed 2012 c5 s58.
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(4) Nothing done or omitted to be done by a corporation is a contravention of this Act solely because that corporation subsequently becomes associated with any other corporation.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (1)(e), “services” does not include (
a) volunteer labour provided by a person, so long as that person does not receive from his or her employer, or any person, compensation or paid time off to volunteer, (
b) audit and professional services provided free of charge to the recipient for work relating to compliance with this Act, (
c) services provide d free of charge by a person acting as the chief financial officer for work relating to compliance with this Act, or (
d) services that a candidate or leadership contestant provides in support of his or her own campaign, but for greater certainty, “services” includes services provided by a person who is self-employed if the services are normally charged for by that person.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (1)(f.03), (
a) the use of goods in a 2nd or subsequent election is a non-monetary contribution, and (
b) an election expense includes an expense incurred for, or a non-monetary contribution in relation to, (
i) the production of advertising or promotional material, (ii) the distribution, broadcas t or publication of advertising or promotional material in any media or by any other means during the election period, including by the use of a capital asset, (iii) the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of a person for the person’s services as a chief financial officer or in any other capacity, (iv) securing a meeting space, or (
v) the conduct of election surveys or other surveys or research during an election period.
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(7) For the purposes of subsections (1)(f.03) and (6), “expense incurred” means an expense that is incurred, whether it is paid or unpaid.
(8) If a provision of this Act authorizes the exercise of a right or power or the performance of a duty (
a) by a prospective candidate in respect of a prospective candidate association, the application of the provision is limited to the prospective candidate association established for the benefit of the prospective candidate, or (
b) by a prospective candidate association in respect of a prospective candidate, (
i) the application of the provision is limited to the prospective candidate for whose benefit the prospective candidate association was established, or (ii) the authority to exercise the right or power or perform the duty, as the case may be, continues if the prospective candidate (
A) is endorsed by a registered party, (
B) becomes a registered candidate, (
C) becomes a member of the Legislative Assembly, or (
D) subject to
section 12.3, ceases to be a registered candidate. RSA 2000 cE-2 s1;2001 c28 s9;2004 c23 s83;2010 c8 s56; 2012 cE-0.3 s267;2012 c5 s58;2014 cC-10.2 s175;2015 c15 s2; 2016 c29 s2;2017 c29 s116;2019 cA-33.5 s51(2);2019 c15 s14; 2020 c20 s11(2);2021 c24 s5(2);2024 c10 s12;2025 c7 s7(2); 2025 c10 s16 Campaign expenses 1.1(1) For the purposes of this Act, a campaign expense is an expense incurred or non-monetary contribution accepted (
a) by a registered party, registered constituency association , registered prospective candidate association or registered candidate, to the extent that the property or service for which the expense was incurred, or that was received as a non-monetary contribution, is used during a campaign period to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader, a registered constituency association, a registered prospective candidate association or a registered candidate, or
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 16 (
b) by a registered leadership c ontestant, to the extent that the property or service for which the expense was incurred, or that was received as a non-monetary contribution, is used during the campaign period of a leadership contest to directly promote or oppose a leadership contestant.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the use of goods in a 2nd or subsequent election is a non-monetary contribution.
(3) A campaign expense referred to in subsection (1) includes an expense incurred for, or a non-monetary contribution in relation to, (
a) the production of advertising or promotional material, (
b) the distribution, broadcas t or publication of advertising or promotional material in any media or by any other means during a campaign period, including by the use of a capital asset, (
c) the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf o f a person for the person’s services as a chief financial officer or in any other capacity, (
d) securing a meeting place, or (
e) the conduct of election surveys or other surveys or resear ch during a campaign period.
(4) In subsection (1), “expense incurred” means an expense that is incurred, whether it is paid or unpaid. 2016 c29 s3;2019 cA-33.5 s51(3);2025 c7 s7(3) 2 Repealed 2016 c29 s4. 3 Repealed 2025 c7 s7(4).
Part 1 The Chief Electoral Officer Duties of Chief Electoral Officer 4(1) The Chief Electoral Officer, in addition to the Chief Electoral Officer’s other powers and duties under this Act, the Election Act, the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Citizen Initiative Act, the Recall Act and the Referendum Act, (
a) may examine all financial st atements, returns or reports required to be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer;
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 17 (
b) may inquire into the financial affairs and records of (
i) registered parties, registered constituency associations and registered prospective candidate associations, (i.1) registered successor pa rties, predecessor parties and constituency associations of predecessor parties, (ii) registered candidates in rel ation to election campaigns, (ii.1) registered leadership c ontestants in relation to leadership contests, and (ii.2) repealed 2025 c7 s7(5), (iii) registered third pa rties in relation to (
A) election advertising or political advertising under
Part 6.1, (
B) Senate election adver tising under
Part 6.11, (
C) referendum advertising under
Part 6.12, (
D) initiative advertising under the Citizen Initiative Act, and (
E) recall advertising under the Recall Act; (b.1) repealed 2017 c29 s117; (
c) shall provide or approve forms for the purposes of this Ac t; (
d) shall, with respect to a re gistered party, a registered constituency association and a registered prospective candidate association, publish the financial statements required to be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 42; (d.1) with respect to a regist ered successor party, a predecessor party and a constituency association of a predecessor party, shall publish the financial statements required to be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 11.6; (
e) with respect to a registered party, registered constituency association and registered prospective candidate association, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website within 30 days after the date on which a report is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 32(3), which statement must include the name of any contributor
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 18 referred to in the report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed; (
f) with respect to a registered party and a registered candidate, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website within 30 days after the date on which a campaign return is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 43, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the return who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed; (
g) repealed 2025 c7 s7(5); (
h) with respect to a register ed leadership contestant, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website within 30 days after the date on which a leadership contestant campaign return is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 43.02, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the return who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed; (
i) with respect to a third party that engages in election advertising, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website (
i) within 30 days after the date on which an election advertising return referred to in
section 44.9(1) or a report referred to in
section 44.9(3) is filed, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the return or report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed, and (ii) as soon as reasonably possible after the date on which a report referred to in
section 44.81 is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed; (i.1) with respect to a third pa rty that engages in Senate election advertising, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website (
i) within 30 days after the date on which an election advertising return referred to in
section 44.9498(1) or a
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 19 report referred to in
section 44.9498(3) is filed, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the return or report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed, and (ii) as soon as reasonably possible after the date on which a report referred to in
section 44.9497 is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed; (i.2) with respect to a third pa rty that engages in referendum advertising, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website (
i) within 30 days after the date on which a referendum advertising return referred to in
section 44.9499991(1) or a report referred to in
section 44.9499991(2) is filed, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the return or report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed, and (ii) as soon as reasonably possible after the date on which a report referred to in
section 44.949999 is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed; (
j) with respect to a third party that engages in political advertising, shall publish a statement on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website (
i) within 30 days after the date on which a political advertising report is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 44.82(2), which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed, and (ii) as soon as reasonably possible after the date on which a report referred to in
section 44.82(5) is filed with the Chief Electoral Officer, which statement must include the name of any contributor referred to in the report who has contributed an amount exceeding $250 in the aggregate, and the actual amount contributed.
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(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall after the end of each year prepare a report on the exercise of the Chief Electoral Officer’s functions under this Act, including any recommendations for amendments to this Act, and shall transmit the report to the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices, which shall on its receipt lay the report before the Assembly if it is then sitting or, if it is not then sitting, within 15 days after the commencement of the next sitting of the Assembly.
(3) If the Chief Electoral Officer becomes aware that one or more contributions in excess of a limit set out in this Act was made to or accepted by or on behalf of a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered third party, the Chief Electoral Officer must advise the chief financial officer of the person or entity, as the case may be, to (
a) provide the Chief Elector al Officer with information in the possession of the chief financial officer, if any, respecting the circumstances of the contribution, and (
b) do one of the following, as applicable: (
i) if the identity of the cont ributor is known, return the portion of the contribution that exceeds the applicable limit to the contributor; (ii) if the identity of the cont ributor cannot be determined, transfer the amount of the contribution that has been identified by the Chief Electoral Officer to exceed a limit set out in this Act to the Chief Electoral Officer.
