2024 Election Spending Inflation Factor

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published a House of Commons notice that sets the inflation adjustment factor for election rules for the one-year period beginning April 1, 2024 at 1.722. The notice, from Stéphane Perrault, affects how spending limits and certain audit subsidy payments are calculated under the Canada Elections Act.

What it does#

• Gives the inflation adjustment factor as 187.0 ÷ 108.6 = 1.722 for the year starting April 1, 2024.
• Says this factor will be used to recalculate:
  • limits on election expenses for candidates,
  • limits on partisan advertising and election expenses for registered parties,
  • limits on partisan activity, partisan advertising, election advertising and election survey expenses for third parties,
  • audit subsidy payments for registered associations, nomination contestants, candidates and leadership contestants.
• Also notes a routine House of Commons posting about Standing Order 130 and where to contact the Private Members’ Business Office (a separate, administrative item in the same Gazette section).

Who's affected#

• Election candidates and their campaign teams.
• Registered political parties.
• Third parties that run partisan advertising, election advertising or surveys.
• Registered associations, nomination contestants and leadership contestants who receive audit subsidies.
• Ordinary voters are not directly regulated by this notice, but the amounts affect how much campaigns and parties can spend.

Why it matters#

• The factor of 1.722 changes the dollar limits and subsidy amounts used in federal election rules for one year. That means permitted spending and some audit payments will be higher by that multiplier for the period starting April 1, 2024.
• Higher limits can affect campaign strategies, how much parties and groups can buy in advertising, and the size of audit reimbursements after campaigns.