Campaign Finance

All candidates for School Board Trustee must register with the Senior Election Official (SEO) before accepting contributions or spending any money on their campaign.

Registration period for school trustee candidate:      June 30 to September 22, 2026

Please make an appointment with the SEO to file your registration. 

Prospective candidates must include their name and address and a declaration.   Registered candidates for school trustee are required to establish a bank account for the purpose of the campaign and provide the name and address of Financial Institution and the account number.

Candidate Registration Form School Board Trustee (1)

Not all candidates will receive contributions but for those that do, there are rules to follow.  These rules include:

·         Campaign period is from June 30 to March 31, 2027

·         Only residents of Manitoba are allowed to contribute to school division campaigns 

·         $1,500 total contribution limit by an individual

·         maximum $25 cash contribution

·         $7,500 total monetary contribution limit by a registered candidate to their own campaign

·         Anonymous contributions must be turned over to the senior election official without delay and will become part of the general funds of the school division

Examples of expenses and contributions (monetary and non-monetary):

• Costs for a hall or room rentals for public meetings 
• Fees for printing pamphlets, notices and advertisements or making signs
• Costs for hiring vehicles and drivers for campaign purposes
• Costs for food and refreshments for candidates or campaign volunteers served at election meetings
• Travel expenses such as gas 

Non-monetary contributions that were used for the purpose of the election campaign should also be listed as expenses. When the good or service is provided by a person who earns a living providing that good or service, the value of the good or service must be recorded as a non-monetary contribution: 

 Example -  Contribution of a Good

The owner of a local butcher shop wants to donate 100 hotdogs for a BBQ for your campaign workers. The value of those 100 hotdogs must be recorded as a non-monetary contribution.

Example - Contribution of a Service

A self-employed graphic designer wants to help you out by designing a campaign pamphlet. The rate the designer would normally charge a customer must be recorded as a non-monetary contribution.

Not every good or service a candidate receives is a contribution. For example, it is not acontribution if a neighbour bakes muffins for campaign workers or a friend helps you make signs.  Details records are required to be sumbitted after the campaign. (template on MB SBA website).

Contributions are not tax deductible.