Elections Canada Campaign Finance Disclosures

Follow the Money

Party fundraising, third-party advertising, lobbying communications & accountability gaps — all from public Elections Canada records

ETHICS — 99% confidence
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6,000+ Active Federal Lobbyists
$25M+ Avg Annual Party Fundraising
134+ Registered Third Parties (2019)
$1,750 Individual Donation Limit (2025)
ⓘ Legal Framework: Corporate and union donations to federal political parties have been banned since 2006 under the Federal Accountability Act (S.C. 2006, c. 9). All federal political contributions are from individuals only, subject to annually indexed limits. Data sourced from Elections Canada Financial Reports.

🏙 Federal Party Fundraising Totals (2015–2025)

Annual individual contribution totals reported to Elections Canada in party financial returns. Since the 2006 ban on corporate/union donations, all contributions are from individuals. The annual limit was $1,550 in 2017, rose to $1,725 in 2024, and is indexed to $1,750 in 2025.

Average Annual Individual Donations by Party

Conservative Party
~$25M/yr
~$25M/yr
Liberal Party
~$20M/yr
~$20M/yr
NDP
~$7M/yr
~$7M/yr
Bloc Québécois
~$2.5M/yr
~$2.5M/yr
Green Party
~$2M/yr
~$2M/yr

Source: Elections Canada — Annual Financial Returns of Registered Political Parties. Figures represent approximate annual averages for the 2015–2024 period based on published returns.

📈 Party Fundraising by Year

Individual contribution totals from Elections Canada annual financial returns. The Conservative Party has consistently led in grassroots fundraising, while the Liberal Party saw significant increases following the 2015 election victory.

Year ▲ Conservative ▲ Liberal ▲ NDP ▲ Bloc ▲ Green ▲
2024$27.1M$22.4M$7.8M$2.8M$1.4M
2023$26.3M$21.8M$7.5M$2.7M$1.6M
2022$24.6M$19.2M$6.9M$2.5M$2.1M
2021$26.8M$23.1M$8.4M$3.0M$2.8M
2020$21.4M$16.8M$6.2M$2.1M$2.0M
2019$30.1M$24.6M$8.9M$3.2M$3.4M
2018$20.2M$16.1M$5.8M$1.9M$2.2M
2017$19.5M$15.4M$5.5M$1.7M$1.8M
2016$22.1M$17.9M$5.3M$1.6M$2.0M
2015$28.5M$20.3M$8.1M$2.5M$3.1M

Source: Elections Canada — Registered Political Party Financial Returns. Election years (2015, 2019, 2021) show elevated totals due to campaign activity. All figures rounded.

📢 Third-Party Election Advertising

Under the Canada Elections Act, third parties must register with Elections Canada and disclose advertising expenses during election periods. The 2018 amendments (Bill C-76) extended regulation to the pre-election period.

134 Registered Third Parties (2019)
$6.2M Total Spending (2019 Election)
142 Registered Third Parties (2021)
$5.8M Total Spending (2021 Election)

Top Third-Party Spenders

# Third Party ▲ Type ▲ Spending ▲ Year
1UniforUnion$503,2122019
2Engage CanadaAdvocacy$469,8472019
3Canada ProudAdvocacy$398,6052019
4Canadian Labour CongressUnion$371,9202019
5Leadnow SocietyNon-Profit$352,1082019
6Ontario Nurses' AssociationUnion$298,4552019
7North99Advocacy$274,3302019
8United SteelworkersUnion$261,7122019
9SEIU HealthcareUnion$248,9602019
10Canadian Federation of Nurses UnionsUnion$234,5182019
1UniforUnion$478,6402021
2Canada ProudAdvocacy$421,3052021
3Canadian Labour CongressUnion$356,2202021
4Leadnow SocietyNon-Profit$318,4502021
5Engage CanadaAdvocacy$305,1902021
6Ontario Nurses' AssociationUnion$275,8802021
7United SteelworkersUnion$258,4102021
8North99Advocacy$241,7752021
9Canada Strong and ProudAdvocacy$228,3402021
10SEIU HealthcareUnion$215,6602021

Source: Elections Canada — Third Party Election Advertising Reports. Spending figures from official third-party financial returns filed with Elections Canada.

🏢 Federal Lobbying — Sector Breakdown

Data from the Registry of Lobbyists maintained by the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. Over 6,000 active lobbying registrations are on file. Below are the top lobbied institutions and the most active lobbying sectors by communication reports.

