writ means a writ of election.
volunteer labour means any service provided free of charge by a person outside their working hours, but does not include such a service provided by a person who is self-employed if the service is one that is normally charged for by that person.
spoiled, in relation to a ballot or a special ballot as defined in section 177, means
revised list of electors means the list of electors prepared by the returning officer under section 105.
registered party means a political party that is entered in the registry of parties referred to in section 374 as a registered party.
registered association means an electoral district association registered in the registry of electoral district associations referred to in section 403.08.
registered agent, in relation to a registered party, means a person referred to in section 375 and includes the chief agent of the registered party.
Register of Electors means the Register of Electors established under section 44.
recount means a recount of votes by a judge under Part 14.
prescribed, in relation to a form or an oath, means one that is authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer.
preliminary list of electors means the list of electors prepared by the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 93(1).
polling station means a place established under section 120, 122, 125, 205, 206, 207, 253 or 255 for electors to cast their votes.
polling division means a polling division referred to in section 538.
polling day, in relation to an election, means the date fixed under paragraph 57(1)(c) for voting at the election.
political party means an organization one of whose fundamental purposes is to participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election.
political affiliation, in respect of a candidate, means the name of the political party that has endorsed him or her or the word “independent”, as the case may be, included in the nomination paper in accordance with subparagraph 66(1)(a)(v).
personal information means personal information as defined in section 3 of the Privacy Act.
periodical publication means a paper, magazine or periodical that is published periodically or in parts or numbers and that contains public news, intelligence or reports of events, or advertisements.
official list of electors means the list of electors prepared by the returning officer under section 106.
official agent means the official agent appointed by a candidate as required by subsection 83(1).
oath includes a solemn affirmation and a statutory declaration.
non-monetary contribution means the commercial value of a service, other than volunteer labour, or of property or of the use of property or money to the extent that they are provided without charge or at less than their commercial value.
nomination contestant means a person named as a nomination contestant in a nomination contest report filed in accordance with paragraph 478.02(1)(c) who, or whose financial agent, has not yet complied with sections 478.23 to 478.42 in respect of that nomination contest.
nomination contest means a competition for the selection of a person to be proposed to a registered party for its endorsement as its candidate in an electoral district.
nomination campaign expense means an expense reasonably incurred by or on behalf of a nomination contestant during a nomination contest as an incidence of the contest, including a personal expense as defined in section 478.01.
monetary contribution means an amount of money provided that is not repayable.
Minister means the member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada designated by the Governor in Council for the purposes of this Act.
member means a member of the House of Commons.
list of electors means the list showing the surname, given names, civic address and mailing address of every elector in a polling division.
leadership contestant means a person who has been registered in the registry of leadership contestants referred to in section 435.07 and who, or whose financial agent, has not yet complied with sections 435.3 to 435.47 in respect of that leadership contest.
leadership contest means a competition for the selection of the leader of a registered party.
leadership campaign expense means an expense reasonably incurred by or on behalf of a leadership contestant during a leadership contest as an incidence of the contest, including a personal expense as defined in section 435.03.
leadership campaign agent means a person appointed under subsection 435.08(1), and includes the financial agent of a leadership contestant.
judge, when used to define the judicial officer on whom is conferred specific powers, means
eligible party means a political party that satisfies the criteria set out in section 368.
electoral district association means an association of members of a political party in an electoral district.
electoral district agent means a person appointed under subsection 403.09(1), and includes the financial agent of a registered association.
electoral district means a place or territorial area that is represented by a member in the House of Commons.
elector means a person who is qualified as an elector under section 3.
election period means the period beginning with the issue of the writ and ending on polling day or, where the writ is withdrawn under subsection 59(1) or is deemed to be withdrawn under section 551, on the day that the writ is withdrawn or deemed to be withdrawn.
election officer means a person referred to in subsection 22(1).
election documents means the following documents:
election means an election of a member to serve in the House of Commons.
contribution means a monetary contribution or a non-monetary contribution.
common-law partner, in relation to an individual, means a person who is cohabiting with the individual in a conjugal relationship, having so cohabited for a period of at least one year.
Commissioner means the Commissioner of Canada Elections appointed under section 509.
commercial value, in relation to property or a service, means the lowest amount charged at the time that it was provided for the same kind and quantity of property or service or for the same usage of property or money, by
closing day for nominations means the day referred to in section 69.
close of nominations means the deadline for the receipt of nominations set out in subsection 70(2).
chief agent, in respect of a registered party, means the chief agent named in the application for registration as required by paragraph 366(2)(h).
candidate means a person whose nomination as a candidate at an election has been confirmed under subsection 71(1) and who, or whose official agent, has not complied with sections 451 to 463 and 471 to 475 in respect of that election.
by-election means an election other than a general election.
Broadcasting Arbitrator means the person appointed as Broadcasting Arbitrator under subsection 332(1).
broadcasting means broadcasting, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act, that is regulated and supervised by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission pursuant to section 5 of that Act.
broadcaster means a person who is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission under the Broadcasting Act to carry on a programming undertaking.
advance polling station means a polling station established under subsection 168(3).
advance poll means a vote held under Part 10.
another person who provides that property or service on a commercial basis in the area where it was provided, if the person who provided the property or service is not in that business.
the person who provided it, if the person is in the business of providing that property or service; or
the other returns from the various polling stations enclosed in sealed envelopes, as required by Part 12, and containing
the statements of the vote from which the validation of results was made; and
documents relating to the revision of the lists of electors;
the reserve supply of undistributed blank ballot papers;
the nomination papers filed by the candidates;
the writ with the return of the election endorsed on it;
a packet containing the registration certificates.
a packet containing the list of electors used at the polling station, the written authorizations of candidates’ representatives and the used transfer certificates, if any, and
a packet of rejected ballot papers,
a packet of spoiled ballot papers,
packets of ballot papers cast for the various candidates,
a packet of stubs and unused ballot papers,
in relation to any place or territory in Canada,
in relation to the electoral district of Nunavut, a judge of the Nunavut Court of Justice; and
in relation to the electoral district of the Northwest Territories, a judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories;
in relation to the electoral district of Yukon, a judge of the Supreme Court of Yukon;
in relation to the Provinces of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of the Province;
in relation to the Provinces of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of the Province;
in relation to the Provinces of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, a judge of the Supreme Court of the Province;
in relation to the Province of Quebec, a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec;
in relation to the Province of Ontario, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice;
if no judge is exercising that jurisdiction, a judge designated for the purpose by the Minister of Justice.
if there is more than one judge exercising that jurisdiction, the senior of them, and
if a vacancy exists or arises in the office of any such judge or if such a judge is unable to act by reason of illness or absence from their judicial district, the judge exercising the jurisdiction of that judge,
one that is dealt with under subsection 152(1), including in relation to advance polls by virtue of subsection 171(1), or subsection 213(4), 242(1) or 258(3).
one that has not been deposited in the ballot box but has been found by the deputy returning officer to be soiled or improperly printed; or
If, in any provision of this Act, a reference to another provision of this Act or a provision of any other Act is followed by words in parentheses that are or purport to be descriptive of the subject-matter of the provision referred to, those words form no part of the provision in which they occur but are inserted for convenience of reference only.
A reference to a time of day in this Act is a reference to local time.
For the purposes of this Act, satisfactory proof of an elector’s identity and satisfactory proof of residence are established by the documentary proof of the elector’s identity and residence that is prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
For the purposes of this Act, the commercial value of property or a service is deemed to be nil if
The definitions in this subsection apply in this Act.
the amount charged for it is $200 or less.
it is provided by a person who is not in the business of providing that property or those services; and
every person who is imprisoned in a correctional institution serving a sentence of two years or more.
the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer; and
the Chief Electoral Officer;
induce another person to vote at an election knowing that the other person is not qualified as an elector or not entitled to vote under section 4.
vote or attempt to vote at an election knowing that they are not qualified as an elector or not entitled to vote under section 4; or
A shelter, hostel or similar institution that provides food, lodging or other social services to a person who has no dwelling place is that person’s place of ordinary residence.
Temporary residential quarters are considered to be a person’s place of ordinary residence only if the person has no other place that they consider to be their residence.
If a person usually sleeps in one place and has their meals or is employed in another place, their place of ordinary residence is where they sleep.
Temporary absence from a place of ordinary residence does not cause a loss or change of place of ordinary residence.
A person can have only one place of ordinary residence and it cannot be lost until another is gained.
The place of ordinary residence of a person is the place that has always been, or that has been adopted as, his or her dwelling place, and to which the person intends to return when away from it.
the place in Ottawa or in the area surrounding Ottawa where the former member resides for the purpose of carrying out parliamentary duties.
the office of the returning officer for the electoral district in which the former member is a candidate; or
the place of temporary residence of the former member in the electoral district in which the former member is a candidate;
the place of ordinary residence of the former member;
any other elector in Canada who wishes to vote in accordance with that Part.
an incarcerated elector within the meaning of that Part; and
a person who has been absent from Canada for less than five consecutive years and who intends to return to Canada as a resident;
a Canadian citizen who is employed by an international organization of which Canada is a member and to which Canada contributes and who is posted outside Canada;
an elector who is an employee in the federal public administration or the public service of a province and who is posted outside Canada;
a Canadian Forces elector;
For the purpose of a by-election only and despite anything in this Act, an elector who, during the period between the beginning of the revision period and ending on polling day, has changed his or her place of ordinary residence from one polling division to another polling division in the same electoral district may register his or her name on the list of electors in the new polling division.
No elector is entitled to vote at a by-election unless his or her place of ordinary residence on polling day is situated in the same electoral district that includes the polling division in which was situated the elector’s place of ordinary residence at the beginning of the revision period established by section 96.
The Chief Electoral Officer ceases to hold office on reaching 65 years of age.
There shall be a Chief Electoral Officer who shall be appointed by resolution of the House of Commons to hold office during good behaviour. He or she may be removed for cause by the Governor General on address of the Senate and House of Commons.
