Dateline: 01/12/07
The Federal Accountability Act which received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006 reforms the financing of political parties and candidates in Canada, changing the rules for political contributions to prevent influence being bought by political donations and to level the playing field for individual contributors.
Reforms to political financing include:
- new limits on individual donations to parties and candidates
- a ban on contributions from corporations, unions and organizations to parties and candidates
- a longer period to prosecute violations under the Canada Elections Act.
Effective January 1, 2007 the following rules for political contributions under the Canada Elections Act come into force.
Who Can Make Political Contributions
- You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada to make a political contribution to a registered political entity.
- Corporations, trade unions, associations and groups may not make political contributions.
- An employer can give an employee a paid leave of absence during an election period to allow the employee to be a nomination contestant or a candidate without the leave being considered a political contribution.
Limits on Political Contributions for Individuals
- The amount an individual may contribute to a registered political party has been reduced to $1,100 a calendar year (adjusted for inflation annually on April 1).
- A distinct $1,100 annual limit has been put on the total an individual may contribute to the registered associations, the nomination contestants and the candidates of a registered political party. (The total is adjusted for inflation annually on April 1.)
- The amount an individual may contribute to an independent candidate in a particular election has been reduced to $1,100 (adjusted for inflation annually on April 1).
- The amount an individual may contribute to a leadership in a particular leadership contest has been reduced to $1,100 (adjusted for inflation annually on April 1).
- A nomination contestant or a candidate may make an additional $1000 in total per election to his or her own campaign.
- A party leadership contestant may make an additional $1000 contribution in total per contest to his or her own campaign.
- Cash contributions of more than $20 to registered political entities have been banned.
- You cannot make a political contribution with money, property or services that were given to you for that purpose.
Income Tax Credits for Political Contributions
- Tax credits for political contributions are available at the following rates: 75 percent of the first $400; 50 percent of the next $350; and 33 1/3 percent of an amount over $750.
- Tax credits are not given for donations to leadership or nomination contestants, or to unregistered parties and their electoral district associations.
Disclosure of Political Contributions
- All political contributions of more than $20 must be receipted and reported.
- Political contributions of more than $200 made to registered parties, registered electoral district associations, leadership contestants and candidates must be reported to Elections Canada by the recipient and become matters of public record.
- Political contributions of more than $200 made to nomination contestants are also reported to Elections Canada and become a matter of public record if the contestant receives contributions of $1,000 or more, or incurs expenses of $1,000 or more.
