{"id":32422,"date":"2021-08-20T14:46:46","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T18:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=32422"},"modified":"2021-08-23T14:32:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-23T18:32:00","slug":"federal-election-2021-what-charities-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/legal\/2021\/08\/20\/federal-election-2021-what-charities-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Election 2021: What Charities Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Canadians will go to the polls in a federal election set for September 20.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHY IT MATTERS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Elections always matter, of course! Votes determine who represents Canadians in Parliament, and the party with the majority of successful candidates will form the government<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But for charities, what matters right now is whether your activities are regulated under the Canada Elections Act<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the election period, any \u201cthird party\u201d (including charities) that spends $500 or more on certain activities has to register with Elections Canada. The election period starts on the day the election is called and ends on election day when the polls close. That means right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So your charity needs to ask: are any of our activities regulated under the Canada Elections Act<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT IS REGULATED?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, the next question is, what activities are regulated? There are two types of regulated activity that apply to charities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Election advertising<\/a>: publicly sending messages that promote or oppose a political party or candidate including by taking a position on an issue<\/strong> with which the party or candidate is clearly associated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you know if your issue is associated with a party or candidate? It all depends on the context. The broader the advertising, the less likely there will be a clear association. Elections Canada explains<\/a> that where a candidate has championed or opposed a cause and it\u2019s a central part of that campaign, it would likely be regulated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Election surveys<\/a>: surveys that are used to decide whether or not you\u2019ll participate in election advertising or that are used to organize and carry out election advertising. Importantly, it includes surveys that are directed at your own members or employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTANT! Charities are ALWAYS prohibited from supporting or opposing<\/a> political parties or candidates. Whether there is an election, or whether your charity registers as a third party under the Canada Elections Act<\/em>, supporting or opposing parties or candidates is ALWAYS off limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW IS IT REGULATED?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As soon as your charity conducts any regulated activity with expenses of $500 or more, you have to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n