The substitute Chief Electoral Officer is entitled to be paid the remuneration fixed by the Governor in Council.
In the absence of both the Chief Justice of Canada and of the judge who made the order to appoint the substitute Chief Electoral Officer, the order may be revoked by any other judge of the Supreme Court of Canada.
A substitute Chief Electoral Officer shall act as Chief Electoral Officer until 15 days after the beginning of the next session of Parliament unless the Chief Justice of Canada or the judge who made the order to appoint the substitute Chief Electoral Officer sooner directs that the order be revoked.
In case of the death, incapacity or negligence of the Chief Electoral Officer while Parliament is not sitting, a substitute Chief Electoral Officer shall, on the application of the Minister, be appointed by order of the Chief Justice of Canada or, in the absence of the Chief Justice of Canada, by the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Canada then present in Ottawa.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall communicate with the Governor in Council through the Minister for the purposes of this Act.
The Chief Electoral Officer is deemed to be employed in the public service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act and to be employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall be paid a salary equal to the salary of a judge of the Federal Court, other than the Chief Justice of that Court, and is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses while absent from his or her ordinary place of residence in the course of his or her duties.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall rank as and have all the powers of a deputy head of a department, shall perform the duties of the office on a full-time basis and shall not hold any other office under Her Majesty or engage in any other employment.
exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions that are necessary for the administration of this Act.
issue to election officers the instructions that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary for the administration of this Act; and
ensure that all election officers act with fairness and impartiality and in compliance with this Act;
exercise general direction and supervision over the conduct of elections;
If voting at a polling station is interrupted on polling day by an emergency and the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that, if the voting hours at the polling station are not extended, a substantial number of electors will not be able to vote, the Chief Electoral Officer shall extend the voting hours at the polling station for the period the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to give those electors a reasonable opportunity to vote, as long as the polling station does not in any case
The Chief Electoral Officer shall not extend the hours within which a returning officer may receive a nomination paper or the voting hours at an advance polling station or, subject to subsection (3), the voting hours on polling day.
During an election period, if an emergency, an unusual or unforeseen circumstance or an error makes it necessary, the Chief Electoral Officer may adapt any provision of this Act and, in particular, may extend the time for doing any act, subject to subsection (2), or increase the number of election officers or polling stations.
remain open during polling day for a total of more than 12 hours.
close later than midnight on polling day; or
The Chief Electoral Officer may carry out studies on voting, including studies respecting alternative voting means, and may devise and test an electronic voting process for future use in a general election or a by-election. Such a process may not be used for an official vote without the prior approval of the committees of the Senate and of the House of Commons that normally consider electoral matters.
The Chief Electoral Officer may establish programs to disseminate information outside Canada concerning how to vote under Part 11.
The Chief Electoral Officer may, using any media or other means that he or she considers appropriate, provide the public, both inside and outside Canada, with information relating to Canada’s electoral process, the democratic right to vote and how to be a candidate.
The Chief Electoral Officer may implement public education and information programs to make the electoral process better known to the public, particularly to those persons and groups most likely to experience difficulties in exercising their democratic rights.
The Assistant Chief Electoral Officer is deemed to be a person employed in the public service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act and is deemed to be employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act and any regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act.
The staff of the Chief Electoral Officer shall consist of an officer known as the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer, appointed by the Governor in Council, and any other officers, clerks and employees that may be required, who shall be appointed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.
deputy returning officers and poll clerks for correctional institutions appointed under subsection 253(1).
liaison officers for correctional institutions appointed under subsection 248(1); and
special ballot officers appointed under subsection 183(1) or section 184;
the special voting rules administrator appointed under section 181;
persons appointed under subsection 290(2) to collect ballot boxes;
central poll supervisors appointed under subsection 124(2);
persons responsible for maintaining order at a central polling place appointed under paragraph 124(1)(b);
information officers appointed under paragraph 124(1)(a);
registration officers appointed under paragraph 32(d);
poll clerks appointed under paragraphs 32(b) and (c) and subsection 273(1);
deputy returning officers appointed under paragraphs 32(b) and (c) and subsection 273(1);
revising agents appointed under paragraph 32(a);
persons authorized by a returning officer under section 27 to perform duties under this Act;
assistant returning officers appointed under subsection 26(1) or 28(5) and additional assistant returning officers appointed under subsection 30(1);
returning officers appointed under subsection 24(1);
No person shall act as an election officer knowing that they do not meet the requirements for an election officer set out in this section.
In the case of an appointment that is to be made by a returning officer, if he or she is unable to appoint an election officer who meets the requirements set out in subsection (4), he or she may, with the approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, appoint
An election officer must be qualified as an elector and an election officer referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a), (b), (d) to (g) and (j) must reside in the electoral district in which he or she is to perform duties under this Act.
The following persons shall not be appointed as an election officer:
For greater certainty, a representative of a candidate who is present at a polling station is not an election officer.
The following persons are election officers:
a person who, within seven years before the proposed appointment, has been found guilty of any offence under this Act, the Referendum Act or any Act of the legislature of a province relating to provincial, municipal or school board elections.
a person who has served in Parliament in the session immediately before the election or in the session in progress at the time of the election; and
a person who was a candidate at the last general election or at a by-election held since the last general election;
a judge or deputy judge of any superior court or any bankruptcy or insolvency court and, in Yukon and the Northwest Territories, a judge of the Supreme Court;
a member of the legislature of a province, the Council of the Northwest Territories or the Legislative Assembly of Yukon or Nunavut;
a member of the Senate or the House of Commons;
a minister of the Crown or a member of the executive council of a province;
a person who is qualified as an elector but does not live in the electoral district.
a Canadian citizen who is 16 years of age or older and who resides in the electoral district; or
The returning officer shall send the documents containing the oaths of the returning officer and assistant returning officer without delay to the Chief Electoral Officer.
No election officer shall communicate information obtained in the course of performing his or her duties under this Act, other than for a purpose related to the performance of those duties.
Before assuming duties, an election officer shall swear an oath in writing, in the prescribed form, to perform the duties of the office in an impartial manner.
The Governor in Council may remove from office any returning officer who
No returning officer shall, while in office, knowingly engage in politically partisan conduct and in particular shall not make a contribution to a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant or belong to or make a contribution to, be an employee of or hold a position in, a registered party, an eligible party or a registered association.
A returning officer who intends to resign shall give written notice to that effect to the Chief Electoral Officer and the resignation is effective only when it is accepted by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The office of a returning officer is not vacant unless the returning officer dies, resigns, ceases to reside in the electoral district or is removed from office or the boundaries of their electoral district are revised as a result of a representation order made under section 25 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.
Every returning officer to whom a writ is directed shall, on its receipt, or on notification by the Chief Electoral Officer of its issue, cause to be promptly taken any of the proceedings directed by this Act that are necessary in order that the election may be regularly held.
A returning officer is responsible, under the general direction of the Chief Electoral Officer, for the preparation for and conduct of an election in his or her electoral district.
The Governor in Council shall appoint a returning officer for each electoral district and may only remove him or her for cause under subsection (7).
contravenes subsection (6), whether or not the contravention occurs in the exercise of his or her duties under this Act.
fails to complete the revision of the boundaries of the polling divisions in their electoral district as instructed by the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 538(3); or
fails to discharge competently a duty of a returning officer under this Act or to comply with an instruction of the Chief Electoral Officer described in paragraph 16(c);
is incapable, by reason of illness, physical or mental disability or otherwise, of satisfactorily performing his or her duties under this Act;
A returning officer shall not appoint his or her spouse, common-law partner, child, mother, father, brother, sister, the child of his or her spouse or common-law partner, or a person who lives with him or her as an assistant returning officer.
A returning officer shall, without delay after being appointed, appoint in writing an assistant returning officer, who shall hold office at pleasure and send the appointment in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer.
An authorization under subsection (1) shall be signed and dated by the returning officer.
The returning officer for an electoral district may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, authorize any person acting under his or her direction to perform any of the functions of a returning officer under this Act, except those described in subsection 24(3), sections 57, 62, 63 and 67, subsections 71(1) and 72(1), sections 74, 77, 103, 104, 130, 293 to 298 and 300, subsection 301(6) and sections 313 to 316.
Every assistant returning officer who is required to act as a returning officer under subsection (3) shall appoint an assistant returning officer without delay.
Within 60 days after the date on which the Chief Electoral Officer has been notified of a vacancy in the office of a returning officer or accepts the resignation of a returning officer, the Governor in Council shall appoint a new returning officer.
If a returning officer becomes unable to act, the assistant returning officer shall act until the appointment of a new returning officer or until the returning officer becomes able to act.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall communicate any notification received under subsection (1) to the Minister.
It is the duty of a returning officer or an assistant returning officer to notify the Chief Electoral Officer without delay if the returning officer at any time becomes unable to act.
without delay after the death or resignation of an assistant returning officer, notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing of the death or resignation.
without delay after removing an assistant returning officer from office, notify the assistant returning officer in writing of the removal and send a copy of the notice to the Chief Electoral Officer; and
An assistant returning officer who intends to resign shall give written notice to the returning officer who appointed him or her or, if the office of returning officer is vacant, to the Chief Electoral Officer.
When a returning officer ceases to hold office, the assistant returning officer appointed by him or her remains in office until the returning officer’s successor appoints a new assistant returning officer.
If an assistant returning officer dies, resigns, becomes disqualified or incapable of acting or refuses to act, or is removed from office for any other reason, the returning officer who appointed him or her shall without delay appoint a substitute.
A returning officer shall
An assistant returning officer appointed under subsection (2) may not perform the functions described in subsections 28(1), 60(2), 70(1) and 293(1).
An assistant returning officer appointed under subsection (2) may perform the functions of an assistant returning officer only in respect of the area for which they are appointed.
A returning officer shall appoint an additional assistant returning officer and establish an office in each area designated by the Chief Electoral Officer.