(4) The Chief Electoral Officer must deposit the funds received under subsection (3) into the General Revenue Fund. RSA 2000 cE-2 s4;2004 c23 s84;2010 c8 s57; 2012 c5 s61;2016 c29 s5; 2017 c29 s117;2019 cA-33.5 s51(4);2019 c15 s14;2020 c19 s15(25); 2020 c20 s11(3);2021 c24 s5(3);2025 c7 s7(5) Powers of Chief Electoral Officer 5(1) For the purposes of carrying out an examination or inquiry referred to in
section 4(1), the Chief Electoral Officer has all the powers of a commissioner under the Public Inquiries Act as though the examination or inquiry were an inquiry under that Act.
(2) For the purpose of carrying out an examination or inquiry referred to in
section 4(1), a representative of the Chief Electoral Officer, on production of the representative’s authorization from the Chief Electoral Officer, may at any reasonable time enter any premises referred to in the authorization in which books or documents of a political party, constituency association,
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 21 prospective candidate association, candidate, leadership contestant or third party relevant to the subject-matter of the examination or inquiry are kept and may examine and make copies of the books or documents or remove them temporarily for the purpose of making copies.
(2.1) Before entering a private dwelling or a part of premises used as a private dwelling to carry out the powers described in subsection (2), a representative of the Chief Electoral Officer shall (
a) obtain the consent of the o ccupant or the legal representative of the occupant of the private dwelling or the part of the premises used as a private dwelling, or (
b) obtain an order from the Court.
(3) A registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered third party shall, within 30 days after receiving a written request from the Chief Electoral Officer or within an extended period that the Chief Electoral Officer may determine, provide any information or documents with respect to the financial affairs of the registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered third party that is reasonably required by the Chief Electoral Officer in the course of the Chief Electoral Officer’s duties under this Act.
(4) A registered successor party shall, within 30 days after receiving a written request from the Chief Electoral Officer or within an extended period that the Chief Electoral Officer may determine, provide any information or documents with respect to the financial affairs of the registered successor party, any of its predecessor parties or a constituency association of any of its predecessor parties that is reasonably required by the Chief Electoral Officer in the course of the Chief Electoral Officer’s duties under this Act.
RSA 2000 cE-2 s5;2010 c8 s58;2012 c5 s62;2016 c29 s6;2017 c29 s118; 2019 c15 s14;2021 c24 s5(4);2025 c7 s7(6) Chief Electoral Officer’s advice 5.01(1) A person or entity to which this Act applies may request that the Chief Electoral Officer provide the person or entity with advice on the person’s or entity’s powers, duties or rights under this Act.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer may, in writing, provide a person or entity that made a request under subsection (1) with advice that
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 22 (
a) sets out the material facts on which the request is based, (
b) is based on the facts referred to in clause (a), and (
c) may be based on any other considerations the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.
(3) If a person or entity that made a request under subsection (1) becomes aware of a change to a material fact on which the request is based before the Chief Electoral Officer provides advice in accordance with subsection (2), the person or entity must, as soon as practicable, notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the change.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), the Chief Electoral Officer must keep confidential the advice provided to a person or entity under subsection (2) except in the following circumstances: (
a) the person or entity, as the case may be, makes it publicly available; (
b) the person or entity, as the case may be, provides the Chief Electoral Officer with written consent to make it publicly available or specifically available to a particular person or entity; (
c) it is required to be disclo sed for the purpose of a proceeding.
(5) The Chief Electoral Officer may make the following advice publicly available: (
a) advice of a general nature in respect of the enforcement,
interpretation or application of a provision of this Act; (
b) advice provided under subsection (2) if identifying information about the person or entity that made the request under subsection (1) has been removed.
(6) For greater certainty, a reference to advice in subsection (2) or (5) includes the following: (
a) the material facts set out in the advice; (
b) other considerations on which the Chief Electoral Officer’ s advice is based; (
c) a recommendation included as part of the advice.
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 23
(7) A person or entity may not be the subject of a civil or administrative proceeding or administrative penalty under this Act to the extent that the proceeding or penalty is based on the person’s or entity’s reliance on advice provided in accordance with subsection (2) or (5). 2025 c7 s7(7) 5.1 Repealed 2017 c29 s119.
Disclosure 5.2(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), the Chief Electoral Officer, the Election Commissioner, any former Chief Electoral Officer, any former Election Commissioner, every person who is or was employed or engaged by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer to carry out the duties of the Chief Electoral Officer and every person who was employed by the Office of the Election Commissioner to carry out the duties of an Election Commissioner shall maintain the confidentiality of all information, complaints and allegations that come to their knowledge.
(2) Information, complaints and allegations to which subsection (1) applies may be (
a) disclosed by the Chief El ectoral Officer to the Election Commissioner for the purpose of carrying out the Election Commissioner’s powers, duties and functions under this Act, (
b) disclosed by the Electi on Commissioner to the Chief Electoral Officer for the purposes of carrying out the Chief Electoral Officer’s powers, duties and functions under this Act, (
c) disclosed to the person or entity whose conduct is the subject of proceedings under this Act, (
d) disclosed to a political party if a constituency associati on, a registered candidate or a leadership contestant of that political party is the subject of an investigation under this Act, (d.1) disclosed to the prospective candidate if the prospectiv e candidate association is the subject of an investigation under this Act, (
e) disclosed to the Minister responsible for the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act where a contribution has been
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 24 made or accepted in contravention of this Act for which a receipt has been issued under
section 33, (
f) disclosed by a person conducting an investigation to the extent necessary to enable that person to obtain information from another person, (
g) disclosed in a report made by the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 44(1), (
h) disclosed in the course of an appeal to the Court of King’s Bench under
section 51.03, (
i) adduced in evidence at an inquiry, and (
j) disclosed where the Election Commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that the disclosure is necessary for the purpose of advising the Minister of Justice or a law enforcement agency of an alleged offence under this Act or any other enactment of Alberta or
an Act or regulation of Canada.
(3) The Election Commissioner must make the information set out in subsection (4) publicly available on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website in the following circumstances: (
a) the Election Commissioner r eceives a written request for disclosure from a person or entity that received a notice provided under
section 44.97(4) or (5); (
b) an administrative penalty is imposed or a letter of reprim and is issued under
section 51 or 51.01; (
c) a compliance agreement is e ntered into under
section 51.04; (
d) the Election Commissioner consents to a prosecution under
section 53.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the following information must be made publicly available: (
a) in the case of a written re quest received in respect of a notice provided under
section 44.97(4) or (5), (
i) the person or entity that is the subject of the notice, (ii) each provision o f this Act that is the subject of the notice,
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 25 (iii) if the Election Commissioner refused to conduct an investigation under
section 44.97(2), the reason for the refusal, and (iv) if the Election Commissioner conducted an investigation under
section 44.95(a.1) or (b), the outcome of the investigation; (
b) in the case of an administr ative penalty imposed or a letter of reprimand issued under
section 51 or 51.01, (
i) the name of the person or entity required to pay the administrative penalty or to whom the letter of reprimand was issued, as the case may be, (ii) the provision of this Act that the person or entity contravened, and (iii) if applicable, the amount of the administrative penalty; (
c) in the case of a compliance agreement entered into under
section 51.04, (
i) the name of each person or entity that entered into the agreement, and (ii) the terms of the agreemen t that describe the compliance obligations of each person referred to in subclause (i); (
d) in the case of the Electio n Commissioner’s consent to a prosecution under
section 53, (
i) the name of each person o r entity that is alleged to have contravened a provision of this Act, and (ii) each provision o f this Act that a person or entity referred to in subclause (
i) is alleged to have contravened.
(5) Nothing in this
section requires the Chief Electoral Officer or Election Commissioner to disclose any information that would reveal the name of a complainant or witness except with the consent of that person or entity or if directed to do so by a court. 2012 c5 s62;2016 c29 s7;2017 c29 s120;2019 c15 s14;2021 c24 s5(5); 2022 c21 s21;AR 217/2022;2025 c7 s7(8) Duty to provide document or information 5.3(1) On the request of the Election Commissioner, the Chief Electoral Officer shall disclose to the Election Commissioner any document or information that the Chief Electoral Officer obtained under this Act that the Election Commissioner considers necessary
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 26 for the purposes of carrying out his or her powers, duties and functions under this Act.
