In Canada, a registered third party is a "a person or group that wants to participate in or influence elections other than as a political party, electoral district association, nomination contestant or candidate." Third parties register with Elections Canada and are regulated under the terms of the Canada Elections Act.[1]
Third parties are subject to different regulations for campaign and pre-campaign periods. There are no limits to what a third party can spend on political advertising pre-campaign — spending rules are only in force once the writ is dropped and the campaign has officially begun. A person or group must register as a third party immediately after incurring election advertising expenses totalling $500 or more.[1] There are strict limits on advertising expenses, as well as specific limits that can be incurred to promote or oppose the election of one or more candidates in a particular electoral district.
It is illegal for a third party and a registered political party or a candidate to collude with each other for the purpose of circumventing the maximum amount that a registered party is allowed for election expenses.[2]
Federal general elections
2015 Election
Registered third parties
There were 112 registered third parties in the 2015 federal election:[3]A partial list includes the following:
2015 Advertising Spending Limits[4]
- Total election advertising expenses limit: $439,410.81
- Total election advertising expenses limit in a given electoral district: $8,788.22
2011 Election
There were 55 registered third parties in the 2011 federal election:[5]
- Ashraf Ali Rao
- Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC)
- AVAAZ
- BC Health Coalition
- BCWF Political Action Alliance
- British Columbia Nurses' Union
- British Columbia Teachers' Federation
- Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
- Canadian Health Coalition
- Canadian Labour Congress
- Canadian Multicultural Association
- Canadian Shooting Sports Association
- Canadian Union of Public Employees
- Canadian Wheat Board Alliance
- Canadians Defending Democracy
- Canadians Rising Up For Democracy
- Catch 22 Campaign
- Catholic Civil Rights League
- CAW-Canada
- Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC)
- Citizens for Truth in Politics
- CMI – ICM Canadian Migration Institute
- Coalition for Gun Control
- Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
- Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP)
- Conservation Voters of BC
- Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of British Columbia
- Dogwood Initiative
- Elizabeth Will Group
- End Racism Now
- Friends of Canadian Broadcasting
- Gesher Canada
- Immigration Practitioners and Academics for a Just Immigration Policy
- International Fund for Animal Welfare Inc. (IFAW)
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
- John W. Fossey
- Kam-Wing Chiu
- Les Sans-Chemise
- Matilda Wong
- National Citizens Coalition
- Project Democracy
- Public Service Alliance of Canada
- Richmond Watch
- Save Our Prison Farms
- Smart Tax Alliance – BC
- Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA)
- Sport Fishing Institute of BC
- The Council of Canadians
- The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
- UFCW Canada
- Vancouver Fire Fighters' Union Local 18
- Whip Harper
- Wong John Gok Git
- Yee Lai Leung
- Yik-Lan Lo
References
- ^ a b "Elections Canada Online | Election advertising handbook for Third Parties, Financial Agents and Auditors (EC 20227) – July 2015". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ^ "Elections Canada Online | Election advertising handbook for Third Parties, Financial Agents and Auditors (EC 20227) – July 2015". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ^ "Elections Canada Online | Registered third parties – 42nd general election – October 19, 2015". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ^ "Elections Canada Online | Limits on Election Advertising Expenses Incurred by Third Parties". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ^ "Elections Canada Online | Registered Third Parties – 41st General Election – May 2, 2011". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