On request by a returning officer, the Chief Electoral Officer may designate areas in the returning officer’s electoral district and authorize, in writing, the appointment of an assistant returning officer, in addition to the assistant returning officer appointed under subsection 26(1), for each of those areas.
a registration officer for each registration desk.
one deputy returning officer and one poll clerk for each polling station in the electoral district; and
one deputy returning officer and one poll clerk for each advance polling station in the electoral district;
the revising agents that the returning officer considers necessary, provided that the Chief Electoral Officer approves of their number;
Each revising agent shall, while performing his or her functions, wear or carry the identification that is supplied by the Chief Electoral Officer and shall show it on request.
Each returning officer shall make available to each candidate a list of the revising agents for the electoral district, on completion of the list.
A returning officer may replace a revising agent at any time and the former revising agent shall return all election materials in his or her possession to the returning officer.
A returning officer shall appoint revising agents to work in pairs and each pair shall consist, as far as possible, of persons recommended by different registered parties.
A returning officer shall appoint half of the revising agents from among the persons recommended by the registered party whose candidate finished first in the last election in the electoral district, and half from among the persons recommended by the registered party whose candidate finished second in that election.
Before appointing revising agents, a returning officer shall solicit names of suitable persons from the registered parties whose candidates finished first and second in the last election in the electoral district and, if sufficient names are not provided by those parties within three days after receipt of the request, the returning officer may solicit names from any other source.
A returning officer may, at any time, remove a deputy returning officer.
Each deputy returning officer referred to in paragraph 32(b) or (c) shall be appointed from lists of names of suitable persons provided by the candidate of the registered party whose candidate finished first in the electoral district in the last election.
A returning officer may, at any time, remove a poll clerk.
Each poll clerk referred to in paragraph 32(b) or (c) shall be appointed from lists of names of suitable persons provided by the candidate of the registered party whose candidate finished second in the electoral district in the last election.
The candidate may, within 24 hours after being advised of the refusal, recommend another person and, if he or she does not do so, the returning officer shall proceed to appoint another person whose name is solicited from another source.
A returning officer may, on reasonable grounds, refuse to appoint a deputy returning officer or a poll clerk recommended by a candidate and shall immediately advise the candidate of the refusal.
When a poll clerk acts as deputy returning officer, the poll clerk shall, in the prescribed form, appoint a person to act as poll clerk.
When the office of deputy returning officer is vacant or if the deputy returning officer is unable or unwilling to act, and the returning officer has not appointed a replacement, the poll clerk shall act as deputy returning officer without taking another oath.
The returning officer shall, as far as possible, appoint half of the registration officers from among the persons recommended by each of the candidates under subsection (3). If either of those candidates did not provide a sufficient number of names of suitable persons, his or her registered party’s remaining share of the appointments shall be made from among the names solicited by the returning officer from other sources.
Before appointing registration officers, the returning officer shall solicit names of suitable persons from the candidates of the registered parties whose candidates finished first and second in the last election in the electoral district, to be submitted to the returning officer no later than the 17th day before polling day. If, by that time, a sufficient number of names of suitable persons are not provided by those candidates, the returning officer may solicit names from other sources.
The returning officer shall appoint, for each registration desk, a registration officer to receive, on polling day, the applications for registration of electors whose names are not on the list of electors.
The returning officer shall establish one or more registration desks in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer.
When the Chief Electoral Officer has determined which parties have the right to provide lists of names under subsection (1), (2) or (3), he or she shall notify the parties without delay of that right.
If, in a case to which subsection (2) applies, a general election is held before the by-election, the registered parties that have the right to provide the returning officer with lists of names of suitable persons to be appointed as election officers in respect of that general election are the same registered parties as those that had that right for the purposes of the election that resulted in the equality of votes.
If the Chief Electoral Officer cannot transpose the results from the previous general election to a portion of the new electoral district because no candidate was returned in respect of that portion due to an equality of votes, the Chief Electoral Officer shall transpose the results from the by-election that was subsequently held under subsection 29(1.1) of the Parliament of Canada Act in respect of that portion.
When a new electoral district is established, the Chief Electoral Officer shall transpose the results from the previous general election to the polling divisions that are in the new electoral district in order to determine which registered parties’ candidates have the right to provide the returning officer with lists of persons to be appointed as election officers.
having been replaced as an election officer, fail to give to their replacement or to an authorized person any election documents or other election materials that the person has received or prepared in the performance of his or her duties.
without authority, use identification simulating that used by a revising agent or intended to replace that prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer for that purpose; or
wilfully obstruct an election officer in the performance of his or her duties;
Inclusion in the Register of Electors is at the option of the elector.
The Register of Electors shall contain, for each elector who is included in it, his or her surname, given names, sex, date of birth, civic address, mailing address and any other information that is provided under subsections 49(2), 194(7), 195(7), 223(2), 233(2) and 251(3).
The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of Canadians who are qualified as electors, to be known as the Register of Electors.
For the purpose of subsection (1), a registered party that is the result of a merger of two or more registered parties is deemed to have endorsed a candidate in the last election if one of the merging parties so endorsed a candidate.
This section does not apply if October 15 falls during an election period or if the vote at a general election was held during the three months before that date.
The lists of electors shall set out each elector’s surname, given names, civic address and mailing address, and shall be arranged in the form established by the Chief Electoral Officer according to the civic addresses of the electors or, if that is not appropriate, in alphabetical order by their surnames.
By October 15 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall send to the member for each electoral district and, on request, to each registered party that endorsed a candidate in the electoral district in the last election, a copy in electronic form — taken from the Register of Electors — of the lists of electors for the electoral district.
that is held by a federal department or body and that electors have expressly authorized to be given to the Chief Electoral Officer; and
that electors have given the Chief Electoral Officer, or
information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers reliable and necessary for updating the surname, given names, sex, date of birth, civic address and mailing address of electors included in the Register of Electors and that
information
comes from any other source mentioned in Schedule 2.
is held under an Act of the legislature of a province mentioned in Schedule 2, or
The Chief Electoral Officer may at any time amend Schedule 2 by adding, changing or deleting the name of an Act of the legislature of a province or of any other source of information, but no such amendment comes into force until notice of it is published in the Canada Gazette.
The Register of Electors shall be updated from
This section does not apply in respect of the inclusion of a new elector
A new elector who wishes to be included in the Register of Electors shall confirm, correct or complete the information, in writing, and give it to the Chief Electoral Officer along with a signed certification that he or she is qualified as an elector under section 3.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, before including a new elector in the Register of Electors, send the elector the Chief Electoral Officer’s information relating to him or her and ask if he or she wishes to be included in the Register of Electors.
based on lists of electors established under provincial law, if those lists contain the information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers sufficient for the inclusion of the elector.
at the elector’s request; or
satisfactory proof of identity.
his or her surname, given names, sex, date of birth, civic address and mailing address; and
a signed certification that he or she is qualified as an elector;
In addition to the information referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer may invite the elector to give any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to implement any agreements entered into under section 55, but the elector is not required to do so.
Any person may at any time request the Chief Electoral Officer to include him or her in the Register of Electors, by providing
request the elector to confirm, correct or complete the information within 60 days after receiving the request.
contact an elector to verify the Chief Electoral Officer’s information relating to him or her; and
requests in writing to have his or her name deleted.
is not an elector; or
is dead;
The Chief Electoral Officer may delete from the Register of Electors the name of any person who fails to comply with a request referred to in paragraph 51(b) within the 60 days.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall delete from the Register of Electors the name of any person who
An agreement mentioned in subsection (1) may require valuable consideration to be provided in exchange for the information given.
A body to whom information is given under an agreement mentioned in subsection (1) may use the information only for the purpose of establishing lists of electors for an election or a referendum held under a provincial law.
The Chief Electoral Officer may, for the purpose of ensuring the protection of personal information given under an agreement mentioned in subsection (1), include in the agreement any conditions that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate regarding the use that may be made of that information.
The Chief Electoral Officer may enter into an agreement with any body responsible under provincial law for establishing a list of electors, governing the giving of information contained in the Register of Electors if that information is needed for establishing such a list.
knowingly use personal information that is recorded in the Register of Electors for a purpose other than
wilfully apply to have included in the Register of Electors the name of an animal or thing; or
request the listing in the Register of Electors of the name of a person who is not qualified as an elector, knowing that the person is not so qualified;
knowingly make a false or misleading statement, orally or in writing, relating to another person’s qualification as an elector, surname, given names, sex, civic address or mailing address for the purpose of having that person’s name deleted from the Register of Electors;
knowingly make a false or misleading statement, orally or in writing, relating to their qualification as an elector or relating to any other information referred to in section 49;
an election or referendum held under provincial law, if the information is subject to, and transmitted in accordance with, an agreement made under section 55.
a federal election or referendum, or
to enable registered parties, members or candidates to communicate with electors in accordance with section 110,
If the day fixed for the vote is a Tuesday because of subsection (4), any time period specified under this Act before or after polling day is to be calculated as if polling day were the Monday.
If, in the week in which the election is to be held, the Monday is a holiday, polling day shall be held on the Tuesday of that week.
Subject to subsection (4), polling day shall be on a Monday.
In the case of a general election,
The proclamation or order shall
The Governor in Council shall make an order in order for a by-election to be held.
The Governor in Council shall issue a proclamation in order for a general election to be held.
fix the date for voting at the election, which date must be at least 36 days after the issue of the writ.
fix the date of issue of the writ; and
direct the Chief Electoral Officer to issue a writ to the returning officer for each electoral district to which the proclamation or order applies;
the proclamation shall fix a date for the return of the writ to the Chief Electoral Officer, which date shall be the same for all of the writs.
polling day shall be the same for all electoral districts; and
the date of issue of the writ shall be the same for all electoral districts;
The day named in the new writ for polling day may not be later than three months after the issue of the new writ.
If the Governor in Council orders the withdrawal of a writ, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a notice of the withdrawal in the Canada Gazette and issue a new writ ordering an election within three months after publication of the notice.
The Governor in Council may order the withdrawal of a writ for any electoral district for which the Chief Electoral Officer certifies that by reason of a flood, fire or other disaster it is impracticable to carry out the provisions of this Act.
