Compliance Centre

Guidance on Canadian municipal election finance rules — by province.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult your local returning officer or an election lawyer for binding guidance.

General Principles (All Provinces)

  • Candidate registration: You must register as a candidate with your local municipality before accepting donations or incurring campaign expenses.
  • Contribution limits: Most provinces cap individual contributions between $750 and $2,500. Corporate and union donations are prohibited in most jurisdictions.
  • Spending limits: Each municipality sets a maximum spending cap based on the number of electors. Your BallotStack compliance module tracks your spending against this limit.
  • Receipt issuance: You are required to issue official receipts to contributors. Your Campaign Command site includes a donation intake form that collects all required information.
  • Financial disclosure: Most provinces require a financial statement filed with your municipal clerk within 75–120 days of election day.
  • Surplus & deficit: Any campaign surplus must be handled per provincial rules (typically donated to charity or returned to contributors). Deficits must be resolved within a set window.

By Province

Ontario — Municipal Elections Act, 1996

Contribution limit: $1,200 per contributor per candidate. No corporate or union donations. Spending limit set by municipality. Financial statements due within 75 days of election day. Late filing results in automatic disqualification from holding office.

British Columbia — Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

No individual contribution limit for local elections (as of 2024 — confirm with Elections BC). Disclosure threshold: contributions over $100 must be reported with contributor identity. Financial disclosure due within 90 days of election day.

Alberta — Local Authorities Election Act

Contribution limit: $5,000 per contributor per candidate. Corporate and union donations permitted. Spending limit varies by population of municipality. Financial statements due within 60 days of election day.

Manitoba — Municipal Councils and School Boards Elections Act

No province-wide contribution limit for municipal elections as of latest guidance — check with your local municipality. Financial disclosure requirements vary by municipality size.

Other Provinces

BallotStack serves candidates in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, PEI, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador. Rules vary significantly by province. Please consult your provincial elections authority or local returning officer for current rules before accepting contributions.

CASL — Email & SMS Compliance

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) applies to commercial electronic messages. Political campaign messages sent by candidates are generally exempt from CASL consent requirements, but you must still:

  • Identify yourself clearly as the sender
  • Provide a working unsubscribe mechanism
  • Honour unsubscribe requests within 10 business days

BallotStack’s SMS broadcast feature includes automatic unsubscribe handling. Email campaigns sent through Campaign Command include a compliant footer with unsubscribe link.

PIPEDA / Privacy

Voter data collected through your campaign website (volunteer sign-ups, event RSVPs, contact forms) is subject to PIPEDA and provincial privacy laws. Your Campaign Command dashboard stores this data in Canada on Canadian infrastructure. Review our Privacy Policy for full details.