How to Register

A third-party advertiser (third party) is an individual, corporation or group that promotes or opposes the election of a candidate through election advertising during the 2025 Election advertising period (from Oct. 31, 2024 until close of election day voting stations on Oct. 20, 2025).

A third-party is required to register with the Municipality if they intend to incur expenses or accept contributions of at least $1000. If a third-party plans to advertise in more than 10 jurisdictions, they must register with the Provincial Registrar appointed by Municipal Affairs and not with the Municipality.

The Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) Part 8 regulates third party advertising during the election advertising period and third party advertisers are required to know who is eligible to contribute, registration requirements and all reporting requirements to the Municipality.

A third-party advertiser can only advertise during an election advertising period.

For the complete guide on Third party advertising guidelines for local elections in Alberta please visit https://open.alberta.ca/publications/third-party-advertising-guidelines-local-elections-alberta

Eligibility

The following are not eligible to be registered as a third party:

A candidate running for office;

Any individual, group or corporation that does not meet the eligibility requirements listed above;

A registered charity; and

A prohibited corporation as described in the Elections Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act .

To register as a third party advertiser, you must follow the below steps:

1. Meet all eligibility requirements - you must be one of the following:
An individual who resides in Alberta; A group of which all members reside in Alberta; A corporation that carries out business in Alberta; or An Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization. Depending on its structure, a trade union or employee organization may be either a corporation or a group.
2. Complete Form 27 – Registration of a Third Party and submit with any required supporting materials:
Complete Form 27 - Registration of a Third Party If the third party filing the registration form has a governing body, a copy of the resolution authorizing the third party to incur election advertising expenses must be included with the form; and If the third party filing the registration form is a group, a listing of the principal Officers or Members must be included with the form.
3. Complete the Third Party Advertiser Contact Information Form
Complete the Third Party Advertiser Contact Information Form if you wish to have contact information for the third party released to the public and media as well as posted on the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website.
4. Drop off, mail or courier your completed forms and any required supporting materials
Drop off, mail or courier your completed forms and any required supporting materials to: Legislative Services Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo 9909 Franklin Avenue Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4

1. Meet all eligibility requirements - you must be one of the following:

An individual who resides in Alberta;
A group of which all members reside in Alberta;
A corporation that carries out business in Alberta; or
An Alberta trade union or Alberta employee organization. Depending on its structure, a trade union or employee organization may be either a corporation or a group.

2. Complete Form 27 – Registration of a Third Party and submit with any required supporting materials:

Complete Form 27 - Registration of a Third Party

If the third party filing the registration form has a governing body, a copy of the resolution authorizing the third party to incur election advertising expenses must be included with the form; and
- If the third party filing the registration form is a group, a listing of the principal Officers or Members must be included with the form.

3. Complete the Third Party Advertiser Contact Information Form

Complete the Third Party Advertiser Contact Information Form if you wish to have contact information for the third party released to the public and media as well as posted on the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website.

4. Drop off, mail or courier your completed forms and any required supporting materials

Drop off, mail or courier your completed forms and any required supporting materials to:

Legislative Services

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

9909 Franklin Avenue

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4

The Municipality cannot approve the registration of a third party if:

The proposed name, or the abbreviation of the proposed name, closely resembles or creates confusion with the name, abbreviation of a name or a nickname of a candidate; or

The proposed name was the name of a registered third party whose registration was cancelled or whose name has changed since the last election.

All registrations must be accepted by the Returning Officer before the third party can incur expenses or accept contributions of $1000 or more.

As a registered third party, you will be required to file Form 28: Third Party Advertising Contribution Statement no later than March 2, 2026, which will be available from Municipal Affairs prior to the deadline on the Government of Alberta website .