The Chief Electoral Officer may fix the hours that the office must be open and the minimum number of hours of compulsory attendance at it by the returning officer and the assistant returning officer.
Every returning officer shall, without delay after receiving the writ or notice by the Chief Electoral Officer of the issue of the writ, open an office in premises with level access in a convenient place in the electoral district and shall maintain the office throughout the election period.
Staff mentioned in subsection (1) shall
The Chief Electoral Officer may authorize returning officers to appoint the staff that they consider necessary for the purposes of this Act.
be discharged as soon as their services are no longer needed.
take the prescribed oath; and
be appointed in the prescribed form;
the address of the returning officer’s office.
the date and time, not later than seven days after polling day, for the validation of results; and
the date for polling day;
the deadline for the receipt of nominations;
within 48 hours after the return of the writ, send a certified copy of it to the elected candidate.
without delay declare the candidate elected by endorsing the return of the writ in the prescribed form on the back of the writ and returning it to the Chief Electoral Officer; and
When the returning officer returns the writ to the Chief Electoral Officer, the returning officer shall include with it a report of the proceedings during the election period, including any nomination proposed and rejected for non-compliance with this Act.
When, as of 2:00 p.m. on the 19th day before polling day, the returning officer has confirmed a nomination for only one candidate, the returning officer shall
The returning officer shall send to each candidate, on the later of the 31st day before polling day and the day on which the candidate’s nomination is confirmed, up to 10 copies of a document that sets out a description of the boundaries of the polling divisions in the electoral district.
The returning officer shall send one copy of the notice of grant of a poll to each deputy returning officer or central poll supervisor, as the case may be, and the officer or supervisor shall post the notice in his or her polling place.
The returning officer shall, within five days after the closing day for nominations, if more than one candidate is nominated, post in the returning office a notice of grant of a poll in the prescribed form that indicates
If the nomination of more than one candidate is confirmed in an electoral district, an election shall be held.
the name, if any, and the number of each of the polling divisions and the addresses of the polling stations in that electoral district.
the name and address of the official agent for each candidate, as stated in the nomination papers; and
the name, address and political affiliation, if any, of each candidate, as stated in the nomination papers, in the order in which their names are to be placed on the ballots;
a person who was a candidate in a previous election and for whom a return, report, document or declaration has not been provided under subsection 451(1), if the time and any extension for providing it have expired.
an election officer; and
a person who is imprisoned in a correctional institution;
a judge appointed by the Governor in Council, other than a citizenship judge appointed under the Citizenship Act;
a person who is not entitled under section 4 to vote;
a sheriff, clerk of the peace or county Crown Attorney in any of the provinces;
a member of the legislature of a province, the Council of the Northwest Territories or the Legislative Assembly of Yukon or Nunavut;
a person who is disentitled under paragraph 502(3)(a) while they are so disentitled;
a person who is not qualified as an elector on the date on which his or her nomination paper is filed;
the name of the political party that has endorsed the prospective candidate or, if none, the prospective candidate’s choice to either have the word “independent” or no designation of political affiliation under his or her name in election documents;
the name, address and occupation of the prospective candidate’s auditor named under subsection 83(2), and
the name and address of the prospective candidate’s official agent,
the address designated by the prospective candidate for service of documents under this Act,
his or her name, address and occupation,
the name, address and signature of the witness to each signature made under paragraph (e) or (f).
for an electoral district listed in Schedule 3, the names, addresses and signatures, made in the presence of a witness, of at least 50 electors resident in the electoral district; and
for any electoral district except one listed in Schedule 3, the names, addresses and signatures, made in the presence of a witness, of at least 100 electors resident in the electoral district;
a statement signed by the official agent consenting to act in that capacity;
the signature of the witness referred to in paragraph (b);
a statement by the prospective candidate, consenting to the nomination, signed and sworn in the presence of a witness who is an elector but is not the person who administers the oath;
a statement under oath by the prospective candidate of
If the returning officer is of the opinion that a nickname referred to in paragraph (2)(b) could be confused with the name of a political party, he or she shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall determine whether the nickname may be used as provided in that paragraph.
A prospective candidate who uses a nickname described in paragraph (2)(b) in his or her nomination paper shall, if the returning officer requests, provide the returning officer with documents that are determined by the Chief Electoral Officer to be evidence of the common public knowledge and acceptance of the nickname.
For the purpose of subparagraph (1)(a)(i),
A nomination paper shall be in the prescribed form and include
the occupation shall be stated briefly and shall correspond to the occupation by which the prospective candidate is known in his or her place of ordinary residence.
a normal abbreviation of one or more of the given names may be substituted for the given name or names; and
one or more of the given names may be replaced by a nickname by which the prospective candidate is publicly known, other than a nickname that could be confused with the name of a political party, and the nickname may be accompanied by the initial or initials of their given name;
the name shall not include any title, degree or other prefix or suffix;
The witness shall file with the returning officer, together with the nomination paper,
The witness shall, on filing the nomination paper, swear an oath in writing in the prescribed form before the returning officer stating that
The witness shall use due diligence to ensure that the signatures referred to in paragraph 66(1)(e) or (f) were all made by electors resident in the electoral district.
The witness to the consent referred to in paragraph 66(1)(b) shall file the nomination paper with the returning officer in the electoral district in which the prospective candidate is seeking nomination at any time between the issue of the Notice of Election and the close of nominations.
the prospective candidate signed the consent to the nomination in the presence of the witness.
the witness is qualified as an elector; and
the witness knows the prospective candidate;
if applicable, an instrument in writing, signed by the leader of the political party or by a person referred to in subsection 383(2), that states that the prospective candidate is endorsed by the party in accordance with section 68.
a statement signed by the auditor consenting to act in that capacity; and
a deposit of $1,000;
If, with respect to a particular electoral district, a candidate who has been endorsed by a political party dies before 2:00 p.m. on the 5th day before the closing day for nominations or withdraws in accordance with subsection 74(1), the party may endorse another candidate in that electoral district before the close of nominations.
A political party may endorse only one prospective candidate in each electoral district for a given election.
The returning officer may authorize a person to receive the nomination paper and the deposit, statement and instrument referred to in paragraphs 67(4)(a) to (c), respectively, in any place designated by the returning officer. They must be received by the close of nominations.
No nomination may be received from any person who enters the office of the returning officer after 2:00 p.m. on the closing day for nominations.
The returning officer and the assistant returning officer shall attend between noon and 2:00 p.m. on the closing day for nominations at the office of the returning officer in order that the returning officer may receive nominations for prospective candidates who have not yet filed their nomination papers.
A nomination paper that a returning officer has refused to accept may be replaced by another nomination paper or may be corrected if the new or corrected nomination paper is filed with the returning officer by the close of nominations.
Before giving confirmation of a nomination or refusing to accept one, the returning officer shall verify, in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer,
The returning officer shall, not later than 48 hours after a nomination paper is filed, give the prospective candidate notice, in the prescribed form, of the confirmation of the nomination or of the refusal to accept the nomination.
that the signatures referred to in paragraph 66(1)(e) or (f) are those of electors who are entitled to vote in the electoral district in which the prospective candidate intends to seek nomination.
that the nomination paper is complete, including having at least the number of signatures referred to in paragraph 66(1)(e) or (f), as the case may be; and
If a returning officer refuses to accept a nomination, the deposit that was filed in support of it shall be refunded to the person in respect of whom the nomination paper was filed.
On receipt of the deposit, the returning officer shall issue a receipt to the witness and shall without delay send the deposit to the Chief Electoral Officer who shall without delay send it to the Receiver General.
If the original documents are not received on time, the returning officer shall cancel the nomination unless the person in respect of whom the nomination paper was filed satisfies the returning officer that all reasonable measures were taken to ensure that the original documents were received on time.
A prospective candidate may send his or her nomination paper and the statement and instrument referred to in paragraphs 67(4)(b) and (c), respectively, by electronic means. In order for the nomination to be valid, the returning officer must receive the deposit referred to in paragraph 67(4)(a) and copies in electronic form of the nomination paper, statement and instrument by the close of nominations. The original documents must be received by the returning officer not later than 48 hours after the close of nominations.
When a candidate withdraws under subsection (1), any votes cast for the candidate at the election are void.
A candidate may withdraw at any time before 5:00 p.m. on the closing day for nominations by filing, in person, with the returning officer a statement in writing to that effect signed by the candidate and witnessed by two electors who are entitled to vote in the electoral district in which the candidate’s nomination was confirmed.
The lists of electors to be used at a postponed election shall be the lists of electors that were revised before the 6th day before the new polling day.
Notice of the day fixed under subsection (1) shall be given by a further Notice of Election distributed and posted as specified by the Chief Electoral Officer, and there shall also be named by the Notice of Election a new polling day, which shall be Monday, the 21st day after the day fixed under that subsection.
If a candidate endorsed by a registered party dies after 2:00 p.m. on the 5th day before the closing day for nominations and before the close of polling stations on polling day, the election is postponed and the returning officer shall, after communicating with the Chief Electoral Officer, fix the 2nd Monday after the death as the closing day for nominations in that electoral district.
campaigning in a common area in the multiple residence.
in the case of an apartment building or condominium building, canvassing at the doors to the apartments or units, as the case may be; or
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a person who is in control of a multiple residence building whose residents’ physical or emotional well-being may be harmed as a result of permitting canvassing or campaigning referred to in that subsection.
No person who is in control of an apartment building, condominium building or other multiple residence building may prevent a candidate or his or her representative, between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., from
A candidate shall appoint an auditor on appointing an official agent.
