Rules are now in place to make the process more transparent

Legislation adopted by the National Assembly in December 2011 stipulates that leadership races of political parties are subject to a legal framework. As such, candidates must respect rules concerning the financing and auditing of campaign expenses that are now included in the Election Act (EA) and in the Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities (AERM).

The main objective of the Act is to make leadership races more transparent. Throughout a leadership campaign, information concerning contributions and contributors is available on the Chief Electoral Officer's website. Candidates' expenses are recorded in reports that are disclosed to the general public.

The Act outlines offences and provides for substantial fines in cases where the rules are not respected.

On the municipal front

Similar rules, except that...

New provisions have been added to the Act respecting elections and referendums in municipalities (AERM) as regards leadership races for municipal parties. These are similar to the rules governing leadership races for provincial political parties, except that...

• only an elector residing in the municipality may make a financial contribution.
• no provision has been made for disclosure of contributions on a website during the leadership race.
• only contributions of $100 or more provided for a leadership candidate will be publicly disclosed.
• a tax credit applicable to contributions is the same as the due usually received for a contribution to a municipal political party. This credit may not, however be added to any other credit obtained by the elector for an "ordinary" contribution to a political party.
• the maximum amount for a loan or guarantee granted by an elector is the amount stipulated under the AERM.

To view the advertising >>