(2) On the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Election Commissioner shall disclose to the Chief Electoral Officer any document or information that the Election Commissioner obtained under this Act that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary for the purposes of carrying out his or her powers, duties and functions under this Act. 2017 c29 s120 Duty to refer complaints and allegations and to report acts or omissions 5.4 The Chief Electoral Officer shall within a reasonable time (
a) refer any complaint or a llegation received by the Chief Electoral Officer under this Act to the Election Commissioner, and (
b) report any act or omission that in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion likely constitutes an offence under this Act to the Election Commissioner. 2017 c29 s120
Part 2 Registration, Requirements and Records Qualifications for registration of political parties 6 A political party is qualified for registration in the register of political parties if the political party (
a) held a minimum of 3 seats in the Legislative Assembly following the most recent election, (
b) in the most recent general election, endorsed a person who was nominated for election in at least 50% of the electoral divisions, (
c) following the issue of a writ of election for a general election, endorses people who are nominated for election in at least 50% of the electoral divisions, or (
d) subject to
section 7(2.02), at any time other than during a campaign period, provides the Chief Electoral Officer with the names, addresses and signatures of persons who
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 27 (
i) represent 0.3% of the total number of electors contained in the register of electors maintained under
section 13 of the Election Act at the last general election, (ii) are currently eligible to vote in an election, and (iii) request the registration of that political party. RSA 2000 cE-2 s6;2010 c8 s59;2012 c5 s63;2019 c15 s14; 2021 c24 s5(6);2025 c7 s7(9) Registration of political parties 7(1) No political party and no person acting for a political party shall accept contributions for the political party or for any constituency association of the political party unless the political party is registered under this Act.
(1.1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of political parties and, subject to this section, shall register in it any political party that is qualified to be registered and that files with the Chief Electoral Officer an application for registration.
(1.2) An application for registration must set out the following: (
a) the full name of the political party; (
b) the political party name an d the abbreviation of it to be shown in election documents; (
c) the name of the leader of the political party; (
d) the address of the place or places where records of the political party are maintained and of the place to which communications may be addressed; (
e) the names of the principal officers of the political party ; (
f) the name of the chief fina ncial officer of the political party; (
g) the name and address of the financial institution holding the account into which contributions made to that political party are to be deposited; (
h) the name of each signing officer responsible for the accou nt referred to in clause (g); (
i) an indication of the provision of
section 6 under which th e political party seeks to qualify for registration; (
j) a statement by the leader of the political party that one of the political party’s purposes is to participate in public affairs
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 28 by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election; (
k) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the political party, as of a date not earlier than 90 days before the date of its application for registration, attested to by its chief financial officer.
(2) On receipt of an application for registration of a political party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall examine the application and determine if the political party is qualified to be registered and (
a) if the political party is qua lified to be registered, enter it in the register of political parties and so inform the political party, or (
b) if the political party is not qualified to be registered, so inform the political party with written reasons for the determination.
(2.01) The Chief Electoral Officer shall refuse to register a political party if the political party’s assets, as set out in the statement referred to in subsection (1.2)(k), exceed $5000.
(2.02) The Chief Electoral Officer shall refuse to register a political party that seeks to be qualified under
section 6(
d) if the information referred to in that
section is provided to the Chief Electoral Officer fewer than 60 days before the issuance of a writ of election.
(2.03) The Chief Electoral Officer shall refuse to register a political party unless it is incorporated as (
a) a society under the Societies Act, (
b) a company under
Part 9 of the Companies Act, or (
c) a corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (Canada).
(2.1) Repealed 2012 c5 s64.
(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall not register a political party if, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, (
a) the proposed name or abbreviation of the name of the political party (
i) so nearly resembles the name or abbreviation of the name of a registered party or local political party that the
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 29 proposed name or abbreviation of the name has the potential to be confused with the name or abbreviation of the name of that registered party or local political party, or (ii) uses a distinctive word or phrase that is uniquely associated with a registered party, (a.1) the proposed name was the name of a registered party who se registration was cancelled or whose name was changed since the last general election, (a.11) the proposed name was the name of a local political party whose registration was cancelled or whose name was changed since the last general election held under the Local Authorities Election Act, (a.2) subject to subsection (3.2), the proposed name or abbreviation of the name of the political party (
i) was the name or abbreviation of the name of a predecessor party or is the name or abbreviation of the name of a registered predecessor party, (ii) so nearly resembles the n ame or abbreviation of the name of a predecessor party or registered predecessor party that the proposed name has the potential to be confused with the name or abbreviation of the name of that predecessor party or registered predecessor party, or (iii) uses a distinctive word or phrase that is uniquely associated with a predecessor party or registered predecessor party, o r (
b) the proposed name or abbr eviation is unacceptable to the Chief Electoral Officer for any other reason.
(3.1) If a registered party changes its name, the Chief Electoral Officer shall not vary the register accordingly if, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, (
a) the proposed name or abbreviation of the name of the registered party (
i) so nearly resembles the n ame or abbreviation of the name of another registered party or a local political party that the proposed name or abbreviation of the name has the potential to be confused with the name or
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 30 abbreviation of the name of the other registered party or the local political party, or (ii) uses a distinctive word or phrase that is uniquely associated with another registered party, (
b) the proposed name was the name of a registered party whose registration was cancelled or whose name was changed since the last general election, (b.1) the proposed name was the name of a local political party whose registration was cancelled or whose name was changed since the last general election held under the Local Authorities Election Act, (b.2) subject to subsection (3.2), the proposed name or abbreviation of the name of the registered party (
i) was the name or abbreviation of the name of a predecessor party or is the name or abbreviation of the name of a registered predecessor party, (ii) so nearly resembles the n ame or abbreviation of the name of a predecessor party or registered predecessor party that the proposed name has the potential to be confused with the name or abbreviation of the name of that predecessor party or registered predecessor party, or (iii) uses a distinctive word or phrase that is uniquely associated with a predecessor party or registered predecessor party, o r (
c) the proposed name or abbr eviation is unacceptable to the Chief Electoral Officer for any other reason. (3.2) Subsections (3)(a.2) and (3.1)(b.2) do not apply if the proposed name or abbreviation of the name of the political party or registered party, as the case may be, is the name or abbreviation of the name, resembles the name or abbreviation of the name or uses a distinctive word or phrase that is uniquely associated with the name of a predecessor party or registered predecessor party to the political party or registered party, as the case may be.
(4) When there is any change in the information required to be provided by subsection (1.2)(
a) to (i), the registered party shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 30 days after the alteration and, subject to
section 10, on receipt of the notice the
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 31 Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the register of political parties accordingly.
(5) Notice under subsection (4) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a distinctive word or phrase includes the following, or a combination, abbreviation, other part of speech or other grammatical form of the following: (
a) advantage; (
b) communist; (
c) conservative; (
d) democratic; (
e) g r e e n ; (
f) independence; (
g) liberal; (
h) pro-life; (
i) r e f o r m ; (
j) republican; (
k) solidarity; (
l) wildrose. RSA 2000 cE-2 s7;2004 c23 s85;2010 c8 s60;2012 c5 s64;2016 c29 s50; 2019 c15 s14;2021 c24 s5(7);2025 c7 s7(10);2025 c22 s4 Registration of constituency associations 8(1) No constituency association and no person acting for a constituency association shall accept contributions for the constituency association or for its registered party, if applicable, unless the constituency association is registered under this Act.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of constituency associations and, subject to this section, shall register in it any constituency association of a registered party or of an independent member in an electoral division that is qualified to be registered and that files with the Chief Electoral Officer an application for registration.
(2.1) An application for registration must set out the following:
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 32 (
a) the full name of the constituency association and of the registered party or independent member endorsing the constituency association; (
b) the address of the place or places where records of the constituency association are maintained and of the place to which communications may be addressed; (
c) the names of the principa l officers of the constituency association; (
d) the name of the chief financial officer of the constituenc y association; (
e) the name and address of the financial institution holding the account into which contributions made to that prospective candidate association are to be deposited; (
f) the name of each signing o fficer responsible for the account referred to in clause (e); (
g) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the constitue ncy association, as of a date not earlier than 90 days prior to the date of its application for registration, attested to by the chief financial officer.
(3) On receipt of an application for registration of a constituency association, the Chief Electoral Officer shall examine the application and determine if the constituency association is qualified to be registered and (
a) if the constituency associa tion is qualified to be registered, enter it in the register of constituency associations and so inform the constituency association, or (
b) if the constituency assoc iation is not qualified to be registered, so inform the constituency association with written reasons for the determination.
(4) When there is any change in the information required to be provided by subsection (2.1)(
a) to (f), the registered constituency association shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 60 days after the alteration and, subject to
section 10, on receipt of the notice the Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the register of constituency associations accordingly.