A candidate shall appoint an official agent before accepting a contribution or incurring an electoral campaign expense.
a person who does not have the capacity to enter into contracts in the province in which he or she ordinarily resides.
a person who is not qualified as an elector; and
an auditor appointed as required by this Act;
an undischarged bankrupt;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
a candidate;
Subject to sections 84 and 85, a person may be appointed as official agent or auditor for a candidate notwithstanding that the person is a member of a partnership that has been appointed as an auditor, in accordance with this Act for
financial agents of registered third parties.
nomination contestants and their financial agents; and
leadership contestants and their leadership campaign agents;
electoral district agents of registered associations;
a registered agent of a registered party;
the chief agent of a registered party or an eligible party;
the official agent of the candidate or any other candidate;
the candidate or any other candidate;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
The following persons are not eligible to be an auditor for a candidate:
a partnership of which every partner is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants.
a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants; or
The following are eligible to be an auditor for a candidate:
a registered party.
a candidate in an electoral district other than the electoral district of the candidate for whom the appointment is being made; or
No person who is ineligible to act as an auditor of a candidate shall act in that capacity.
No person who is ineligible to act as an official agent of a candidate shall act in that capacity.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, not later than the 31st day before polling day, determine the number of names appearing on the preliminary lists of electors for each electoral district and cause that information to be published in the Canada Gazette.
A preliminary list of electors shall contain only the names and addresses of electors in the electoral district, and shall be arranged according to the civic addresses of the electors or, if that is not appropriate, in alphabetical order by their names.
As soon as possible after the issue of a writ, the Chief Electoral Officer shall prepare a preliminary list of electors for each polling division in an electoral district, and shall send it to the returning officer for the electoral district along with all the other information in the Register of Electors that relates to the electors of that electoral district.
On the request of a candidate, the returning officer may provide a maximum of four additional printed copies of the preliminary lists of electors.
Each returning officer shall, on receipt of the preliminary lists of electors for his or her electoral district, distribute one printed copy and one copy in electronic form of the lists to each candidate in the electoral district who requests them.
are referred to in section 222.
have completed a statement of ordinary residence under section 194 or 195; or
are referred to in paragraph 11(e);
The notice of confirmation of registration shall invite the elector to contact the returning officer if he or she
The notice of confirmation of registration shall be in the form established by the Chief Electoral Officer and shall indicate
Each returning officer shall, as soon as possible after the issue of a writ but not later than the 24th day before polling day, send a notice of confirmation of registration to every elector whose name appears on the preliminary list of electors, except electors who
the dates of advance polls and the voting hours and locations of advance polling stations.
a telephone number to call for more information; and
the voting hours on polling day;
the address of the elector’s polling station, and whether or not it has level access;
is unable to attend at a polling station because of a physical disability.
requires level access and his or her polling station does not have it; or
requires a language or sign language interpreter;
All applications referred to in subsection (1) that are received by revising agents shall, on completion, be presented to the returning officer or assistant returning officer for his or her approval.
The returning officer, assistant returning officer and revising agents for an electoral district may receive applications for additions or corrections to, or deletions from, a preliminary list of electors or the Register of Electors for their electoral district.
deleting the names of persons whose names were incorrectly inserted on the lists.
correcting information respecting electors whose names are on the lists; and
adding the names of electors who were omitted from the lists;
In case of disagreement, the revising agents shall refer the matter to the returning officer or assistant returning officer for a decision and are bound by that decision.
Each pair of revising agents appointed for an electoral district shall act jointly to assist in the revision of the preliminary lists of electors.
another elector who does not live at the same residence as the elector completes the prescribed registration form for the elector, establishes that the elector should be included on the list and provides
another elector who lives at the same residence as the elector completes the prescribed registration form, establishes that the elector should be included on the list and provides satisfactory proof of identity in respect of that elector; or
the elector completes the prescribed registration form, establishes that he or she should be included on the list and provides satisfactory proof of identity;
satisfactory proof of identity in respect of both electors.
written authorization from the elector allowing the other elector to complete the form for him or her, and
An elector who changes his or her address within an electoral district may, by telephone or otherwise, on providing satisfactory proof of identity and residence to one of the election officers mentioned in subsection 97(1), apply to have the relevant corrections made to the appropriate preliminary list of electors. Another elector who lives at the same residence as the elector in question, on providing satisfactory proof of identity and residence in respect of the elector in question, may apply to have the relevant corrections made to that list in respect of the elector in question.
The returning officer or assistant returning officer may approve corrections to the information, in respect of an elector, on a preliminary list of electors if
The returning officer or assistant returning officer may delete the name of a person from a preliminary list of electors if
The previous address of an elector whose name is added to a preliminary list of electors under any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (c) and who has changed his or her address since being listed in the Register of Electors shall be provided and the elector’s name shall then be deleted from the Register of Electors in relation to the previous address.
An elector whose name is added to a preliminary list of electors under paragraph (1)(a) may request that his or her name not be included in the Register of Electors.
The returning officer or assistant returning officer may add the name of any elector to the preliminary list of electors if
it is established that the elector no longer resides at the address indicated on the list.
it is established that the information provided in respect of the elector is not valid; or
it is established that the elector is deceased;
the person requests it and provides satisfactory proof of identity;
there is an omission, inaccuracy or error.
the elector has requested the correction under subsection 97(1); or
If the person objected to decides to appear before the returning officer under paragraph (3)(a), the returning officer shall permit one representative of each candidate in the electoral district to be present, but no representative has the right to intervene, except with the permission of the returning officer.
The returning officer shall, as soon as possible, send to each candidate in the electoral district a copy of the notice referred to in subsection (3).
sending the returning officer, before that time, any documentation that the person considers appropriate.
appearing personally or by representative before the returning officer at a specified time no later than the 11th day before polling day; or
The returning officer shall, on the day on which he or she receives an affidavit of objection or on the following day, send to the person objected to, at his or her address given on the list of electors and also at any other address given on the affidavit, a notice in the prescribed form advising the person that he or she may give evidence to show that he or she is entitled to vote in the electoral district in question by
An elector who wishes to make an objection under subsection (1) shall complete an affidavit of objection in the prescribed form, alleging that the other person is not entitled to vote in that electoral district, and shall submit the affidavit to the returning officer.
No later than the 14th day before polling day, an elector whose name appears on a list of electors for an electoral district may make an objection before the returning officer respecting the inclusion of the name of another person on a list of electors for that electoral district.
After an objection is dealt with by the returning officer, he or she shall either delete the name of the person objected to from the list of electors on which the name appears or allow the name to stay on that list.
The non-attendance before the returning officer at the time an objection is dealt with, or the failure of the person against whom the objection is made to send proof that he or she is entitled to vote in the electoral district, does not relieve the elector who makes the objection from proving, to the returning officer on a balance of probabilities, that the name of the person objected to should not appear on the list of electors.
The onus of presenting sufficient evidence to warrant the deletion of a name from a list of electors is on the elector who makes the objection.
When an objection is made under subsection 103(1), the returning officer may examine on oath the elector who made the objection, the person against whom it was made — if that person wishes to present their position — and any witness present, and make a decision on the basis of the information so obtained.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, not later than the 7th day before polling day, determine the number of names appearing on the revised lists of electors for each electoral district and cause that information to be published in the Canada Gazette.
Each returning officer shall, on the 11th day before polling day, prepare a revised list of electors for each polling division in the electoral district for use at the advance poll.
On the request of a candidate, the returning officer may provide a maximum of four additional printed copies of the revised lists of electors and the official lists of electors.
Each returning officer shall deliver to each candidate a printed copy and a copy in electronic form of the revised lists of electors and the official lists of electors.
Each returning officer shall deliver to the deputy returning officers the revised lists of electors or official lists of electors, as the case may be, that the deputy returning officers need to conduct the vote in their respective advance polling stations or polling stations. The lists shall indicate the sex of each elector.
The revised list of electors and official list of electors for each polling division shall be in the form established by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The lists of electors for the merging polling divisions are deemed to be the official list of electors for the polling division that results from the merger.
After the end of the revision period, the returning officer may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, merge a polling division with an adjacent polling division in the same electoral district.
On the request of a registered party or member referred to in subsection (2), the Chief Electoral Officer may provide a maximum of four additional printed copies of the final lists of electors.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall deliver a printed copy and a copy in electronic form of the final lists of electors for each electoral district to each registered party that endorsed a candidate in the electoral district and to the member who was elected for the electoral district.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, without delay after polling day, prepare final lists of electors for each electoral district.
A candidate who receives a copy of preliminary lists of electors under section 94, or a copy of revised lists of electors or official lists of electors under subsection 107(3), may use the lists for communicating with his or her electors during an election period, including using them for soliciting contributions and campaigning.
A member who, under section 45 or 109, receives a copy of lists of electors or final lists of electors, respectively, may use the lists for
A registered party that, under section 45 or 109, receives a copy of lists of electors or final lists of electors, respectively, may use the lists for communicating with electors, including using them for soliciting contributions and recruiting party members.
in the case of a member of a registered party, soliciting contributions for the use of the registered party and recruiting party members.
communicating with his or her electors; and
knowingly use personal information that is recorded in a list of electors for a purpose other than
wilfully apply to have included in a list of electors the name of an animal or thing; or
apply to have included in a list of electors for an electoral district the name of a person, knowing that the person is not qualified as an elector or entitled to vote in the electoral district;
wilfully apply, except as authorized by this Act, to be included in a list of electors for a polling division in which the person is not ordinarily resident;
wilfully apply, except as authorized by this Act, to be included in a list of electors for a polling division if he or she is already included in a list of electors for another polling division, which list was prepared for use at the same election;
wilfully apply to be included in a list of electors in a name that is not his or her own;
a federal election or referendum.
to enable registered parties, members or candidates to communicate with electors in accordance with section 110, or
The returning officer shall permit access to, and give full opportunity for the inspection of, the list referred to in subsection (1) by interested persons at any reasonable time.
A returning officer shall, at least three days before polling day, post in his or her office, and provide to each candidate or candidate’s representative, a list of the names and addresses of all the deputy returning officers and poll clerks appointed to act in the electoral district, with the number of the polling station at which each is to act.
Each ballot box shall be of the size and shape and made of the material determined by the Chief Electoral Officer and be constructed to allow seals for the use of the returning officers and deputy returning officers to be affixed.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the returning officer with the necessary ballot boxes.
