Bill C-25: Strong and Free Elections Act

The businesses most directly affected are organizations that act as 'third parties' under the Canada Elections Act — meaning any non-party group that runs partisan advertising, conducts election surveys, or engages in political activities during an election or pre-election period. This includes advocacy groups, trade associations, unions, non-profits, and issue-based coalitions operating anywhere in Canada. These organizations will need to track the source of every dollar they spend on political activity, ensuring funds come only from Canadian citizens or permanent residents (not foreign donors), and must stop accepting contributions in crypto, money orders, or prepaid cards. Larger organizations that receive significant outside funding — rather than primarily their own earned revenue — face the strictest requirements around contributor disclosure and reporting. Political parties themselves also face new personal information protection obligations, requiring documented privacy policies and data security safeguards.