Third party advertiser campaign finances and contributions in the 2025 Osgoode By-election

The campaign period for a third party advertiser begins on the day their Notice of Registration is filed and ends on July 31, 2025. On this date, 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. Third party advertisers with a deficit may extend their campaign in order to do some additional fundraising.

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.

Extending a campaign

If a third party advertiser has a deficit at the end of the campaign period, they can extend their campaign for an additional six months to attempt to erase the deficit.

To extend a campaign, a third party advertiser must:

1. File a Notice of Extension of Campaign Period - Form 6 on or before July 31, 2025.
2. Submit the form in person to the Elections Office during regular office hours.

The extended campaign period will continue until the earliest of the following:

• The deficit is erased;
• The third party advertiser notifies the City Clerk in writing they are no longer accepting any contributions; or
• The end of the Extended Campaign Period on February 2, 2026.

Third party advertisers who extend their campaign must file two financial statements by the statutory deadline dates as follows:

• Initial financial statement must be filed on or before September 2, 2025 at 2 pm
• Supplementary financial statement must be filed on or before March 4, 2026 at 2 pm

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. The initial spending limits should be used to conduct all financial aspects of the campaign until the final spending limits are provided to third party advertisers.

The initial spending limits for the 2025 Osgoode By-election will be provided to third party advertisers at the time of filing of their registration forms. The final spending limits will be provided to third party advertisers on or before May 26, 2025. The City Clerk’s calculation of the spending limits is final. The higher spending limit will prevail and should be used by third party advertisers when filing their financial statement(s). 

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.

The Elections Office is open by appointment only. Third party advertisers, or their agents, may contact the Elections Office by phone at 613-580-2660 or by email at elections@ottawa.ca to schedule an appointment to meet with staff. Appointments will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis.