Elections Manitoba

Election Expense Limits

Expense limits ensure all political participants operate under fair and universally enforceable rules.

The amount a candidate or a party can spend during an election is limited by the The Election Financing Act in two ways:

1. Total Election Expenses – the total value of election expenses incurred during an election period cannot exceed a predetermined amount. [ss. 51(1), 52(1)]
2. Total Advertising Expenses – the total value of advertising expenses incurred during an election period cannot exceed a predetermined amount. [ss. 51(2), 52(2)]

Advertising election expenses are subject to a separate limit but are also included in the total election expenses limit. [s. 52(3)]

The election and advertising expense limits are calculated by multiplying two factors:

• an expense limit per registered voter (known when an election is called)
• the number of voters on the voters list in an electoral division (updated throughout the election period).

View the final expense limits for the 2023 general election.

View the revised expense limits for the 2023 general election.

View the preliminary expense limits for the 2023 general election.

Since expense limits are based partially on the number of names on the final voters list, the expense limits will change as people register to vote.

When the writ is issued, number of voters on the preliminary voters list is used to set the minimum limit. The minimum limit is the lowest level at which the final expense limit may be set.

There are two subsequent expense limit calculations. If these later limits are lower than the minimum limit, the minimum limit will be used as the final expense limit for the campaign.

Formula

Winnipeg Consumer Price Index (2 months prior to election call) divided by 118.6 (Winnipeg CPI January 2012) multiplied by the limit stated in the Act

Candidate

Advertising Limit [ s.52(2) ] = $0.60 x [ CPI / 118.6 ] = $X (per registered voter)

Overall Limit [ s.52(1) ] = $2.91 ($4.64*) x [ CPI / 118.6 ] = $X (per registered voter)

Registered Party

Advertising Limit [ s.51(2) ] = $0.99 ($1.72**) x [ CPI / 118.6 ] = $X (per registered voter)

Overall Limit [ s.51(1) ] = $1.92 ($3.45**) x [ CPI / 118.6 ] = $X (per registered voter)

* Adjusted per-voter limits are higher for electoral divisions having an area of 30,000 square miles or more.

** Party limits are adjusted for a byelection.