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Third Party Advertisers

Recent amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) include rules governing the finances and accountability of third parties that intend to engage in election advertising.

Third Party Advertising is a way for others, outside the candidate campaign, to express support or opposition for candidates with the intent to incur expenses or contributions of at least $1,000.

 

  

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The 2025 election advertising period is May 1, 2025 to October 20, 2025.

 

 

Third parties that intend to engage in advertising of at least $1,000 or to accept advertising contributions of at least $1,000 during a municipal and/or school board election are required to register with the City of Medicine Hat in accordance with Part 8 of the LAEA. 

When do I need to register as a Third Party Advertiser?

A Third Party Advertiser must register when either of the following occur:  

  • it has incurred expenses of at least $1,000 or plans to incur advertising expenses of at least $1,000 for election advertising, or 
  • it has accepted advertising contributions of at least $1,000 or plans to accept advertising contributions of at least $1,000.
  • notify the City of Medicine Hat of changes to the registration in writing within 30 days.

Eligibility

To be eligible to register as a Third Party Advertiser, you must be one of the following:

  • An individual who resides in Alberta
  • A group of which all members reside in Alberta
  • A corporation that carries out business in Alberta
  • An Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization

Note: Refer to Section 163 of the LAEA for further details. 

How to register

If you are interested in registering as a Third Party Advertiser:

  1. Review the Local Authorities Election Act for all definitions and requirements related to Third Parties, and if required, obtain legal advice regarding the full extent of obligations
  2. Download and complete the Third Party Registration Form (Form 27)
  3. Submit your completed Third Party Registration Form (Form 27):
    1. Via email: election@medicinehat.ca
    2. Drop off, mail, or courier to the following address:
      City of Medicine Hat
      Attention: Election Office
      580 1 Street SE
      Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8E6

 

 

  

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If a third party advertiser intends on advertising in 10 or more municipalities, they can register with Provincial Registrar instead of registering in each individual municipality. Contact Municipal Affairs for more information.

 

 

 

Contribution, Expenses and Disclosures

A contributor (i.e., individual, corporation, trade union or employee organization) may contribute to more than one third party advertiser. However, their contribution(s) may not exceed $5,000 in total.

All advertisers must provide any contributor, regardless of the contribution amount with a receipt.

The LAEA, Part 8 sets out rules for Election Advertising Contributions and Expenses of Third Party Advertisers.

**NEW LEGISLATION (effective May 15, 2025): As per Section 182 (1.1) of the LAEA, on or before September 30, 2025, all registered Third Party Advertisers must file a Form 28 and Advertising Return in respect of the period beginning on May 1, 2025 and ending on July 31, 2025.

As per Section 182(1) of the LAEA, on or before March 1, 2026, all registered Third Party Advertisers must file Form 28 and an Advertising Return Report for the entire reporting period.

Note: A report listing for all third party advertising contributions received during the election advertising period is required. 

How to submit your contribution statement

  1. Download and complete the Contribution Statement Form (Form 28)
  2. Submit your completed Contribution Statement Form (Form 28) and Advertising Return Report:
    1. Via email: election@medicinehat.ca
    2. Drop off, mail, or courier to the following address:
      City of Medicine Hat
      Attention: Election Office
      580 1 Street SE
      Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8E6

In accordance with the LAEA (Section 178(1)), all election advertising expenses must be paid from the third party’s advertising account and every registered third party shall appoint a chief financial officer. Expenditures must be authorized by, and all contributions accepted by, the Chief Financial Officer.

All election advertising expenses paid for by a third party from its advertising account must be recorded in its advertising return report which is due on or before March 1, 2026.

In accordance with the LAEA (Section 182), the Advertising Return Report must include:

  • a financial statement.
  • a list of all advertising contributions received during the election advertising period.
  • an election advertising expense limit report.
  • a list of the time and place of broadcast or publication of the advertisements.
  • any other supporting information and documents relating to the election advertising return.

This return is due on or before March 1, 2026.  

Note: If no advertising expenses were incurred, it must be indicated in the advertising return. 

In accordance with the LAEA (Section 185), a registered third party shall retain all of the records of that registered third party for a period of three years following the date on which the financial statements, returns or reports required under the LAEA for the period to which the records relate are required to be filed. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Third Party Advertisers must notify the City of Medicine Hat in writing of any changes to the required information within 30 days after the change. Email the details of the change to election@medicinehat.ca. 

In accordance with the LAEA, Section 163(5), a Third Party Advertiser will not be allowed to register if its proposed name or abbreviations of the name include one of the following: 

  • Resembles the name of a registered Third Party Advertiser.
  • Resembles the name or nickname of a candidate active in the City of Medicine Hat or anywhere in the province, where confusion is likely.
  • The proposed name was the name of a registered third party whose registration with the City of Medicine Hat was cancelled or whose name was changed since the last election.

Contribution(s) may not exceed $5,000 in total. For example, an individual may contribute $1,000 to three (3) different Third Party Advertisers.

Their total contributions, however, cannot exceed $5,000.

Records must be retained for three years (until March 1, 2028). However, refer to the LAEA, Section 185 for further details and clarification. 

In accordance with the LAEA, Section 162(d), Election Advertising is the transmission to the public of an advertising message that promotes or opposes a candidate or takes position on an issue that is the subject of a vote on a bylaw or question

Election Advertising includes: 

  • Canvassing for the benefit of a candidate
  • Organizing events where the primary purpose of the event is to promote or oppose a candidate
  • TV, radio, newspaper ads
  • Signs, billboards, posters
  • Newsletters, brochures, mailing inserts
  • Ads on the internet with a placement cost (pay-per-click, paid social media, pop-up ads, etc.)

Election advertising does NOT include: 

  • Editorial, debate, speech, interview, column, letter, news
  • Book distribution or promotion
  • Communication by a corporation to employees or shareholders
  • Sharing political views on the internet (blogs, posts on social media that are not paid)
  • Phone calls encouraging voter participation
  • Advertising by local jurisdictions (e.g., City of Medicine Hat)
  • Unintended information/advertising in another jurisdiction

 

As required in the  LAEA, Section 179, all Third Party Advertisers sponsored election advertising must include the following three elements:

  1. Third Party Advertisers Name
  2. Contact Information
  3. Indicate whether the third party authorizes the election advertising

Additional Requirements can be found under Section 179(b) and (c) of the LAEA.

All election advertising expenses must be paid from the Third Party Advertiser's advertising account.

Every Third Party Advertiser must appoint a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and all expenses must be authorized by the Chief Financial Officer for their delegate.

Campaign Contributions:

  • Contribution is made directly to a Nominated Candidate’s campaign.
  • Only individuals who live in Alberta contribute to a Candidate’s campaign.
  • Eligible individuals can contribute up to $5,000 in total to a Candidate’s campaign. 

Third Party Advertiser Contributions:

  • Contribution is made directly to Third Party Advertiser. 
  • Only individuals, groups or corporations who reside and operate in Alberta can contribute to a Third Party Advertiser.
  • Eligible individuals, Corporations or Groups can contribute up to $5,000 to a registered Third Party Advertiser.

Contact Us

Elections Office

3rd Floor
City Hall
Phone: 403-529-8221
Email us

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