2019–20 Departmental Plan
Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more
Name of transfer payment program | Reimbursements to eligible candidates and political parties (election year 2019–20) and subsidies to auditors of candidates (2019–20) and registered associations (ongoing) |
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Start date | 1974 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Other (not grants or contributions) |
Type of appropriation | The program is appropriated through the Electoral Expenditures statutory authority |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | Not applicable |
Link to department's Program Inventory | Electoral Integrity and Regulatory Compliance |
Description | Elections Canada's role is to administer the Canada Elections Act (the Act), which has three main objectives: fairness, transparency and participation. To promote fairness and participation, the Act provides for partial reimbursement of paid election expenses and personal expenses of candidates (for by-elections and general elections), partial reimbursement of paid election expenses of registered parties (for general elections only) and a subsidy for candidate and registered association audit fees. To be eligible for partial reimbursement of election expenses, candidates must be elected or obtain at least 10% of the valid votes cast in their electoral district. Registered parties must obtain at least 2% of the valid votes cast nationally or 5% of the valid votes cast in electoral districts where the party has endorsed candidates. A subsidy not exceeding $1,500 is sent directly to the external auditors of candidates and to auditors of qualified registered associations. To qualify for an audit subsidy, an association must have accepted contributions or incurred expenses totalling $5,000 or more during the year. This Transfer Payment Program does not include any refundable contribution. |
Expected results | Eligible political entities and auditors have access to statutory reimbursements and subsidies provided by law. |
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation | Not applicable (statutory payments as determined by Parliament) |
Decision following the results of last evaluation | Not applicable |
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation | Not applicable |
General targeted recipient groups | Eligible political entities and auditors |
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients | Elections Canada provides targeted recipient groups with tools, detailed information and training that explain the terms and conditions for eligibility to statutory reimbursements and subsidies. |
Type of transfer payment | 2018–19 Forecast spending | 2019–20 Planned spending | 2020–21 Planned spending |
2021–22 Planned spending |
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Total grants | - | - | - | - |
Total contributions | - | - | - | - |
Total other types of transfer payments | 800,000 | 71,810,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 |
Total program | 800,000 | 71,810,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 |