Elections New Brunswick, Canada

Leadership & Nomination Contestants


If a nomination contestant goes unopposed at a convention and is acclaimed as the candidate, do the leadership and nomination contestant rules still apply?
If the candidate is appointed by a registered political party and no nomination convention is held, what rules apply to that individual?
Is a leadership or nomination contestant required to have an official represenative?
If an individual declares his or her intention to become a contestant long before the party has set a date for its nomination convention, what is the starting point for tracking contributions?
Is there an official format for a “contestant receipt”?
Are contributions to a contestant eligible for a political contributions tax credit?
Is there a limit on how much a leadership or nomination contestant can raise in support of their campaign?
Can a leadership or nomination contestant financially support their own campaign?
Is every leadership and nomination contestant required to file a financial return?

Q.  If a nomination contestant goes unopposed at a convention and is acclaimed as the candidate, do the leadership and nomination contestant rules still apply?

A.  In this case, the rules do apply to that individual. The contestant would have already registered with Elections New Brunswick because a contest was held. His or her official representative must file a financial return on behalf of the contestant.



Q.  If the candidate is appointed by a registered political party and no nomination convention is held, what rules apply to that individual?

A.  Leadership and nomination contestant rules do not apply to the individual because there was no nomination contest. The individual would not need to register with Elections New Brunswick as a nomination contestant and no financial return would need to be filed.



Q.  Is a leadership or nomination contestant required to have an official represenative?

A.  Once an individual makes the decision to become a leadership or nomination contestant, an official representative must be designated. For the sake of simplicity or at the early stages of a contest, leadership or nomination contestants can choose to fill the role of official representative themselves.



Q.  If an individual declares his or her intention to become a contestant long before the party has set a date for its nomination convention, what is the starting point for tracking contributions?

A.  The official representative is responsible for recording all contributions received in support of a contestant’s campaign and issuing the appropriate “contestant receipts” from the point in time that the contestant decides to seek the nomination.



Q.  Is there an official format for a “contestant receipt”?

A.  No. Official representatives may use any commercially-available receipts in duplicate, available at any office supplies store.



Q.  Are contributions to a contestant eligible for a political contributions tax credit?

A.  No.



Q.  Is there a limit on how much a leadership or nomination contestant can raise in support of their campaign?

A.  There is no limit on the total amount of contributions that can be accepted by a contestant; however, no individual may make a contribution or provide financing to a contestant that, taken together, is in excess of $3,000. Corporations and unions are not permitted to make a contribution to a leadership or nomination contestant.



Q.  Can a leadership or nomination contestant financially support their own campaign?

A.  Yes, a contestant can financially support their own contest in the form of contributions of money, property, and services and loans or other forms of credit. A contestant is, nevertheless, subject to the same rules as other contributors and may only provide financial support of up to $3,000 to his or her own campaign.



Q.  Is every leadership and nomination contestant required to file a financial return?

A.  The official representative of every registered leadership and nomination contestant is required to file a financial return with Elections New Brunswick. Appointed candidates do not file a financial return. If a contestant had a total value of contributions and financing of $2,000 or less, only the first page of the financial return is required to be completed and there is no disclosure of financial support or expenditures. If a contestant had a total value of contributions and financing greater than $2,000, the full financial return is required to be completed. The return discloses details of all contributions received and financing obtained, as well as the total only of expenditures incurred.