Who is financing Edmonton’s next mayor and council?
There will be more money flowing to candidates during this election cycle, and with changes to provincial legislation, that funding is harder to track.
The introduction of political parties is adding new pathways for money and influence to enter local politics. Corporations, unions and associations can now donate directly to parties and candidates. And contribution limits are higher than in the last municipal election.
The Investigative Journalism Foundation combined dozens of campaign disclosure documents and is making the database publicly available ahead of the Oct. 20 election.
Alberta’s United Conservative government altered the Local Authorities Election Act in 2024 to allow for the formation of municipal political parties in Edmonton and Calgary. Individuals, corporations and unions can now contribute up to $5,000 per year to all candidates, and an additional $5,000 to political parties.
Candidates are required to file disclosures for reporting periods covering 2024, Jan. 1 to July 31, 2025, and a final disclosure covering the entire campaign due on March 2, 2026. Political parties are only required to submit the final contribution disclosure.
· READ MORE: Big money is back in Edmonton elections
The table below shows which portion of each candidate's fundraising comes from corporations, individual donors or the candidate’s own funds.
Edmonton has two registered political parties: Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton (PACE) and Better Edmonton. Data from the first two reporting periods show that Better Edmonton has taken in the bulk of corporate donations.
Out of the 57 candidates who have reported campaign contributions so far, 12 belong to Better Edmonton. Out of $597,006 contributed by corporations in the campaign period, $395,220 has gone to Better Edmonton candidates.