A Third Party Advertiser is an individual, corporation or group who promotes or opposes a municipal or school board candidate through election advertising during the election advertising period (May 1 to October 20, 2025). Third Party Advertisers are required to register with the Town of Stony Plain when they have incurred or plan to incur advertising expenses of at least $1000, or when they have accepted or plan to accept advertising contributions of at least $1000. If a Third Party Advertiser plans to advertise in more than 10 local jurisdictions, they may register with the Provincial Registrar at Municipal Affairs.

Third Party Advertisers must comply with the Town of Stony Plain Land Use Bylaw. 

The Local Authorities Election Act governs third party advertising and Third Party Advertisers are encouraged to review Part 8 of the Act. 

Third party registration

Registration papers may be submitted to the Election Office at Town Hall (4905-51 Ave).

Please remember that a Third Party Advertiser must register either:

  • when it has incurred expenses of at least $1,000 or plans to incur advertising expenses of at least $1,000 for election advertising, or
  • when it has accepted advertising contributions of at least $1,000 or plans to accept advertising contributions of at least $1,000.

Contributions

Election advertising contributions are provided directly to a Third Party Advertiser, and can only be made by individuals, corporations, trade unions, or employee organizations who reside and operate in Alberta.

A Third Party Advertiser who engages in election advertising must file a Third Party Advertising Contribution Statement with the Town of Stony Plain by March 1, 2026, identifying contributions received during the election advertising period. 

Frequently asked questions

What is election advertising?
Election advertising includes the transmission to the public by any means during an election advertising period (May 1, 2025 to October 20, 2025) of an advertising message that promotes or opposes the election of a candidate.

What are a candidate's responsibilities to a Third Party Advertiser?
  • Candidates are not to collude with Third Party Advertisers. Both are to work independently of each other.
  • Third Party Advertiser's do not require the permission of a candidate to support or oppose them.
  • Candidates should remind Third Party Advertisers to register with the Town of Stony Plain or the Provincial registrar, and understand their responsibilities in Part 8 of the Local Authorities Election Act.

How is the content of Third Party Advertisers regulated?

Section 179 of the Local Authorities Election Act outlines a Third Party Advertisers responsibility of what must be included in the advertisement.

What is the difference between campaign contributions and Third Party advertising contributions?

There are distinct differences. All are listed in the Local Authorities Election Act.

  • A campaign contribution is made directly to a candidate's campaign, and only individuals who live in Alberta can contribute to a candidate's campaign.
  • A third party advertising contribution is a contribution directly to a Third Party Advertiser, and can only be made by individuals, corporations, trade unions, or employee organizations who reside and operate in Alberta.

How much can Third Party Advertisers spend?

No registered Third Party Advertiser can incur election advertising expenses that exceed, in an election advertising period in respect of a local jurisdiction, the product obtained by multiplying $0.50 by the number of persons residing in the area of the local jurisdiction at the start of the election advertising period. For the Town of Stony Plain, that is $8,996.50.

Other resources

Third party advertising guidelines for local elections in Alberta

Local Authorities Election Act