Election spending limits in Canada - in case you're interested...
An individual may donate:
To each registered party $1,525 (this increases by $25/year)
In total to all the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of each registered party $1,525
In total to all leadership contestants in a particular contest $1,525
A nomination contestant can donate an additional $1000 and a candidate may donate an additional $5000 to his or her own campaign, and an additional $1,525 total to other candidates, registered associations and nomination contestants of each party.
A leadership contestant is permitted to give a total of $25,000 in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to his or her campaign, and an additional $1,525* in total per year in contributions, loans and loan guarantees to other leadership contestants.
Third parties are subject to election advertising expenses limits for general elections and by-elections.
The base limit for a general election with a 37-day election period is $150,000. Of that amount, no more than a base limit of $3,000 can be incurred to promote or oppose the election of one or more candidates in a particular electoral district. The $3,000 limit is also applicable to by-elections. (This amount is adjusted for inflation, and the number of days total for the campaign.)
In the last election in 2015 the national parties had a spending limit of $54, 936, 326.15 for the entire country. (It was a 78-day campaign.)
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Thank you for that very informative post, sunweaver. May we in the U.S. get there someday.
And welcome to DU! 