(5) Notice under subsection (4) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer. RSA 2000 cE-2 s8;2004 c23 s86;2012 c5 s65;2016 c29 s50; 2021 c24 s5(8);2025 c7 s7(11)
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Section 8.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 33 Registration of prospective candidate associations 8.1(1) No prospective candidate association and no person acting for a prospective candidate association shall accept contributions to the prospective candidate association unless the prospective candidate association is registered under this section.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer must maintain a register of prospective candidate associations and, subject to this
section and the regulations, if any, must register in it each prospective candidate association that is qualified to be registered and that files with the Chief Electoral Officer an application for registration.
(3) An application for registration must set out the following: (
a) the full name of the prospective candidate association and the person establishing the prospective candidate association; (
b) the full name of the prospective candidate on whose behalf the prospective candidate association is being established; (
c) whether, at the time of the application, (
i) the prospective candidate is registered as a candidate under
section 9, or (ii) the prospective candidate i s a member of the Legislative Assembly; (
d) the address of each place wh ere records of the prospective candidate association are maintained and of the place to which communications may be addressed; (
e) the name of each principal officer of the prospective candidate association; (
f) the name and contact information of the chief financial officer of the prospective candidate association; (
g) the name and address of the financial institution holding the account into which contributions made to that prospective candidate association are to be deposited; (
h) the name of each signing officer responsible for the accou nt referred to in clause (g); (
i) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the prospecti ve candidate association, as of a date not earlier than 90 days before the date of its application for registration, that is attested to by the chief financial officer;
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 34 (
j) any other matter prescribed by regulation.
(4) On receipt of an application for registration of a prospective candidate association, the Chief Electoral Officer must examine the application and determine if the prospective candidate association is qualified to be registered and, (
a) if the prospective candida te association is qualified to be registered, enter it into the register of prospective candidate associations and so inform the prospective candidate association, or (
b) if the prospective candidate association is not qualified to be registered, so inform the prospective candidate association with written reasons for the determination.
(5) If there is a change to the information required under subsection (3)(
a) to (h), the registered prospective candidate association must notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 60 days of the change and, subject to
section 10, on receipt of the notice, the Chief Electoral Officer must update the register of prospective candidate associations as necessary.
(6) A notice under subsection (5) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer. 2025 c7 s7(12) Registration of candidates 9(1) Subject to subsection (1.1), no candidate and no person acting on behalf of a candidate shall (
a) accept contributions, or (
b) incur any campaign expenses, unless the candidate is registered under this section.
(1.1) No registered candidate and no person acting for a registered candidate shall accept contributions or incur any campaign expenses except during the campaign period.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of candidates in relation to each election and, subject to this section, shall register in it any candidate who (
a) is qualified to be registered, (
b) files with the Chief Elector al Officer an application for registration, and
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 35 (
c) pays to the Chief Elector al Officer a deposit of $500.
(2.1) An application for registration must set out the following: (
a) that, in the case of a candidate under the Election Act, the candidate (
i) has been endorsed as the ca ndidate of a named registered party in a named electoral division and has enclosed with the candidate’s application a statement to that effect attested to by the leader of the registered party, or (ii) has, after the commencement of the campaign period, declared the candidate’s candidacy as an independent candidate at the election in a named electoral division; (
b) that, in the case of a candidate under the Alberta Senate Election Act, the candidate (
i) has been endorsed as the ca ndidate of a named registered party and has enclosed with the candidate’s application a statement to that effect attested to by the leader of the registered party, or (ii) has, after the commencement of the campaign period, declared the candidate’s candidacy as an independent candidate at the election; (
c) the full name and contact information of the candidate; (
d) the political party affiliati on, if any, of the candidate attested to by one of the principal officers of the constituency association; (d.1) if a prospective candidate association has been register ed under
section 8.1 for the benefit of the candidate, the full name of the prospective candidate association; (
e) the address of the place or places where records of the candidate are maintained and of the place to which communications may be addressed; (
f) the name of the chief fina ncial officer of the candidate; (
g) the name and address of the financial institution holding the account into which contributions made to that prospective candidate association are to be deposited; (
h) the name of each signing officer responsible for the accou nt referred to in clause (g).
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Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 36
(3) A candidate who files an application under subsection (2) after the issue of a writ for an election shall be registered on the date the application is approved by the Chief Electoral Officer.
(3.1) On the receipt by the Chief Electoral Officer of a statement referred to in
section 9.3, the person endorsed as the candidate of the registered party is deemed to be a registered candidate and is not required to file an application for registration referred to in subsection (2).
(4) When there is any change in the information required to be provided by subsection (2.1), the registered candidate shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 48 hours after the alteration and, subject to
section 10, on receipt of the notice the Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the register of candidates accordingly.
(4.1) A person who is deemed under subsection (3.1) to be a registered candidate shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing of any change in the information referred to in subsection (2.1)(
c) to (
h) within 48 hours of the change.
(5) Notice under subsection (4) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer. RSA 2000 cE-2 s9;2004 c23 s87;2010 c8 s61;2012 c5 s66;2016 c29 s8; 2017 c29 s121;2019 cA-33.5 s51(5);2021 c24 s5(9);2025 c7 s7(13); 2025 c22 s4 Candidate deposit 9.01(1) Subject to subsection (3), the Chief Electoral Officer may retain the deposit paid under
section 9(2)(
c) as payment of the late filing fee under
section 43.2 if a campaign return is not filed within the time period referred to in
section 43(2).
(2) If a campaign return is filed within the required time period, the deposit paid under
section 9(2)(
c) must be refunded to the chief financial officer of the candidate.
(3) If a candidate dies after being registered by the Chief Electoral Officer as a candidate but prior to the closing of the voting places as defined in the Election Act on election day, the deposit shall be refunded to the chief financial officer of the candidate.
(4) A deposit that is not refunded under this
section or retained as payment of a late filing fee must be deposited by the Chief Electoral Officer into the General Revenue Fund.
(5) A deposit paid under
section 9(2)(
c) is not considered a campaign expense or an election expense. 2021 c24 s5(10)
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Section 9.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 37 Registration of third parties 9.1(1) A third party shall apply for registration under this
section (
a) when it has incurred expenses of $1000 or plans to incur advertising expenses of at least $1000 for election advertising or political advertising referred to in
Part 6.1, Senate election advertising referred to in
Part 6.11 or referendum advertising referred to in
Part 6.12, or (
b) when it has accepted advertising contributions of $1000 or plans to accept advertising contributions of at least $1000.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain separate registers as follows: (
a) a register of third parties who engage in election adverti sing, (
b) a register of third parties who engage in political advertising, (
c) a register of third parties who engage in Senate election advertising, and (
d) a register of third parties who engage in referendum advertising.
(2.1) Subject to this section, the Chief Electoral Officer shall register in the appropriate register any third party who is qualified to be registered and who files with the Chief Electoral Officer an application for registration.
(2.2) An application for registration must set out the following: (
a) the name and contact information (
i) if the third party is a person, of the person, (ii) if the third party is a cor poration, of the corporation and of the officer who has signing authority for it, and (iii) if the third party is a g roup, of the group and of the principal officers of the group or, if there are no principal officers, of the principal members; (
b) whether the third party will be engaging in election advertising, political advertising, Senate election advertising or referendum advertising;
RSA 2000
Section 9.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 38 (b.1) in the case of a third pa rty who engages or will be engaging in referendum advertising, whether the third party is for or against each question to be put to the electors; (
c) in the case of a third part y who engages or will be engaging in election advertising, Senate advertising or referendum advertising, the address and telephone number of the place or places in Alberta where records of the third party are maintained and of the place in Alberta to which communications may be addressed; (
d) in the case of a third part y who engages or will be engaging in political advertising, the address and telephone number of the place or places in Canada where records of the third party are maintained and of the place in Canada to which communications may be addressed; (
e) the name and contact information of the chief financial officer responsible for the advertising account of the third party; (
f) the name and address of the financial institution used by the third party for its advertising account; (
g) the names of the signing authorities for the advertising account; (
h) any additional information required by the Chief Electoral Officer concerning the advertising account.
(2.3) An application for registration must include a declaration, in a form satisfactory to the Chief Electoral Officer and signed by the person submitting the application, that the third party is not acting directly or indirectly on behalf of a registered party.