Before the closing day for nominations, the Chief Electoral Officer shall deliver to every returning officer the printing material prepared for that election for the purpose of printing the year and the name of the electoral district on the back of the ballot.
As soon as possible after the issue of the writ, the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the returning officer with the paper on which the ballots are to be printed. The weight and opacity of the paper shall be determined by the Chief Electoral Officer.
Ballots shall bear the name of the printer who, on delivering them to the returning officer, shall include an affidavit in the prescribed form that sets out a description of the ballots, the number of ballots delivered to the returning officer and the fact that all ballots were provided, and all paper returned, as required by subsection (5).
Each printer shall return all of the ballots and all of the unused paper on which the ballots were to have been printed, to the returning officer.
Ballots shall be in books containing an appropriate number of ballots.
The ballots shall be numbered on the back of the stub and the counterfoil, and the same number shall be printed on the stub as on the counterfoil.
Ballots shall have a counterfoil and a stub, with a line of perforations between the ballot and the counterfoil and between the counterfoil and the stub.
The returning officer shall, as soon as possible after 2:00 p.m. on the 19th day before polling day, authorize the printing of a sufficient number of ballots in Form 3 of Schedule 1.
The ballot shall list under the candidate’s name the address or occupation of a candidate who makes a written request to that effect to the returning officer before 5:00 p.m. on the closing day for nominations, if the candidate and another candidate on the ballot have the same name and both candidates have chosen under subparagraph 66(1)(a)(v) to either have the word “independent” or no designation of political affiliation under their names in election documents.
[Repealed, 2001, c. 21, s. 12]
The word “independent” shall be listed on the ballot under the name of the candidate who has requested it in accordance with subparagraph 66(1)(a)(v) and may not be so listed in any other case.
The name, in the form referred to in paragraph 366(2)(b), of the political party that has endorsed the candidate shall be listed on the ballot under the name of the candidate if
Ballots shall contain the names of candidates, arranged alphabetically, taken from their nomination papers.
[Repealed, 2004, c. 24, s. 2]
at the close of nominations, the party is a registered party.
the condition described in paragraph 67(4)(c) is met; and
the candidate’s nomination paper includes it;
the necessary envelopes, forms and other supplies that may be authorized or provided by the Chief Electoral Officer.
the text of the oaths to be administered to electors; and
a ballot box;
the official list of electors for use at the polling station, enclosing it when possible in the ballot box with the ballots and other supplies;
a copy of the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer referred to in section 113;
an adequate number of templates, provided by the Chief Electoral Officer, to enable electors who are visually impaired to mark their ballots without assistance;
the necessary materials for electors to mark their ballots;
a statement showing the number of ballots that are supplied, with their serial numbers;
enough ballots for at least the number of electors on the official list of electors for the deputy returning officer’s polling station;
Until the opening of the poll, each deputy returning officer is responsible for all election materials in his or her possession and shall take every precaution for the safekeeping of those materials and to prevent any person from having unlawful access to them.
Before voting begins, each returning officer shall provide each deputy returning officer in his or her electoral district with
To each portion of the official list of electors that is divided, the returning officer shall, before sending the portion to the deputy returning officer for the polling station, append a certificate signed by the returning officer in the prescribed form attesting to its correctness.
The returning officer shall divide the official list of electors for a polling division into as many separate lists as are required for the taking of the votes at each polling station.
No later than 3 days before a polling day, a returning officer may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, establish several polling stations for a polling division if, because of the number of electors on the list of electors for the polling division, the returning officer believes it necessary for the conduct of the vote, and each of those polling stations is to be designated by the number of the polling division to which is added the letter A, B, C and so on.
Each returning officer shall, for polling day, establish one polling station for each polling division.
Each voting compartment shall be placed on a hard and smooth surface and shall have in it a suitable black lead pencil for the use of electors in marking their ballots.
Each polling station shall contain one or two voting compartments arranged so that each elector is screened from observation and may, without interference or interruption, mark their ballot.
If a returning officer is unable to secure suitable premises with level access for use as a polling station, the returning officer may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, locate the polling station in premises without level access.
Subject to subsection (2), a polling station shall be in premises with level access.
A returning officer may require the officer in charge of a building owned or occupied by the Government of Canada to make premises in that building available for use as a polling station, and the officer to whom the requirement is directed shall make every reasonable effort to comply with the requirement.
Whenever possible, a returning officer shall locate a polling station in a school or other suitable public building and shall locate the polling station or the polling stations in a central polling place, at a place or places in the building that will provide ease of access to electors.
If a returning officer is unable to secure suitable premises to be used as a polling station within a polling division, the returning officer may establish a polling station in an adjacent polling division and all the provisions of this Act apply as if the polling station were within the polling division to which it appertains.
On the establishment of a central polling place under subsection (1), all of the provisions of this Act apply as if each polling station at the central polling place were within the polling division to which it appertains.
A returning officer shall not group together more than 15 polling stations in a central polling place without the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer.
A returning officer may, if he or she considers it advisable, place several polling stations together in a central polling place.
When a returning officer establishes a central polling place that contains four or more polling stations, the returning officer may appoint a central poll supervisor to attend at the central polling place on polling day to supervise proceedings and keep the returning officer informed of any matter that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, the proceedings.
a person responsible for maintaining order.
an information officer to provide information to the electors; and
When a returning officer establishes a central polling place, the returning officer may appoint, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer,
Subject to the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer, the provisions of this Act that relate to ordinary polls shall, in so far as they are applicable, apply to mobile polling stations.
The returning officer shall give notice to the candidates of the itinerary of the mobile polling station in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer.
The returning officer shall set the times during which a mobile polling station will be located in the institutions referred to in subsection (1).
When a polling division consisting of two or more institutions is constituted under subsection 538(5), the returning officer may establish a mobile polling station to be located in each of those institutions successively.
manufacture, import into Canada, have in possession, supply to an election officer, or use for the purpose of an election, or cause to be manufactured, imported into Canada, provided to an election officer, or used for the purposes of an election, a ballot box that contains a compartment into which a ballot may be secretly placed or a device by which a ballot may be secretly altered.
print a ballot or what purports to be or is capable of being used as a ballot at an election with the intention of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast; or
being authorized under this Act to print a ballot, knowingly print more ballot papers than the person is authorized to print;
without authority under this Act, print a ballot or what purports to be or is capable of being used as a ballot at an election;
forge a ballot;
by means of a special ballot issued in accordance with Part 11.
in person at an advance polling station during the period provided for the advance poll; or
in person at a polling station on polling day;
from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., if the electoral district is in the Pacific time zone.
from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., if the electoral district is in the Mountain time zone; and
from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., if the electoral district is in the Eastern time zone;
from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., if the electoral district is in the Newfoundland, Atlantic or Central time zone;
Despite subsection (1), if polling day is during a time of the year when the rest of the country is observing daylight saving time, the voting hours in Saskatchewan are
The voting hours on polling day are
in the case of an electoral district in the Mountain time zone, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
in the case of an electoral district in the Central time zone, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and
This section and section 133 do not apply to an employee of a company that transports goods or passengers by land, air or water who is employed outside his or her polling division in the operation of a means of transportation, if the additional time referred to in subsection (1) cannot be allowed without interfering with the transportation service.
The time that the employer shall allow for voting under subsection (1) is at the convenience of the employer.
Every employee who is an elector is entitled, during voting hours on polling day, to have three consecutive hours for the purpose of casting his or her vote and, if his or her hours of work do not allow for those three consecutive hours, his or her employer shall allow the time for voting that is necessary to provide those three consecutive hours.
An employer who pays an employee less than the amount that the employee would have earned on polling day, had the employee continued to work during the time referred to in subsection 132(2) that the employer allowed for voting, is deemed to have made a deduction from the pay of the employee, regardless of the basis on which the employee is paid.
No employer may make a deduction from the pay of an employee, or impose a penalty, for the time that the employer shall allow for voting under subsection 132(1).
any observer or member of the Chief Electoral Officer’s staff whom he or she authorizes to be present.
an elector and a friend or relative who is helping him or her by virtue of subsection 155(1), only for the period necessary to enable the elector to vote; and
two representatives of each candidate or, in their absence, two electors to represent each candidate;
the candidates;
the returning officer and his or her representatives;
the deputy returning officer and the poll clerk;
Each representative of a candidate or each elector described in paragraph (1)(d), on being admitted to the polling station, shall take an oath in the prescribed form.
A representative bearing a written authorization referred to in subsection (2) is deemed to be a representative of the candidate within the meaning of this Act and is entitled to represent the candidate in preference to, and to the exclusion of, any elector who might otherwise claim the right to represent the candidate.
When a representative of a candidate is admitted to a polling station, the representative shall deliver his or her written authorization from the candidate or the candidate’s official agent in the prescribed form to the deputy returning officer.
The only persons who may be present at a polling station on polling day are
A representative of a candidate shall not use a communications device at a polling station during voting hours.
A representative of a candidate may, during voting hours,
A representative of a candidate, or an elector described in paragraph 135(1)(d), may leave a polling station at any time and return at any time before the counting of the votes begins and is not required to produce a new written authorization from the candidate or official agent or to take another oath.
A candidate or the candidate’s official agent may authorize any number of representatives of the candidate to be present at a polling station, but only two of each candidate’s representatives may be present at any time.
convey any information obtained by the examination referred to in paragraph (a) to a representative of the candidate who is on duty outside the polling station.
examine the list of electors, provided that the representative does not delay an elector in casting his or her vote; and
The non-attendance of a representative of a candidate at any time or place authorized by this Act does not in any way invalidate any act or thing done during the absence of the representative if the act or thing is otherwise duly done.
A candidate may perform the duties of a representative of the candidate, or may assist the representative in the performance of those duties, and may be present at any place that the representative is authorized to attend under this Act.
The opening of a polling station shall not be delayed for the purpose of initialling the ballots. Ballots that are not initialled when the polling station opens shall be initialled as soon as possible and in all cases before being handed to electors.
