Senate Candidates
A Senate candidate is a person seeking to be elected as a Senate nominee in a Senate election. The person may be endorsed by a registered provincial party and/or aligned with a registered federal political party, or an independent. Senate candidates must register with Elections Alberta, maintain up-to-date registration information, and submit a financial report after the Senate election to disclose their financial activities. Learn more about the registration and nomination process here.
This page provides basic information for Senate candidates and their chief financial officers on raising and spending funds. Any others helping with a candidate’s campaign should also familiarize themselves with these rules. For advertising guidelines click here.
Contributions
A registered Senate candidate can only accept contributions from persons ordinarily resident in Alberta and only during a campaign period for a Senate election. More information about the campaign period for a Senate election can be found here.
Contributions can be money or in-kind donations of goods or services. The maximum a Senate candidate can receive from any given contributor is $5,000, less any contributions that person may make to other Senate candidates in the year. The rules also apply to Senate candidates who self-fund their campaigns.
The Senate candidate’s chief financial officer is responsible for reporting contributions to Elections Alberta and issuing official contribution receipts to contributors, which contributors can claim for non-refundable personal income tax credits on their tax return.
Click here for more information on contributions and tax receipts, including previous contribution limits.
Fundraising Events
A registered Senate candidate or any person acting on the candidate’s behalf can hold events and activities during the Senate election campaign period only, to raise funds for the Senate candidate’s campaign. Examples of fundraising events include a luncheon, meet & greet, rally, golf tournament, silent auction etc. Contribution rules limit who can pay to attend events and who can donate/bid at a silent auction. All fundraising revenues and expenses must be reported on the candidate’s campaign return.
Click here for more information on fundraising events.
Expense Limits
Registered Senate candidates can only spend funds during the campaign period.
A spending limit applies during the election period, beginning on the day the Writ of Election is issued and extending until the polls close on Senate Election Day. A registered Senate candidate can spend a maximum of $607,000 during the election period for a Senate nominee election.
The spending limit applies to “election expenses” which are any property, goods or services used, distributed or consumed during the election period, for the candidate’s promotion or for opposing others. Examples include advertising in all formats, advertising production, fundraising events and activities, polling including surveys and research, honoraria and salaries, office and technology, etc.
The following expenses are not subject to the candidate’s spending limit, even if they occur within the election period:
- candidate’s travel expenses related to the election including meals and accommodation,
- candidate’s childcare expenses,
- care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for who the candidate normally provides such care,
- for a candidate who has a disability, additional expenses related to the disability,
- audit and financial fees necessary for compliance with the EFCDA, and
- reasonable incidental expenses incurred by or on behalf of volunteers.
Click here for more information on expense limits, including previous expense limits.
Filing Deadlines
Registered Senate candidates must disclose their financial activities to Elections Alberta by filing a campaign period return within four months after Senate Election Day. Automatic late filing fees apply for failure to file the financial statement on time.
Click here for more information on filing deadlines.
Financial Reporting
View registration and financial information for Senate candidates.
View Financial Reporting Website
Online Financial System (OFS)
Registered Senate candidates and their chief financial officers are granted access to Elections Alberta’s secure Online Financial System (OFS) to report contributions, issue official contribution receipts to contributors, and submit the financial return.
Contact us for access and login queries.