For the 2025 General Election, May 1, 2025 through Election Day, Oct. 20, 2025 is the election advertising period for third party advertisers. During the election advertising period, third party advertisers are required by the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) to register with Elections Calgary if they incurred or plan to incur election advertising expenses of at least $1,000 or they have accepted election advertising contributions or plan to accept election advertising contributions of at least $1,000.
A third party can be an individual, corporation or group, but does not include a candidate, slate or political party. Election advertising is a message that promotes or opposes the election of a candidate or takes a position on an issue that is the subject of a vote on a bylaw or question, where directed by Council. Further definitions of election advertising are set out in the LAEA.
Third parties who are required to register during the election advertising period are encouraged to review the LAEA, the Expense Limit Regulation, third party advertising guidelines, and obtain legal advice regarding the full extent of their obligations.
More information about third party advertising and how to register can be found on the Elections Calgary website.
Elections Calgary is a division of the City Clerk’s Office responsible for independently and impartially administering the Returning Officer’s accountabilities in General Elections, by-elections and votes of the electors on behalf of The City of Calgary, the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District. Learn more at electionscalgary.ca.