For the purpose of initialling, the ballots shall not be detached from the books in which they are contained.
Before a polling station opens on polling day, and in full view of the candidates or their representatives who are present at the polling station, the deputy returning officer shall initial the back of every ballot in the space indicated in Form 3 of Schedule 1, entirely in ink or entirely in black pencil so that when the ballot is folded the initials can be seen. The initials shall be as similar as possible on each ballot.
place the ballot box on a table in full view of all present and ensure that the box remains there until the polling station closes.
seal the ballot box with the seals provided by the Chief Electoral Officer; and
A deputy returning officer may, if he or she considers it advisable, direct that not more than one elector for each voting compartment may at any time enter the room where the voting is held.
The deputy returning officer shall ensure that every elector is admitted into the polling station and that the electors are not disturbed when they are in or near the polling station.
The poll clerk shall ascertain if the name of the elector appears on the list of electors and, if it does, the elector’s name shall be crossed off the list and, subject to section 144, the elector shall be immediately allowed to vote.
Each elector, on arriving at the polling station, shall give his or her name and address to the deputy returning officer and the poll clerk, and on request to a representative of the candidate.
Once an elector has been given a ballot, no person shall require the elector to show proof of identity or take an oath.
A person may, instead of showing satisfactory proof of identity, take the prescribed oath.
A deputy returning officer, poll clerk, candidate or candidate’s representative who has doubts concerning the identity or right to vote of a person intending to vote at a polling station may request that the person show satisfactory proof of identity and residence.
If an elector refuses to take an oath because he or she is not required to do so under this Act, the elector may appeal to the returning officer. If, after consultation with the deputy returning officer or the poll clerk of the polling station, the returning officer decides that the elector is not required to take the oath, and if the elector is entitled to vote in the polling division, the returning officer shall direct that the elector be again admitted to the polling station and be allowed to vote.
Subject to subsection (2), a person who refuses to show satisfactory proof of identity, to take an oath required by this Act or to reply to a question regarding their entitlement to vote at a particular polling station shall not receive a ballot, be admitted to vote or be again admitted to the polling station.
gives the deputy returning officer a registration certificate described in subsection 161(4).
provides satisfactory proof of identity, and the deputy returning officer ascertains with the returning officer that the elector is listed either on the preliminary list of electors or was registered during the revision period; or
gives the deputy returning officer a transfer certificate described in section 158 or 159 and, for a certificate described in subsection 158(2), fulfills the conditions described in subsection 158(3);
The deputy returning officer shall explain to each elector how to indicate his or her choice and fold the ballot so that its serial number and the initials of the deputy returning officer are visible and shall direct the elector to return the marked and folded ballot.
Every elector who is admitted to vote shall be given a ballot by the deputy returning officer.
return the ballot to the deputy returning officer.
fold the ballot as instructed by the deputy returning officer; and
mark the ballot with a cross or other mark in the circular space opposite the name of the candidate of his or her choice;
proceed directly to the voting compartment;
The deputy returning officer shall, on receiving the ballot from the elector,
An elector shall, after receiving a ballot,
return the ballot to the elector to deposit in the ballot box or, at the elector’s request, deposit it in the ballot box.
remove and destroy the counterfoil in full view of the elector and all other persons present; and
without unfolding the ballot, verify that it is the same one that was handed to the elector by examining its serial number and the initials on it;
An elector shall not be given more than one ballot under subsection (1).
If an elector has inadvertently handled a ballot in such a manner that it cannot be used, the elector shall return it to the deputy returning officer who shall mark it as a spoiled ballot, place it in the envelope supplied for the purpose and give the elector another ballot.
An elector who is entitled to vote at a polling station and who is in the polling station or in line at the door at the close of voting hours shall be allowed to vote.
Every elector shall vote without delay and leave the polling station as soon as his or her ballot has been put into the ballot box.
The deputy returning officer shall, on request, provide a template to an elector who has a visual impairment to assist him or her in marking his or her ballot.
The deputy returning officer, on request by an elector who is unable to vote in the manner prescribed by this Act because he or she cannot read or has a physical disability, shall assist the elector in the presence of the poll clerk.
No person who assists an elector under this section shall, directly or indirectly, disclose the candidate for whom the elector voted.
A person described in subsection (1) who wishes to assist an elector in marking a ballot shall first take an oath, in the prescribed form, that he or she
No person shall as a friend assist more than one elector for the purpose of marking a ballot.
If an elector requires assistance to vote, a friend, the spouse, the common-law partner or a relative of the elector or a relative of the elector’s spouse or common-law partner may accompany the elector into the voting compartment and assist the elector to mark his or her ballot.
has not, during the current election, assisted another person, as a friend, to mark a ballot.
will not try to influence the elector in choosing a candidate; and
will not disclose the name of the candidate for whom the elector voted;
will mark the ballot paper in the manner directed by the elector;
with the approval of the person in charge of the institution, carry the ballot box, ballots and other necessary election documents from room to room in the institution to take the votes of electors who are confined to bed and ordinarily resident in the polling division in which the institution is situated.
suspend temporarily the voting in the polling station; and
When the vote of an elector who is confined to bed is taken, the deputy returning officer shall give the elector the assistance necessary to enable the elector to vote, and not more than one representative of each candidate may be present.
At a polling station that has been established in a home for the aged or in a chronic care facility, when the deputy returning officer considers it necessary, the deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall
A transfer certificate issued under subsection (2) authorizes the person to vote at the polling station named in it only if, on polling day, the person performs the duty specified in the certificate at the place mentioned in the certificate.
A returning officer or an assistant returning officer shall issue a transfer certificate to any person whose name appears on the official list of electors for a polling station and who has been appointed, after the last day of advance polls, to act as an election officer for another polling station.
A candidate whose name appears on the list of electors for a polling station is entitled on request to receive a transfer certificate to vote at another polling station in the same electoral district.
The returning officer or assistant returning officer shall issue a transfer certificate in the prescribed form, and hand the certificate to the person who delivered the application to the officer, if the officer is satisfied that
The application referred to in subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form, and shall be personally delivered to the returning officer or assistant returning officer for the elector’s electoral district before 10:00 p.m. of the Friday immediately before polling day by the elector, a friend, the spouse, the common-law partner or a relative of the elector or a relative of his or her spouse or common-law partner.
An elector who is in a wheelchair or who has a physical disability, and who is unable to vote without difficulty in his or her polling division because it does not have a polling station with level access, may apply for a transfer certificate to vote at another polling station with level access in the same electoral district.
the polling station established for the polling division in which the elector resides does not have level access.
the elector’s name appears on a list of electors for the electoral district; and
if possible, send a copy of the certificate to the deputy returning officer for the polling station on whose list of electors the name of the person to whom the certificate has been issued appears.
not issue the certificate in blank; and
keep a record of the certificate in the order of its issue on the prescribed form;
consecutively number the certificate in the order of its issue;
fill in and sign the certificate and mention on it the date of its issue;
the elector takes an oath in the prescribed form and is accompanied by an elector whose name appears on the list of electors for the same polling division and who vouches for him or her on oath in the prescribed form.
the elector provides satisfactory proof of identity and residence; or
No elector shall vouch under paragraph (1)(b) for more than one elector at an election.
When a registration certificate is given under subsection (4), the list of electors is deemed, for the purposes of this Act, to have been modified in accordance with the certificate.
Where the elector satisfies the requirements of subsection (1), the registration officer or deputy returning officer, as the case may be, shall complete a registration certificate in the prescribed form authorizing the elector to vote and the elector shall sign it.
In the case of a registration under paragraph (2)(a), the registration officer shall permit one representative of each candidate in the electoral district to be present.
Where subsection (1) applies, the registration may take place before
An elector whose name is not on the list of electors may register in person on polling day if
a deputy returning officer at a polling station with respect to which the Chief Electoral Officer determines that the officer be authorized to receive registrations.
a registration officer at a registration desk established under subsection 39(1); or
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form, that an elector has voted under a registration certificate issued under subsection 161(4).
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that an elector has voted in the circumstances described in section 147, that the oath of identity has been taken or that any other oath was required to be taken and was taken, note any objection that was made on behalf of any of the candidates and indicate the candidate’s name; and
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that the elector has been readmitted to the polling station and allowed to vote under subsection 145(2);
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that the elector refused a legal requirement to show proof of identity or to take an oath or refused to answer a question regarding his or her entitlement to vote at a particular polling station;
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that the elector has presented identification or taken an oath and the type of oath;
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that the elector has voted under section 146;
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that the elector has voted, under paragraph 149(b), without his or her name being on the official list of electors;
indicate, if applicable, on the prescribed form that the elector has voted under a transfer certificate issued under section 158 or 159 and give the number of the certificate;
as soon as the elector’s ballot has been deposited in the ballot box, indicate, beside the name of the elector on the list of electors, that the elector has voted;
make, on the prescribed form, the entries that the deputy returning officer directs under this Act;
It is the duty of each deputy returning officer to draw the attention of any elector to an offence that the elector commits in contravening subsection (2) and to the punishment to which the elector is liable, but the elector shall be allowed to vote in the usual way if he or she has not already done so.
Except as provided by this Act, no elector shall
Every candidate, election officer or representative of a candidate present at a polling station or at the counting of the votes shall maintain the secrecy of the vote.
before leaving the polling station, openly declare for whom the elector has voted.
show his or her ballot, when marked, so as to allow the name of the candidate for whom the elector has voted to be known; or
on entering the polling station and before receiving a ballot, openly declare for whom the elector intends to vote;
in a polling station or in any place where voting at an election is taking place, influence electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate.
while in a polling station, wear any emblem, flag, banner or other thing that indicates that the person supports or opposes any candidate or political party that is listed on the ballot under the name of a candidate, or the political or other opinions entertained, or supposed to be entertained, by the candidate or party; and
post or display in, or on the exterior surface of, a polling place any campaign literature or other material that could be taken as an indication of support for or opposition to a political party that is listed on the ballot under the name of a candidate or the election of a candidate;
Despite paragraph (1)(b), a representative of a candidate in a polling station may, in the manner authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer, wear a badge identifying his or her function and the name of the political party that is listed on the ballot under the name of the candidate.
