Election Spending Inflation Factor 2022

Summary#

This notice sets the inflation adjustment factor under the Canada Elections Act for the one-year period beginning April 1, 2022 at 168.6 ÷ 108.6 or 1.552. The factor will be used to update spending limits and some audit subsidy amounts for campaigns and political actors. The notice was issued by Stéphane Perrault, Chief Electoral Officer.

What it does#

• Establishes an inflation adjustment factor of 168.6 ÷ 108.6 (equal to 1.552) for the 12 months starting April 1, 2022.
• Uses that factor to update these amounts under the Canada Elections Act:
  • limits on election expenses for candidates;
  • limits on partisan advertising expenses and election expenses for registered parties;
  • limits on partisan activity expenses, partisan advertising expenses, election advertising expenses and election survey expenses for third parties;
  • audit subsidy payments for registered associations, nomination contestants, candidates and leadership contestants.

Who's affected#

• Candidates in federal elections.
• Registered parties.
• Third parties that run partisan advertising, election advertising or surveys.
• Registered associations, nomination contestants, and leadership contestants who receive audit subsidies.
• Voters indirectly, because the change affects how much money those groups can legally spend.

Why it matters#

• The factor determines how high legal spending limits and subsidy amounts will be for the coming year.
• That changes campaign budgets and may affect how parties, candidates and outside groups plan advertising and other election activities.
• It is a routine, legally required update so the financial thresholds keep up with inflation for the period starting April 1, 2022.