Most Lobbied Federal Institutions

Prime Minister's Office
Highest volume
#1 Lobbied
ISED (Innovation)
#2 Lobbied
Dept. of Finance
#3 Lobbied
Health Canada
#4 Lobbied
DND (National Defence)
#5 Lobbied

Lobbying by Sector — Annual Communication Reports

💊 Pharmaceutical & Health Products
Top 3
Consistently among the top 3 sectors by lobbying communication reports. Major companies maintain year-round registered lobbyists targeting Health Canada, PMPRB, and ISED.
⛽️ Defense & Aerospace
+42%
Significant increase in lobbying communications post-2017. Major defense procurement projects (CSC, FFCP, fighter jet replacement) drove sustained engagement with DND and PSPC.
⛽️ Fossil Fuel & Energy
500+/yr
Over 500 lobbying communications per year directed at NRCan and Environment & Climate Change Canada. Trans Mountain, LNG Canada, and carbon pricing were top subjects.
💻 Technology & Telecommunications
Expanding
Rapidly growing sector. Bell, Rogers, Telus plus Big Tech (Google, Meta, Amazon) lobby ISED, CRTC, and Heritage on broadband, spectrum, and digital regulation.
🏦 Financial Services & Banking
Persistent
Canada’s Big Six banks and insurance sector maintain permanent lobbying presence. Finance Department and OSFI are primary targets on capital requirements and fintech regulation.
🌾 Agriculture & Agri-Food
Steady
Supply management (dairy, poultry, eggs), grain sector, and agri-food processors maintain active lobbying. Trade agreements (CUSMA, CPTPP) were key lobbying drivers.

Source: Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying — Registry of Lobbyists and Commissioner’s Annual Reports.

⚠️ Key Accountability Issues

Documented concerns raised by the Chief Electoral Officer, the Commissioner of Lobbying, parliamentary committees, and public records.

Chief Electoral Officer Recommendations

1. Foreign Funding via Third Parties CEO RECOMMENDATION

The Chief Electoral Officer’s 2020 report to Parliament identified a loophole allowing foreign funds to flow to Canadian third parties for election advertising. While third parties must use Canadian funds for regulated activities, foreign donations could support general organizational operations that indirectly enable election activity.

CEO Recommendation (2020): Amend the Canada Elections Act to close the foreign funding loophole for third-party election advertising. The CEO recommended requiring third parties to demonstrate that regulated activities are funded exclusively from Canadian sources, with enhanced reporting requirements.

Source: Chief Electoral Officer — Recommendations Report Following the 43rd General Election, 2020

2. Nomination Race Financing REFORM NEEDED

Nomination contest financing was largely unregulated for decades. Candidates could raise and spend without meaningful disclosure, creating a transparency gap at the earliest stage of candidate selection. The 2024 amendments to the Canada Elections Act began addressing this gap.

Status: 2024 amendments introduced new nomination contest financing rules including contribution limits and disclosure requirements. Full implementation and enforcement remains to be assessed.

Source: Canada Elections Act — 2024 Amendments; CEO Recommendation Reports

3. Digital Advertising Disclosure ENFORCEMENT GAP

Bill C-76 (2018) introduced requirements for online platforms to maintain registries of political and partisan advertising. While major platforms (Google, Facebook) created ad libraries, the requirement for a comprehensive, searchable registry has seen limited enforcement. The CEO noted challenges in monitoring digital advertising across platforms.

Status: Digital ad registries exist but enforcement is inconsistent. The CEO recommended strengthened digital advertising transparency measures in subsequent reports.

Source: Bill C-76, Elections Modernization Act (2018); CEO Post-Election Reports

4. Leadership Race Financing — Persistent Debt ACCOUNTABILITY GAP

Some leadership candidates carry millions of dollars in campaign debt for years after contests end. Elections Canada financial returns show candidates with outstanding loans and debts persisting 3–5+ years post-race, raising questions about who ultimately funds these debts and what obligations may arise.

Pattern: Multiple leadership candidates across parties have reported outstanding debts exceeding $100,000 for 3+ years in their Elections Canada financial returns. The slow resolution of these debts creates extended fundraising obligations with limited transparency about donor identity and timing.

Source: Elections Canada — Leadership Contest Financial Returns

🔎 Documented Cases & Investigations

Specific cases from Elections Canada investigations, court records, and public financial disclosures.

SNC-Lavalin Illegal Corporate Donation Scheme ELECTIONS CANADA INVESTIGATION

Elections Canada investigation found that SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. operated an illegal corporate donation scheme from 2004 to 2011. The company reimbursed employees for political donations made in their names, circumventing the ban on corporate contributions. A total of $117,803 was funneled through employee “straw donors” to multiple political parties.

Outcome: SNC-Lavalin was fined $280,000 by Elections Canada. The company entered into a compliance agreement acknowledging the illegal scheme. This case remains one of the largest documented violations of federal campaign finance law.

Source: Elections Canada — Compliance Agreement & Penalty (SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.) | Federal Court Records

WE Charity & Government Relationships PUBLIC RECORD

WE Charity (WE Charity Foundation) was not a registered third party with Elections Canada despite extensive relationships with the federal government, including the $912M Canada Student Service Grant program. While no direct political donations appear in Elections Canada records, the organization paid $312,000 in speaking fees to members of Prime Minister Trudeau’s family (his mother Margaret Trudeau and brother Alexandre Trudeau) between 2016 and 2020.

Record: $312,000 in speaking fees to PM’s family members. $912M sole-sourced CSSG program (subsequently cancelled). Ethics Commissioner found PM Trudeau contravened s.6 and s.21 of the Conflict of Interest Act (Trudeau Report III, 2020). WE Charity subsequently ceased Canadian operations.

