Third party advertiser campaign finances and contributions

In a regular election year, the campaign period for a third party advertiser begins on the day they file their registration forms with the City Clerk and ends on December 31 in a regular election year.

On December 31, the third party advertiser’s campaign is automatically closed. Third party advertisers cannot accept any contributions or incur any expenses after the end of the campaign period.

If at the end of the campaign period a third party advertiser’s campaign expenses are greater than their campaign income, their campaign will be in deficit and they extend their campaign to fundraise.

If a third party advertiser’s campaign has a surplus, the third party advertiser must pay the surplus to the City Clerk when filing their financial statement.

Third party advertisers are subject to two spending limits:

1. A general spending limit.      
2. A separate limit for expenses relating to parties and other expressions of appreciation after voting day.

The general spending limit is calculated based on the number of electors who are eligible to vote in the municipality where the third party is registered. The formula to calculate the limit is $5,000 plus $0.05 per eligible elector, to the maximum of $25,000.

The spending limit for expenses relating to parties and other expressions of appreciation after voting day is calculated as ten percent of the amount of the general spending limit, to the maximum of $2,500.

An individual, corporation, or trade union cannot raise or spend any money on third party advertisements that will appear during an election in the City of Ottawa until they have registered as a third party advertiser and opened a bank account exclusively for the purposes of the election campaign.

Third party advertisers are responsible for keeping records of the financial activities related to their campaign and are required to keep these records the next council or school board takes office.

Campaign contributions

Campaign contributions are any money, goods or services that are given to a third party advertiser for use in their campaign, including money and goods that a third party advertiser contributes to their own campaign.

Third party advertisers must issue a receipt for every contribution they receive. The receipt should show who made the contribution, the date, and the value of the contribution.

Third party advertisers can accept contributions from:

• Any person who is a resident of Ontario.
• A corporation that carries on business in Ontario.
• A trade union that holds bargaining rights for employees in Ontario.
• The third party advertiser and, in the case of an individual, his or her spouse.

Third party advertisers cannot accept contributions from:

• A federal political party registered under the Canada Elections Act (Canada) or any federal constituency association or registered candidate at a federal election endorsed by that party.
• A provincial political party, constituency association, registered candidate or leadership contestant registered under the Election Finances Act. 
• The Crown in right of Canada or Ontario, a municipality or a local board. 

Campaign contribution limits

• Contributors may contribute a total of $1,200 to a third party advertiser in relation to third party advertisements that appear during an election in the City of Ottawa.
• The maximum total amount that a contributor can give to third party advertisers in the City of Ottawa is $5,000.
• Contributions greater than $25 may not be made in cash. All contributions above $25 must be made by cheque, money order, or by a method that clearly shows where the funds come from.

Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, third party advertisers are required to inform each of their contributors of these contribution limits.

Campaign contribution rebates

• Third party advertisers are not eligible to participate in the City’s Contribution Rebate Program.

Initial financial statements

Third party advertisers are responsible for filing a complete and accurate initial Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Third Party - Form 8 by 2 pm on the last Friday in March following a regular election. The statement covers the period from the day the third party advertiser filed their registration forms with the City Clerk until December 31 in a regular election year.

Any third party advertiser that filed a registration form must file an initial financial statement. This includes third party advertisers who withdrew their registration.

Supplementary financial statements

If at the end of the campaign period a third party advertiser’s campaign expenses are greater than their campaign income, their campaign will be in deficit and they extend their campaign to fundraise.

Third party advertisers who extend their campaign are responsible for filing a complete and accurate supplementary Financial Statement - Auditor's Report Third Party - Form 8 by 2 pm on the last Friday in September following a regular election. The supplementary financial statement covers the period from the day the third party advertiser filed their registration forms with the City Clerk until the earliest of the following dates in a regular election:

• the deficit is erased.
• the third party advertiser notifies the City Clerk in writing that they are no longer accepting any contributions.

• June 30.

30-day grace period and late filing fee

Third party advertisers who miss the initial or supplementary financial statement filing deadlines can still submit their statement up to 30 days later if they pay a $500 late filing fee.