Constituency Associations
Bill 54: Election Statutes Amendment Act impacts all provincial electoral legislation. This page is being updated to reflect the new legislation, and as such the information below may be outdated.
A constituency association (CA) is a volunteer-run organization established by a registered party, or by an Independent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), to support political activities on their behalf. Political activities include promotion, fundraising, membership drives etc.
A party may establish one CA in each electoral division. An Independent MLA may only establish a CA in their electoral division.
The political party, or Independent MLA, must register the CA(s) with Elections Alberta, maintain up-to-date registration information, and ensure that the CA(s) submits annual financial reports to disclose financial activities.
This section provides resources and links for constituency associations, including information on registering a constituency association and the financial rules that apply to constituency associations and their chief financial officers.
Contributions
Through their chief financial officer, a registered constituency association can accept contributions at any time except:
- During a campaign period for a general election, and
- During a campaign period for a by-election, if the constituency association runs a candidate in the by-election.
The campaign period for a general election or by-election starts on the day a Writ of Election is issued and ends two months after Election Day.
Contributions can only be accepted from the following persons or entities:
- Persons ordinarily resident in Alberta,
- Corporations carrying on business in Alberta and are not prohibited corporations, and
- Alberta trade unions or employee organizations.
Contributions are any money or in-kind donations of real property, goods, or services.
The maximum contribution a constituency association’s chief financial officer can accept from an eligible contributor is $5,000 per year, less any other contributions the contributor may make in the same year to registered parties, registered candidates, registered prospective candidate associations, or other registered constituency associations.
The constituency association’s chief financial officer is responsible for reporting contributions to Elections Alberta and issuing official contribution receipts to contributors. Contributors can claim non-refundable personal income tax credits on their tax return for their contributions to registered constituency associations.
Get more information on contributions.
Fundraising Functions
A registered constituency association can hold events and activities to raise funds at any time except during a campaign period for an election.
Examples of fundraising events include luncheons, meet & greet events, rallies, golf tournaments, and auctions. Contribution rules limit who can pay to attend events and who can donate/bid for auctions.
All fundraising revenues and expenses must be reported on the constituency association’s annual return.
Get more information on fundraising functions.
Expenses
A registered constituency association can spend funds at any time, with no limit on its expenses.
Constituency associations can pay election expenses on their party’s behalf or on behalf of their candidate(s) which count toward the party’s or candidate’s expense limit. The constituency association must record these expenses separately from its operating expenses.
Election expenses are any property, goods, or services used, distributed or consumed during an election period, for a registered party’s or candidate’s promotion or opposing others. The election period begins on the day a Writ of Election is issued and extends to the end of voting on Election Day.
Get more information on expenses.
Filing Deadlines
Through their chief financial officer, registered constituency associations must disclose the details of their financial activities to Elections Alberta by submitting annual financial statements due by March 31st each year. The reports are required regardless of the level of financial activity, including nil activity if applicable.
An automatic late filing fee of $500 applies for missing a filing deadline.
Get more information on filing deadlines.
Financial Reporting and Online Financial System
The Financial Reporting website has registration and financial information for constituency associations.
The chief financial officers for registered constituency associations are granted access to Elections Alberta’s secure Online Financial System (OFS) to report contributions, issue official contribution receipts to contributors, and submit the constituency association’s annual financial statements.
Contact finance@elections.ab.ca with any questions.