Source: Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner — Trudeau III Report; House of Commons FINA Committee Testimony; Elections Canada Registry

Pierre Poilievre — 2022 Conservative Leadership Race PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

Pierre Poilievre’s 2022 Conservative leadership campaign raised approximately $5.3 million, making it the largest Conservative leadership fundraise on record. The campaign reported over 300,000 party memberships sold. Financial returns were filed with Elections Canada per statutory requirements.

Record: ~$5.3M raised. Largest Conservative leadership fundraise on record. 300,000+ membership sales reported. Financial returns publicly available through Elections Canada.

Source: Elections Canada — Conservative Party Leadership Contest Financial Returns (2022); Conservative Party of Canada Official Reports

Mark Carney — 2025 Liberal Leadership & Federal Election PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

Mark Carney won the 2025 Liberal leadership and became Prime Minister on March 14, 2025, succeeding Justin Trudeau. Carney called a snap federal election for April 28, 2025, winning a Liberal minority government. As a leadership contestant and subsequently as PM leading a national campaign, full fundraising and campaign finance disclosures are filed per Elections Canada requirements under the Canada Elections Act.

Status: Carney won Liberal leadership, became PM (March 14, 2025). Liberal minority government returned in 2025 federal election (April 28, 2025). Full leadership contest and party financial returns to be published per statutory deadlines. Campaign finance reports for the 45th General Election pending.

Source: Elections Canada — Liberal Party Leadership Contest Registry; Elections Canada — 45th General Election Returns; Canada Elections Act, Part 17

📅 Campaign Finance Reform Timeline

Key legislative and regulatory milestones in Canadian federal campaign finance law.

2003
Bill C-24 — Canada Elections Act Amendments
Ban on corporate and union donations to candidates. Corporations and unions limited to $1,000 to parties. Individual limit set at $5,000. First major reform of federal political financing.
2006
Federal Accountability Act (S.C. 2006, c. 9)
Complete ban on corporate and union donations to federal political entities. Individual donation limit reduced to $1,100 (indexed annually). Established the modern framework for individual-only political financing.
2014
Fair Elections Act (Bill C-23)
Raised individual contribution limits. Removed vouching and voter information cards as ID. Created controversy over potential voter suppression effects. Chief Electoral Officer criticized several provisions publicly.
2015
Per-Vote Public Subsidy Eliminated
Final phase-out of the per-vote public subsidy ($1.75/vote) introduced in 2003 to replace corporate donations. Increased parties’ dependence on individual donor fundraising. Benefited parties with larger donor bases.
2018
Elections Modernization Act (Bill C-76)
Extended third-party advertising regulation to pre-election period. Required online platforms to maintain political ad registries. Introduced foreign spending restrictions for third parties. Restored vouching.
2019
First Election Under New Third-Party Rules
134 third parties registered. $6.2M total third-party spending reported. Digital advertising disclosure requirements applied for the first time. CEO identified enforcement challenges in post-election report.
2020
CEO Report — Foreign Funding Loophole Identified
Chief Electoral Officer formally recommended Parliament close the foreign funding loophole allowing indirect foreign contributions to third-party election activity. Recommended enhanced reporting and source-of-funds requirements.
2024
Nomination Contest Financing Reforms
New rules for nomination contest financing including contribution limits and disclosure requirements. Individual donation limit indexed to $1,725. Ongoing implementation of digital transparency measures.
2025
45th General Election — First Under Bill C-70
The April 28, 2025 federal election was the first conducted under the Countering Foreign Interference Act (C-70), with the Foreign Influence Transparency Registry operational. Individual donation limit indexed to $1,750. Third-party advertising returns pending. Campaign finance reports for all candidates and parties to be published per statutory deadlines. PM Mark Carney’s Liberal Party returned with a minority government.

Source: Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9); Elections Canada — Official Reports.

🔗 Verify This Data — Direct Links to Public Databases

Every claim on this page can be verified through the following public databases. We encourage readers to consult primary sources directly.

🇨🇦 Elections Canada Financial Reports
Party Financial Returns
Third-Party Advertising Reports
Leadership Contest Returns
Candidate Financial Returns
📜 Lobbying Registry
Registry of Lobbyists — Advanced Search
Lobbying Communication Reports
The Lobbying Act
⚖️ Legislation & Official Reports
Canada Elections Act
CEO Official Reports
Conflict of Interest & Ethics Commissioner
LEGISinfo — Parliamentary Bills

🔗 Primary Sources & Citations

  1. Elections Canada — Annual Financial Returns of Registered Political Parties
  2. Elections Canada — Third Party Election Advertising Reports (2019, 2021)
  3. Chief Electoral Officer — Official Reports and Recommendations
  4. Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying — Registry of Lobbyists
  5. Commissioner of Lobbying — Annual Reports
  6. Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9)
  7. Federal Accountability Act (S.C. 2006, c. 9)
  8. Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner — Investigation Reports
  9. Elections Canada — Leadership Contest Financial Returns
  10. Elections Canada — Compliance Agreements and Administrative Monetary Penalties