(3) If the third party has a governing body, the application must include a copy of the resolution passed by the governing body authorizing the third party to incur election advertising expenses or political advertising expenses, as the case may be.
(4) The Chief Electoral Officer shall not register a third party if, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, (
a) the name or the abbreviation of the name of the applicant so nearly resembles the name or abbreviation of the name or a nickname of another registered third party, or of a candidate, political party or political organization that is active anywhere in Alberta, that confusion is likely,
RSA 2000
Section 9.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 39 (
b) the proposed name of the applicant was the name of a registered party or registered third party whose registration was cancelled or whose name was changed since the last general election, or (
c) at least one of the criteri a for determining affiliation with a registered party set out in subsection (5.2) applies to the applicant.
(5) The following are not qualified to be registered in a register referred to in subsection (2)(
a) or (d): (
a) a prohibited person or entity; (
b) a group that includes a prohibited person or entity as a member; (
c) a registered charity; (
d) a political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association or candidate; (
e) a third party that the Chie f Electoral Officer determines, in accordance with subsection (5.2), is affiliated with a registered party.
(5.1) The following are not qualified to be registered in a register referred to in subsection (2)(
b) or (c): (
a) a person who is not (
i) a Canadian citizen or permanent resident as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), and (ii) ordinarily resident in Canada; (
b) a corporation, unincorporated association or organization that is incorporated, formed or otherwise organized outside Canada and (
i) that does not carry on business in Canada, or (ii) whose only business activity in Canada consists of doing anything to influence electors to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a specific registered candidate or registered party; (
c) a trade union that does not hold bargaining rights for employees in Canada;
RSA 2000
Section 9.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 40 (
d) an employee organization that does not hold bargaining rights for employees in Canada; (
e) a political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association or candidate; (
f) a third party that the Chief Electoral Officer determines in accordance with subsection (5.2) is affiliated with a registered party.
(5.2) In determining whether a third party is affiliated with a registered party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall consider all relevant information, including, as applicable, the following: (
a) the organization of the third party, including whether a person holding any of the following positions with the third party holds the same or a similar position with the registered party: (
i) the chief financial officer; (ii) a signing officer; (iii) if the third party is a g roup, a principal officer of the group, or if there are no principal officers, a principal member; (a.1) if the third party has a governing body, whether a perso n holding a position on the governing body of the third party also holds a position with the registered party; (
b) any interactions or agreemen ts between the third party and the registered party, including interactions or agreements that may indicate that the third party is under the control of the registered party; (
c) the extent to which the t hird party participates in the decision-making process of the registered party pursuant to the constitution or founding documents of the registered party; (
d) other information that is prescribed by regulation, if any .
(6) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as possible after receiving an application, (
a) determine whether the requirements set out in this
section are met,
RSA 2000
Section 9.2
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 41 (
b) notify the persons who signed the application whether the applicant is accepted for registration, and (
c) in the case of a refusal to register, give reasons for the refusal.
(7) When there is any change in the information required to be provided under this section, the registered third party shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 30 days after the alteration and, subject to
section 10, on receipt of the notice the Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the register of candidates accordingly.
(8) A notice under subsection (7) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer. 2010 c8 s62;2012 c5 s67;2015 c15 s3;2016 c29 s9;2019 cA-33.5 s51(6); 2020 c19 s15(25);2020 c20 s11(4);2021 c24 s5(11);2025 c7 s7(14) Leadership contest and contestants 9.2(1) Before a leadership contest is held by a registered party, the chief financial officer of the registered party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement, in the form and manner approved by the Chief Electoral Officer, setting out the particulars of the leadership contest, including (
a) the date of the official call of the leadership contest, and (
b) the date fixed for the leadership vote or votes. (
c) repealed 2021 c24 s5(12).
(2) If a fee or deposit is required to be paid as a condition of entering the leadership contest, the amount of the fee or deposit must be reasonable in relation to the cost of holding the leadership contest.
(3) If the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that the amount of the fee or deposit is not reasonable, the registered party shall reduce the amount to an amount acceptable to the Chief Electoral Officer or comply with any direction of the Chief Electoral Officer.
(4) A person who intends to seek the leadership of a registered party shall file an application for registration with the Chief Electoral Officer under this
section when the person has announced the person’s intention to seek the leadership of the registered party.
(5) Repealed 2021 c24 s5(12).
(6) The application for registration must set out
RSA 2000
Section 9.3
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 42 (
a) the full name and contact information of the leadership contestant, (
b) the addresses of the place or places where records of the leadership contestant are maintained and of the place to which communications may be addressed, (
c) the name and contact information of the chief financial officer of the leadership contestant, (
d) the name and address of t he financial institution where an account has been opened to be used by or on behalf of the leadership contestant for the purpose of participating in the leadership contest, (
e) the names of the signing au thorities for the account referred to in clause (d), and (
f) the date the person first received contributions or incurred campaign expenses for the purpose of participating in the leadership contest.
(7) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of leadership contestants.
(8) When there is any change in the information required to be provided under subsection (6), the registered leadership contestant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 48 hours after the change and, subject to
section 10, on receipt of the notice the Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the register of leadership contestants accordingly.
(9) Notice under subsection (8) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer.
(10) Within 10 days of the conclusion of a leadership contest, the registered party shall submit to the Chief Electoral Officer a statement setting out the full names of the leadership contestants who were considered for leadership of the registered party, the full name of the person selected as the leader and the names of any persons who withdrew as leadership contestants.
(11) This
section applies with respect to a leadership contest that commences after this
section comes into force. 2012 c5 s68;2016 c29 s9;2021 c24 s5(12) Registered party candidates 9.3(1) Within 30 days after a registered party endorses a person as the candidate of the registered party for an electoral division, the registered party or its registered constituency association for the
RSA 2000
Section 9.3
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 43 electoral division must submit to the Chief Electoral Officer, in the form and manner approved by the Chief Electoral Officer, the following: (
a) the full name of the person endorsed as the candidate of t he registered party for the electoral division; (
b) the address of each place wh ere records of the endorsed candidate are to be maintained and of the place to which communications may be addressed; (
c) the name and contact information of the endorsed candidate’s chief financial officer; (
d) the name and address of the financial institution holding the account to be used by or on behalf of the endorsed candidate for the purpose of participating in the election; (
e) the name of each signing authority for the account referre d to in clause (d); (
f) the date on which the registered party endorsed the person as the candidate of the registered party for the electoral division.
(2) On receipt of a statement submitted under subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer must publish on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website the following information in respect of the endorsed candidate: (
a) the name of the person en dorsed as the candidate of a registered party for an electoral division; (
b) the name and contact information of the endorsed candidate’s chief financial officer; (
c) the date on which the registered party endorsed the person as a candidate.
(3) If there is a change to the information required under subsection (2), the candidate must notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within 48 hours after the change, and the Chief Electoral Officer must update the information published on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website under subsection (2), as necessary.
(4) A notice under subsection (3) may be sent by email or other electronic means approved by the Chief Electoral Officer. 2016 c29 s9;2021 c24 s5(13);2025 c7 s7(15)
RSA 2000
Section 10
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 44 Cancellation of registration 10(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of (
a) a registered party on application by the registered party, (
b) a registered constituency association on application by th e registered party concerned or by the independent member, as the case may be, (b.1) a registered prospective candidate association on application by the registered prospective candidate association or prospective candidate, or (
c) a registered third party on application by the third party .
(1.1) If a registered party does not endorse a candidate in a general election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cancel the registration of that party unless that registered party had endorsed a candidate at the most recent election under the Alberta Senate Election Act.
(1.2) For the purposes of subsection (1.1), a registered successor party is deemed to have endorsed a candidate in a general election if a predecessor party of the registered successor party endorsed a candidate in the general election.
(2) If a registered candidate who was nominated in accordance with the Election Act or the Alberta Senate Election Act withdraws the candidate’s candidacy in accordance with that Act that person shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing and the Chief Electoral Officer shall cancel the registration of that person.
(2.1) If a registered leadership contestant withdraws from the leadership contest, that person shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing and the Chief Electoral Officer shall cancel the registration of that person.
(2.2) Repealed 2021 c24 s5(14).
(3) Subject to
section 43.2(3) and (3.1), if the chief financial officer of a registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association fails to comply with
section 32, 42 or 43, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association, as the case may be.
(3.1) If the chief financial officer of a registered successor party fails to comply with
section 11.6, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the registered successor party.
RSA 2000
Section 10
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 45
(4) If a constituency association or prospective candidate association, or a person acting for a constituency association or prospective candidate association, accepts a contribution in respect of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the constituency association or the prospective candidate association, as the case may be.
(4.1) If the chief financial officer of a third party fails to file a report under
section 44.81 or 44.82, an election advertising return or report under
section 44.9 or an audited financial statement under
section 44.91, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the third party.
(4.2) If the chief financial officer of a third party fails to file a weekly report under
section 44.9497, a Senate election advertising return or report under
section 44.9498 or an audited financial statement under
section 44.9499, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the third party.
(4.3) If the chief financial officer of a third party fails to file a weekly report under
section 44.949999, a referendum advertising return or report under
section 44.9499991 or an audited financial statement under
section 44.9499992, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the third party.
(4.4) If the chief financial officer of a third party fails to file a weekly report under
section 40(1) of the Citizen Initiative Act, an initiative advertising return or expense limit report under
section 41 of that Act or an audited financial statement under
section 42 of that Act, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the third party.
(4.5) If the chief financial officer of a third party fails to file a weekly report under
section 38 of the Recall Act, a recall advertising return or expense limit report under
section 39 of that Act or an audited financial statement under
section 40 of that Act, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the third party.
(5) If the Chief Electoral Officer is for any reason of the opinion that a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered third party (
a) is no longer qualifie d to be registered, or (
b) obtained registration on the basis of an application that was false in any material particular,
RSA 2000
Section 10
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 46 the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered third party.
(5.1) If the Chief Electoral Officer determines under
section 9.1(5.2) that a third party is affiliated with a registered party, the Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of the third party.
(6) If the Chief Electoral Officer cancels the registration of a political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate, leadership contestant or third party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall send written notice of the cancellation, together with the Chief Electoral Officer’s reasons for the cancellation, by recorded mail to (
a) the political party, when the registration of that politic al party is cancelled, (
b) the constituency association and the political party concerned or the independent member, as the case may be, when the registration of that constituency association is cancelled, (b.1) the prospective candidate association and prospective candidate, when the registration of that prospective candidate association is cancelled, (
c) the candidate and the political party concerned, if any, w hen the registration of that candidate is cancelled, (
d) the third party, when the registration of that third party is cancelled, or (d.1) repealed 2021 c24 s5(14), (
e) the leadership contestant and the political party concerne d when the registration of that leadership contestant is cancelled, and the cancellation is effective on and after the 3rd day following the date of mailing the notice.
(7) A political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate, leadership contestant or third party notified under subsection (6) may, within 30 days after the mailing of the notice, request the Chief Electoral Officer in writing to review the cancellation.
RSA 2000
Section 10
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 47
(8) When the Chief Electoral Officer receives a written request under subsection (7), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, within 48 hours after that receipt, review the cancellation and give the political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate, leadership contestant or third party concerned an opportunity to make representations.
(9) Following the review of a cancellation, the Chief Electoral Officer may withdraw or confirm the cancellation of the registration of the political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate, leadership contestant or third party, as the case may be, and shall, (
a) if the cancellation involves a political party, give writt en notification of the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to the political party, (
b) if the cancellation involv es a constituency association, give written notification of the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to the constituency association and the political party concerned, (b.1) if the cancellation invo lves a prospective candidate association, give written notification of the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to the prospective candidate association and prospective candidate, (
c) if the cancellation involv es a candidate, give written notification of the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to the candidate and registered party, if any, (c.1) repealed 2021 c24 s5(14), (c.2) if the cancellation involv es a leadership contestant, give written notification of the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to the leadership contestant and the registered party concerned, or (
d) if the cancellation involv es a third party, give written notification of the Chief Electoral Officer’s decision to the third party.
(10) When the registration of a political party is cancelled, the registration of the registered constituency associations of that political party is accordingly also cancelled and the Chief Electoral Officer shall forthwith give written notification of the cancellations to those constituency associations.
RSA 2000
Section 10
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 48
(11) When the registration of a political party, constituency association or prospective candidate association is cancelled under subsection (3) for failure to comply with
section 42 or 43, it may not again apply for registration until the financial statements required by
section 42 or the campaign return required by
section 43, as the case may be, that was not filed has been filed with the Chief Electoral Officer and the late filing fee has been paid in accordance with
section 43.2.
(11.01) When the registration of a registered successor party is cancelled under subsection (3.1) for failure to comply with
section 11.6, the successor party may not apply for registration again until the financial statements required by
section 11.6 that were not filed have been filed with the Chief Electoral Officer and the late filing fee has been paid in accordance with
section 43.2.
(11.1) For the purpose of subsection (11), a political party may file the financial statement on behalf of its constituency association.
(12) When the registration of a political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate or leadership contestant is cancelled, all funds of the political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate or leadership contestant not required to pay the outstanding debts of the political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate or leadership contestant shall be paid over to the Chief Electoral Officer and held by the Chief Electoral Officer in trust for the political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate or leadership contestant and, if that political party, constituency association, prospective candidate association, candidate or leadership contestant does not again become registered under this Act within a period of one year following cancellation of the registration, the funds shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund. (12.1) Subsection (12) does not apply to the funds of a constituency association referred to in
section 11.4(1)(
a) and (2).
(13) When the registration of a third party is cancelled, all funds in the advertising account, Senate election advertising account or referendum advertising account must be dealt with in accordance with
section 44.92, 44.94991 or 44.9499993, as the case may be. RSA 2000 cE-2 s10;2004 c23 s88;2006 c23 s26;2010 c8 s63;2012 c5 s69; 2016 c29 s11;2017 c29 s122;2019 cA-33.5 s51(7);2019 c15 s14; 2020 c19 s15(25);2020 c20 s11(5);2021 c24 s5(14);2025 c7 s7(16); 2025 c22 s4
RSA 2000
Section 10.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 49 Records 10.1(1) A registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant and registered third party shall retain all of the records of that registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered third party for a period of 3 years following the date on which the financial statements, returns or reports required under this Act for the period to which the records relate are required to be filed.
(2) On the registration of a successor party, (
a) the records of its predeces sor parties become the records of the registered successor party, and (
b) the records of the cons tituency associations of its predecessor parties become the records of the registered successor party and the registered successor party shall retain all records for a period of 3 years following the date on which the financial statements, returns or reports required under this Act for the period to which the records relate are required to be filed. 2010 c8 s64;2012 c5 s70;2016 c29 s12;2019 c15 s14;2021 c24 s5(15); 2025 c7 s7(17) Access to documents 11(1) All documents required to be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer under this Act are public records and may on request during normal office hours be inspected at the offices of the Chief Electoral Officer.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the home address of a registered candidate included in the register under
section 9 or of a registered leadership contestant included in the register under
section 9.2 is not public information.
(3) Copies of any document referred to in subsection (1) may be obtained on payment for the preparation of the copies at the rates that the Chief Electoral Officer determines. RSA 2000 cE-2 s11;2012 c5 s71;2016 c29 s13;2021 c24 s5(16); 2025 c7 s7(18)
RSA 2000
Section 11.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 50
Part 2.1 Registration of Successor Party Application for registration of successor party 11.1(1) A successor party may, at any time other than during the campaign period for a general election, apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for registration under
section 7.
(2) An application for registration of a successor party must be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with
section 7(1.2) and must also (
a) be signed by the leader and one principal officer of each of the registered predecessor parties of the successor party, and (
b) be accompanied by resolutions approving the merger passed by each of the registered predecessor parties of the successor party. 2019 c15 s14;2021 c24 s5(17) Registration for eligible successor parties 11.2(1) For the purposes of
section 7(2), a successor party is not qualified to be registered if (
a) the successor party is not q ualified for registration under this Act, or (
b) a registered predecessor pa rty of the successor party has not discharged its obligations under this Act, including obligations to file financial statements and campaign returns and to maintain valid and up-to-date information respecting registration.
(2) A successor party may be registered under the name of one of its registered predecessor parties. 2019 c15 s14;2025 c7 s7(19) Effect of registration of successor party 11.3 On the registration of a successor party, (
a) the registered successor pa rty is the successor of each of its predecessor parties, (
b) the registered successor part y becomes a registered party, (
c) the registration of each re gistered predecessor party is cancelled, and (
d) the registered successor pa rty is responsible for the obligations of its predecessor parties and the constituency
RSA 2000
Section 11.4
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 51 associations of its predecessor parties to file financial statements and campaign returns for any period before the registration of the registered successor party. 2019 c15 s14 Constituency associations 11.4(1) Despite
section 10(10), a registered successor party shall, in respect of each electoral division in which a constituency association was registered by a registered predecessor party, apply to the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 8 to register as the constituency association of the registered successor party, (
a) a constituency associatio n of a predecessor party, or (
b) a new constituency association.
