An amendment to The Election Financing Act that makes changes to the rules governing contributions, third parties and advertising limits came into effect today.
Passed on June 2, The Election Financing Amendment Act increases the annual contribution limit from $3,000 to $5,000, with an additional $3,000 limit in effect for any leadership contest. The $5,000 limit applies to any financial contribution to a registered party, candidate or constituency association. The act also includes goods or services provided at no charge.
Also new, fees paid to attend a political party conference or convention, including a leadership convention, is now considered to be contributions.
Rules regarding who may contribute are unchanged; only individuals living in Manitoba may make political contributions. Organizations, business and unions may not contribute.
Bill 26 also modifies the rules for third party spending on election communication, adjusts the definition of advertising, creates a new 90-day-pre-election period for the purpose of setting spending limits and sets out new filing requirements for constituency associations.
The bill can be found at http://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/41-2/b026e.php.
