Elections Canada posts cap of about $30M on three big parties' campaign spending

Photo: The Canadian Press

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's campaign plane sits on the tarmac next with Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's plane during the Canadian federal election campaign in Montreal, Que., on Friday, September 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada's chief electoral officer has announced the initial ceiling on parties' expenditures in the election campaign now in full swing.

The spending limits are based on the length of the voter list in each riding as well as the number of ridings where respective parties have endorsed a candidate.

Stéphane Perrault says the Liberals and NDP — the only two federal parties to post a candidate in all 338 electoral districts — each face a spending cap of $30.03 million.

The Conservatives max out at $29.95 million, as they're down one candidate after turfing a Nova Scotia nominee who was accused of sexual misconduct.

Maxime Bernier's People's Party of Canada can spend no more than $27.87 million, the Green party $22.58 million after furnishing just 252 candidates, and the Bloc Québécois $7.16 million, since it runs only in Quebec.

Elections Canada says the final limits on expenditures for parties and candidates will be available on Sept. 13 — exactly one week before election day — after voters lists have been revised.