(2) The registered successor party shall apply to the Chief Electoral Officer under
section 10 for cancellation of the registration of the constituency associations of its predecessor parties that are not to be registered as constituency associations of the registered successor party. 2019 c15 s14 Transfers 11.5(1) Despite anything to the contrary in this Act, a registered predecessor party may transfer funds or real property, or the use of real property, to its successor party after the successor party has filed with the Chief Electoral Officer an application for registration as a registered successor party.
(2) Repealed 2021 c24 s5(18).
(3) A constituency association referred to in
section 11.4(2) and the chief financial officer of such a constituency association shall transfer the following to the registered successor party within 6 months after the registration of the successor party: (
a) all funds not required to pay the outstanding debts of the constituency association; (
b) the real property, or the use of the real property, of the constituency association.
(4) A transfer under this
section (
a) shall be recorded as to source and amount, and any funds transferred shall be deposited in an appropriate account on record with the Chief Electoral Officer, and (
b) is not a contribution fo r the purposes of this Act. 2019 c15 s14;2021 c24 s5(18)
RSA 2000
Section 11.6
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 52 Financial statements 11.6 Within 6 months after the registration of a successor party, the chief financial officer of the registered successor party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer (
a) in respect of each of its r egistered predecessor parties, the documents referred to in
section 42(1)(
a) for (
i) the portion of the year that ends on the day before the date of the registration of the successor party, and (ii) any earlier year for which those documents have not been provided, (
b) in respect of each of the constituency associations of eac h of its predecessor parties, the documents referred to in
section 42(1)(
b) for (
i) the portion of the year that ends on the day before the date of the registration of the successor party, and (ii) any earlier year for which those documents have not been provided, a n d (
c) in respect of the register ed successor party, an audited financial statement, in the form and manner approved by the Chief Electoral Officer, setting out the assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, at the date of the registration of the successor party. 2019 c15 s14;2025 c22 s4
Part 3 Contributions Continuing use of campaign funds 12(1) Any campaign funds held by a candidate at the end of a campaign period that include contributions received by the candidate for the purpose of the candidate’s campaign shall be held in trust to be expended for the candidate’s candidacy at the next election.
(2) Repealed 2010 c8 s65.
(3) Funds held in trust under subsection (1) may, at the option of the candidate, be transferred or paid from time to time to one or more of the following, as applicable:
RSA 2000
Section 12
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 53 (
a) the registered party that proposed or supported the candidate’s registration at the previous election; (
b) the registered constituency associations of the registered party that proposed or supported the candidate’s registration at the previous election; (
c) the registered prospective candidate association establish ed for the candidate; (
d) the registered candidates of the registered party that proposed or supported the candidate’s registration at the previous election; (
e) the registered successor pa rty or the registered constituency associations or registered candidates of the registered successor party, if the candidate’s registration was proposed or supported by a registered predecessor party of the registered successor party at the previous election; (
f) the Crown in right of Alberta if the funds cannot be transferred in accordance with clause (a), (b), (c), (
d) or (e).
(4) If a candidate is not endorsed as the candidate of a registered party and does not declare the candidate’s candidacy as an independent candidate for the next election on or before the nomination day for the next election appointed under the Election Act, the candidate must, no later than 7 days after the nomination day, transfer the funds held by the candidate in trust under subsection (1) (
a) to one or more of the following, as applicable: (
i) the registered party that proposed or supported the candidate’s registration at the previous election; (ii) a registered constituency association or registered candidate of the registered party that proposed or supported the candidate’s registration at the previous election, o r (
b) if the candidate’s registration was proposed or supported by a registered party that has since been succeeded by a registered successor party, to one or more of the following, as applicable: (
i) the registered successor party;
RSA 2000
Section 12.2
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 54 (ii) a registered constituency association or registered candidate of that registered successor party.
(4.1) If the funds referred to in subsection (4) cannot be transferred in accordance with that subsection, the candidate must transfer the funds to a registered charity. (5) Subsections (1), (3) and (4) do not apply to a candidate in relation to an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act.
(6) Any campaign funds held by a candidate in relation to an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act at the end of a campaign period that include contributions received by the candidate for the purpose of the candidate’s campaign shall, within the period during which a campaign return with respect to a campaign period must be filed under
section 43, (
a) be returned to the contri butors who contributed to the candidate’s campaign in accordance with the directions of the Chief Electoral Officer, or (
b) be donated to a registered charity. (
c) repealed 2025 c7 s7(20).
(7) If a candidate has not complied with subsection (6) within 30 days of the date specified for the distribution of funds, the candidate must immediately transfer those funds to the Chief Electoral Officer, who must deposit those funds in the General Revenue Fund. RSA 2000 cE-2 s12;2004 c23 s89;2010 c8 s65;2017 c29 s123; 2019 cA-33.5 s51(8);2019 c15 s14;2020 c19 s15(2); 2021 c24 s5(19);2025 c7 s7(20) 12.1 Repealed 2025 c7 s7(21). Surpluses — leadership contestants 12.2(1) Any campaign funds held by a leadership contestant at the end of a campaign period for the leadership contest must, at the time the leadership contestant campaign return is required to be filed under
section 43.02, at the option of the leadership contestant, (
a) be transferred to the registered party of which the leader ship contestant sought the leadership, or (
b) be returned to the contributors who contributed to the leadership contestant’s campaign in accordance with the directions of the Chief Electoral Officer.
RSA 2000
Section 12.3
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 55
(2) A leadership contestant who has not complied with subsection (1) within 30 days after the day on which the leadership contestant campaign return is required to be filed under
section 43.02 must immediately pay those funds to the Chief Electoral Officer for deposit in the General Revenue Fund.
(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), for the purposes of any leadership contests occurring when this
section comes into force, any campaign funds held by a leadership contestant at the end of a campaign period for the leadership contest must be returned to the contributors in accordance with the directions of the Chief Electoral Officer. 2016 c29 s14 Surpluses — prospective candidate associations 12.3(1) Subject to the regulations, if any, if a prospective candidate does not, on or before the nomination day for an election appointed under the Election Act, declare the prospective candidate’s candidacy as an independent candidate, and if the prospective candidate was not endorsed as a candidate of a registered party at the previous election, the prospective candidate association established for the prospective candidate must, no later than 7 days after the nomination day for the election, transfer the funds held by the prospective candidate association (
a) to one or more of the following, as applicable: (
i) the registered party that proposed or supported the prospective candidate at the previous election or supported the prospective candidate after the previous election; (ii) a registered constituency association or registered candidate of the registered party that proposed or supported the prospective candidate at the previous election, o r (
b) if the prospective candidate was proposed or supported by a registered party that has since been succeeded by a registered successor party, to one of more of the following, as applicable: (
i) the registered successor party; (ii) a registered constituency association or registered candidate of that registered successor party.
RSA 2000
Section 13
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 56
(2) If the funds referred to in subsection (1) cannot be transferred in accordance with that subsection, the prospective candidate association must transfer the funds to a registered charity.
(3) If a prospective candidate association has not complied with this
section within 30 days of the date specified for the transfer of funds, the prospective candidate association must immediately transfer those funds to the Chief Electoral Officer, who must deposit those funds in the General Revenue Fund. 2025 c7 s7(22) Exemptions 13(1) Funds transferred from (
a) a trust under
section 12, or (
b) a trust under
section 12 or 13(2) of
chapter 18 of the Sta tutes of Alberta, 1977, to a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association or registered candidate are not contributions for the purposes of this Act but shall be recorded as to amount and source by the recipient of the funds.
(2) Money, goods or services, or the use of goods or services, provided by any person, corporation, trade union or employee organization that do not exceed $50 in the aggregate are not a contribution for the purposes of this Act but shall be recorded as to the gross amount by the chief financial officer of the recipient unless the person, corporation, trade union or employee organization specifically requests that the amount be considered a contribution.
