Allowance paid to political parties

Allowance paid to authorized political parties

The Chief Electoral Officer of Québec shall determine, after each general election, the annual allowance that may be given to authorized parties conforming to section 82 of the Election Act. This allowance is revised annually. It is distributed proportionately to the percentage of valid votes cast for the parties at the previous general elections.

In addition, within 10 days of the order to hold general elections, the Chief Electoral Officer will pay an additional allowance to political parties. This additional allowance will be calculated in the manner prescribed in the first paragraph of section 82 and distributed in the same way as the regular allowance.

In addition, and subject to certain conditions, the Act provides for the payment of amounts to parties, independent Members, and independent candidates based on the amounts that they receive from contributions. The method for calculating these amounts are as follows:

1. $2.50 for each dollar contributed to an authorized party up to an annual amount of $20,000 paid in contributions to each party;
2. in addition to the contributions referred to in subparagraph 1 of this paragraph, $1.00 for each dollar contributed to an authorized party up to an annual amount of $200,000 paid in contributions to each party.

For independent Members and independent candidates, the Chief Electoral Officer pays $2.50 for each dollar collected in contributions, up to an annual amount of $800 per member or candidate paid in contributions.

During a general election, in addition to the amounts provided for the authorized parties, the Chief Electoral Officer will also pay:

1. $2.50 for each additional dollar contributed to an authorized party for that election, up to $20,000 paid in contributions to each party;
2. in addition to the contributions referred to in subparagraph 1 of this paragraph, $1.00 for each additional dollar contributed to an authorized party for that election, up to $200,000 paid in contributions to each party.

To be entitled to receive these additional amounts, a party that has been authorized since the last general election and that is not entitled to receive the annual allowance must submit to the Chief Electoral Officer,

1. a list of the names and addresses of at least 1,000 members; or
2. a list of the names and addresses of at least 500 members and come from at least 10 administrative regions having at least 25 members each.

Publication in the Gazette officielle

Under paragraph 2, section 86 of the Election Act, no later than April 1^st of each year, the Directeur général des élections du Québec must publish in the Gazette officielle du Québec a summary of the sums paid to the official representative of any party targeted by paragraphs 81 and 82 of the Act.

Allowance paid to political parties in 2012

From January 1 to December 31, 2012, a total of $4,989,131.28 was paid in allowances to the official representatives of the political parties mentioned below, covering costs incurred and paid by these parties for their day-to-day administration, distributing their political programs, and coordinating their members' political activities.

Parti	Période concernée	Montant versé
Action démocratique du Québec / Coalition avenir Québec - L'équipe François Legault	December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2012	$966,671.89
Parti indépendantiste	July 1, 2011 to September 4, 2012	$7,644.36
Parti libéral du Québec/Quebec Liberal Party	December 9, 2011 to December 31, 2012	$2,028,005.55
Parti marxiste-léniniste du Québec	December 9, 2011 to November 30, 2012	$3,578.27
Parti québécois	December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2012	$1,704,454.96
Parti vert du Québec/Green Party of Québec	December 9, 2011 to November 30, 2012	$94,478.86
Québec solidaire	December 9, 2011 to October 31, 2012	$183,695.16
Équipe autonomiste	September 5 to November 30, 2012	$602.23
	Total :	$4,989,131.28