(3) A fee or deposit required to be paid by a person to a registered party to enter a leadership contest is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act but must be recorded as to amount and source by the registered party. RSA 2000 cE-2 s13;2010 c8 s66;2015 c15 s4;2016 c29 s15; 2021 c24 s5(20);2025 c7 s7(23) Deposit of contributions 14(1) All financial contributions accepted by or on behalf of a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate or registered leadership contestant shall be paid into an appropriate account on record with the Chief Electoral Officer.
(2) When any contribution of other than money, accepted by or on behalf of a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate
RSA 2000
Section 15.1
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 57 or registered leadership contestant, is converted at any time into money, that amount shall be paid into an appropriate account on record with the Chief Electoral Officer. RSA 2000 cE-2 s14;2010 c8 s67;2016 c29 ss16,50;2021 c24 s5(21); 2025 c7 s7(24) 15 Repealed 2010 c8 s68. Responsibility of contributors 15.1 A prospective contributor is responsible for ensuring, before making a contribution under this Act, that the contributor is not prohibited from making a contribution and is not making a contribution that is in excess of the limit prescribed by
section 17(1) or (1.1) or 18(1). 2012 c5 s72;2016 c29 s17;2021 c24 s5(22);2025 c7 s7(25) Contributions prohibited 16 A person or entity, other than a permitted person or entity, must not make a contribution to a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate or registered leadership contestant. RSA 2000 cE-2 s16;2010 c8 s69;2015 c15 s5;2016 c29 s18; 2021 c24 s5(23);2025 c7 s7(26) Limitation on contributions 17(0.1) This
section does not apply to an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act.
(1) A permitted person’s or entity’s contribution in each year to the following must not, in the aggregate, exceed $5000, as adjusted in accordance with
section 41.5: (
a) a registered party; (
b) a registered constituency association; (
c) a registered prospectiv e candidate association; (
d) a registered candidate.
(1.1) A permitted person’s or entity’s contribution in each year to the following must not, in the aggregate, exceed $5000, as adjusted in accordance with
section 41.5: (
a) a registered leadership contestant; (
b) a combination of registered leadership contestants.
(1.2) Repealed 2025 c7 s7(27).
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Section 17
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 58
(2) Contributions may be made to a registered constituency association at any time except during a campaign period for an election in that electoral division.
(2.1) Contributions may be made to a registered prospective candidate association at any time except (
a) if the prospective candidate is a registered candidate, du ring a campaign period for an election in the electoral division in which the prospective candidate intends to seek election, and (
b) during the campaign period for a general election.
(3) No contributions may be made to a registered candidate except during a campaign period for a general election or by-election.
(4) Repealed 2025 c7 s7(27).
(5) No contributions may be made to a registered leadership contestant except during the campaign period for the leadership contest.
(6) Any money paid during a campaign period out of the registered candidate’s or registered leadership contestant’s own funds for the purposes of the campaign for which the person is not reimbursed from the person’s campaign account (
a) is a contribution for th e purposes of this Act, and (
b) must be paid into the account of the registered candidate or registered leadership contestant on record with the Chief Electoral Officer.
(7) Subject to this section, a registered candidate or registered leadership contestant may lawfully contribute to the registered candidate’s or registered leadership contestant’s campaign an amount from the registered candidate’s or registered leadership contestant’s own funds.
(8) If the registered candidate’s, or registered leadership contestant’s campaign expenses paid from the registered candidate’s, or registered leadership contestant’s own funds exceed the maximum limit allowed for a contributor under subsection (1) or (1.1), as the case may be, the excess amount must be reimbursed to the registered candidate, or registered leadership contestant from the registered candidate’s, or registered leadership contestant’s campaign account, as the case may be.
RSA 2000
Section 18
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 59 (9) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to contributions made to and accepted by a leadership contestant while participating in any leadership contest occurring when this
section comes into force. RSA 2000 cE-2 s17;2004 c23 s90;2010 c8 s70;2012 c5 s73;2015 c15 s6; 2016 c29 s19;2019 cA-33.5 s51(9);2021 c24 s5(24);2025 c7 s7(27) Limitation re Alberta Senate Election Act 18(1) A permitted person’s or entity’s contribution in each year to a registered candidate for an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act must not, in the aggregate, exceed $5000, as adjusted in accordance with
section 41.5.
(2) No contributions may be made to a registered candidate except during a campaign period.
(3) Any money paid during a campaign period out of the registered candidate’s own funds for the purposes of the campaign for which the person is not reimbursed from the person’s campaign account (
a) is a contribution for th e purposes of this Act, and (
b) must be paid into the account of the registered candidate on record with the Chief Electoral Officer.
(4) Subject to this section, a registered candidate may lawfully contribute to the registered candidate’s campaign an amount from the registered candidate’s own funds.
(5) If the registered candidate’s campaign expenses paid from the registered candidate’s own funds exceed the maximum limit allowed for a contributor, the excess amount must be reimbursed to the registered candidate from the registered candidate’s campaign account.
RSA 2000 cE-2 s18;2012 c5 s74;2015 c15 s7;Rep. 2017 c29 s124; 2019 cA-33.5 s51(10);2025 c7 s7(28) Excess contributions 19(1) A registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate or registered leadership contestant, or a person acting on behalf of any of them, must not accept a contribution if the person or entity knows or ought to know that the amount of the contribution would exceed a limit set out in
section 17.
(2) If a chief financial officer becomes aware that a contribution in excess of a limit set out in
section 17 was made to or accepted by or on behalf of a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate or registered leadership contestant for whom the chief
RSA 2000
Section 20
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 60 financial officer acts, the chief financial officer must, within 30 days after becoming aware of the contribution, (
a) provide the Chief Elector al Officer with written notice of the contribution and circumstances, and (
b) do one of the following, as applicable: (
i) if the identity of the cont ributor is known, return the portion of the contribution that exceeds the applicable limit to the contributor; (ii) if the identity of the cont ributor cannot be determined, transfer the portion of the contribution that exceeds the applicable limit to the Chief Electoral Officer.
(3) The Chief Electoral Officer must deposit the funds received under subsection (2) into the General Revenue Fund. RSA 2000 cE-2 s19;2012 c5 s75;2016 c29 s20;2021 c24 s5(25); 2025 c7 s7(29) Excess contributions re Senate election 20(1) A registered candidate or a person acting on behalf of a registered candidate must not accept a contribution if the registered candidate or person knows or ought to know that the amount would exceed the limit set out in
section 18.
(2) If a chief financial officer becomes aware that a contribution in excess of the limit set out in
section 18 was made to or accepted by or on behalf of the candidate for whom the chief financial officer acts, the chief financial officer must, within 30 days after becoming aware of the contribution, (
a) provide the Chief Elector al Officer with written notice of the contribution and circumstances, and (
b) do one of the following, as applicable: (
i) if the identity of the cont ributor is known, return the portion of the contribution that exceeds the limit to the contributor; (ii) if the identity of the cont ributor cannot be determined, transfer the portion of the contribution that exceeds the limit to the Chief Electoral Officer.
(3) The Chief Electoral Officer must deposit the funds received under subsection (2) into the General Revenue Fund. RSA 2000 cE-2 s20; 2012 c5 s76;Rep. 2017 c29 s124; 2019 cA-33.5 s51(11);2020 c19 s15(3);2025 c7 s7(29)
RSA 2000
Section 21
Chapter E-2 ELECTION FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS DISCLOSURE ACT 61 Prohibition re Senate election 21(1) No registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association or person acting for a registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association may, in respect of an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act, accept contributions.
(2) If the chief financial officer of a registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association learns that a contribution was accepted by the registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association or by a person acting for the registered party, registered constituency association or registered prospective candidate association, the chief financial officer shall, within 30 days after learning of it, advise the Chief Electoral Officer in writing of the fact and circumstances.
(3) Subject to
section 41.2(1.1), nothing in this
section or
section 38 prohibits a registered party from using funds received from contributors under
section 17 or the registered party’s real property, goods or services to support a registered candidate in relation to an election under the Alberta Senate Election Act during the campaign period for that election, but any such use must be recorded in the form and manner prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
RSA 2000 cE-2 s21;Rep. 2017 c29 s124;2019 cA-33.5 s51(11); 2020 c19 s15(4);2025 c7 s7(30) Anonymous and unauthorized contributions 21.1(1) Any anonymous contribution in excess of $50 and any contribution or portion of a contribution made in contravention of this Act accepted by a registered party, registered constituency association, registered prospective candidate association, registered candidate or registered leadership contestant must not be used or expended, and the registered party, reg