No person shall
place on any ballot any writing, number or mark, with intent that the elector to whom the ballot is to be, or has been, given may be identified.
with the intent of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast, put his or her initials on the back of any paper purporting to be or capable of being used as a ballot at an election; or
No deputy returning officer shall
destroy, take, open or otherwise interfere with a ballot box or book or packet of ballots.
take a ballot out of the polling station; or
put or cause to be put into a ballot box a ballot or other paper otherwise than as provided by this Act;
alter, deface or destroy a ballot or the initials of the deputy returning officer signed on a ballot;
No person shall wilfully
knowing that he or she is without authority under this Act to do so, have a ballot in his or her possession.
knowing that he or she is without authority under this Act to do so, provide a ballot to any person; or
use a forged ballot;
apply for a ballot in a name that is not his or her own;
No person shall
If a returning officer is unable to secure suitable premises with level access for use as an advance polling station, the returning officer may, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, locate the advance polling station in premises without level access.
An advance polling station shall be in premises with level access.
When a request is made to a returning officer not later than four days after the issue of the writ to change the location of an advance polling station, the returning officer, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, may do so.
When a request is made to a returning officer not later than four days after the issue of the writ, the returning officer may, with the permission of the Chief Electoral Officer, combine two advance polling districts into one district.
An advance polling station shall be established in each advance polling district.
The returning officer shall give the Chief Electoral Officer a description of each advance polling district that is established.
Each returning officer shall, as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer, establish in his or her electoral district advance polling districts that group polling divisions.
The poll clerk shall indicate on the prescribed form the names of the electors who are permitted to vote under this section.
If the elector satisfies the requirements of subsection (2), the deputy returning officer shall complete a registration certificate in the prescribed form and the elector shall sign it.
An elector referred to in subsection (1) shall not be registered unless he or she provides satisfactory proof of identity and residence.
Every elector whose name is not on the revised list of electors may register in person before the deputy returning officer in the advance polling station where the elector is entitled to vote.
An advance poll shall only be open between the hours of noon and 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Monday, the 10th, 9th and 7th days, respectively, before polling day.
Except as provided in this Part, an advance poll shall be conducted in the same manner as the manner in which the vote at a polling station on polling day is conducted and shall be regarded as such for all purposes of this Act.
send two copies of the notice to each candidate and to the Chief Electoral Officer.
that the counting of the votes cast shall take place on polling day as soon after the close of the polling stations as possible; and
the place where the deputy returning officer of each advance polling station shall count the number of votes cast at the advance polling station, and
the location of each advance polling station,
the numbers of the polling divisions in every advance polling district established by the returning officer,
give a notice, in the prescribed form, in the electoral district of the advance poll, that sets out the following information:
If an elector whose name does not appear on the revised list of electors has voted, the poll clerk shall indicate on the prescribed form that the elector has voted in accordance with subsection (2).
An elector whose name is not on the revised list of electors may not vote at an advance polling station unless
An elector whose name is on the revised list of electors for a polling division in an advance polling district may vote at the advance polling station established for the advance polling district.
the elector has obtained a registration certificate in accordance with subsection 169(3).
the deputy returning officer has ascertained with the returning officer that the elector is on the preliminary list of electors or was registered during the revision period referred to in section 96, and the elector has provided the deputy returning officer with satisfactory proof of identity; or
the person refuses to sign the record of votes cast at an advance polling station referred to in subsection (2), as directed by the poll clerk under that subsection.
the deputy returning officer, the poll clerk, a candidate or a representative of a candidate at the advance polling station asks that the person take the oath referred to in subsection 144(2) and the person refuses to do so; or
The poll clerk at the advance polling station shall, under the direction of the deputy returning officer, keep a record in duplicate, in the prescribed form, of the names of all persons who vote at the advance polling station, in the order in which they vote, and shall
If an elector whose name is on the list of electors makes a request to vote at an advance polling station that is established for his or her polling division, the deputy returning officer shall permit the elector to vote unless
direct the elector to sign the record opposite his or her name.
mark on the record the notations that the poll clerk is required by this Act to make opposite an elector’s name at a polling station on polling day; and
place the ballot box on a table in full view of all present and keep it there until the close of the advance polling station on that day.
seal the ballot box with the seals provided by the Chief Electoral Officer; and
open the ballot box and ascertain that it is empty;
When an advance polling station closes on each of the three days of the vote, the candidates or their representatives may take note of the serial number of the seal on the ballot box, and may again take note of the serial number when the advance polling station is re-opened on each of the three days of voting and when the votes are counted on polling day.
In the intervals between voting hours at the advance polling station and until the counting of the ballots on polling day, the deputy returning officer shall keep the sealed ballot box in his or her custody.
At the re-opening of the advance polling station at noon on the 2nd and 3rd days of voting, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of the candidates or their representatives who are present,
The deputy returning officer and poll clerk shall place their signatures on the seals affixed to the envelopes referred to in paragraphs (2)(b) to (d). The candidates or their representatives who are present may also place their signatures on the seals.
At the close of the advance polling station at 8:00 p.m. on each of the three days of voting, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of the candidates or their representatives who are present,
At the opening of an advance polling station at noon on the first day of voting, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of the candidates or their representatives who are present,
place the envelopes referred to in paragraphs (b) to (d) in the ballot box after the signatures have been made as described in subsection (3), and seal the ballot box.
count the unused ballots and the number of electors who have voted at the advance polling station and place the unused ballots and a copy of the record of votes cast at the advance polling station in the envelope supplied for the purpose, seal the envelope with the seal provided by the Chief Electoral Officer and indicate on it the number of unused ballots contained in it and the number of electors who have voted; and
count the spoiled ballots, place them in the envelope supplied for the purpose, seal the envelope and indicate on it the number of spoiled ballots contained in it;
empty the ballots cast during that day, in a manner that does not disclose for whom any elector has voted, into the envelope supplied for the purpose, seal the envelope with the seal provided by the Chief Electoral Officer and indicate on it the number of ballots contained in it;
unseal and open the ballot box;
seal the ballot box, place it on the table in full view of all present and keep it there until the close of the advance polling station on that day.
take out and open the envelope that contains the unused ballots and the record of votes cast at the advance polling station; and
unseal and open the ballot box, leaving in it the sealed envelopes containing the spoiled ballots and the ballots cast on the previous day or days of voting;
If an official list of electors is sent to a polling station containing the names of electors that appear in the record of votes cast at an advance polling station as having already voted, the returning officer shall instruct the deputy returning officer to cross their names off the list, and the deputy returning officer shall do so without delay.
Without delay after the returning officer collects the records of votes cast at advance polling stations, he or she shall cross off the lists of electors the names of all electors who voted at the advance polling stations.
As soon as possible after the close of advance polling stations on Monday, the 7th day before polling day, the returning officer shall have the original copy of the record of votes cast collected from the advance polling stations.
voting territory means an area that is established by or under section 180. (territoire de vote)
unit has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the National Defence Act and includes a base or other element. (unité)
statement of ordinary residence means a statement completed under section 194 or 195. (déclaration de résidence habituelle)
special voting rules administrator means a person who is appointed under section 181. (administrateur des règles électorales spéciales)
special ballot officer means a person who is appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer under section 183 or 184. (agent des bulletins de vote spéciaux)
special ballot means a ballot, other than a ballot referred to in section 241, that is supplied to an elector who is entitled to vote under this Part. (bulletin de vote spécial)
outer envelope means an envelope that is supplied by the Chief Electoral Officer for the transmission of a ballot after it has been marked and enclosed in an inner envelope. (enveloppe extérieure)
liaison officer means a Canadian Forces elector designated under section 201 or a person appointed under subsection 248(1). (agent de liaison)
inner envelope means an envelope that is supplied by the Chief Electoral Officer in which a ballot is to be enclosed after it has been marked. (enveloppe intérieure)
incarcerated elector means an elector who is incarcerated in a correctional institution. (électeur incarcéré)
deputy returning officer means an elector so designated in accordance with this Part by a commanding officer or returning officer. (scrutateur)
coordinating officer means the person so designated by the Minister of National Defence under subsection 199(1) or a person so designated by the minister responsible for corrections in a province under section 246. (agent coordonnateur)
commanding officer means the commanding officer of a unit. (commandant)
Canadian Forces elector means an elector who is entitled to vote under Division 2. (électeur des Forces canadiennes)
application for registration and special ballot means an application completed by an elector, other than a Canadian Forces elector, in order to vote under this Part. (demande d’inscription et de bulletin de vote spécial)
administrative centre means an area established under section 180 for the distribution of materials and the provision of information. (centre administratif)
The Chief Electoral Officer may, by instructions, adapt this Part so that any or all of its provisions apply to a by-election.
The voting procedures contained in this Part apply to general elections only.
communicate the results of the votes cast in accordance with this Part.
proceed with the counting of the votes of electors; and
receive, validate, examine and sort the completed outer envelopes that contain special ballots marked by electors;
distribute the election materials and the list of candidates;
obtain from the liaison officers the lists of the names of deputy returning officers that the commanding officers are required to provide;
obtain from the liaison officers the lists prepared under paragraph 204(1)(b);
retain the oath of office of each special ballot officer;
secure suitable premises;
one, on the recommendation of the Leader of the registered party that has the third largest number of members in the House of Commons as of the last general election, or a person whom that Leader designates in writing.
two, on the recommendation of the Leader of the Opposition or a person whom that Leader designates in writing; and
three, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister or a person whom the Prime Minister designates in writing;
A special ballot officer shall be appointed in the prescribed form.
After the issue of the writs, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint a minimum of six special ballot officers as follows:
If the registered parties do not nominate the additional special ballot officers under subsection (1) within 24 hours after notification by the Chief Electoral Officer, the Chief Electoral Officer shall make the appointments from among individuals that he or she selects.
If the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that the number of special ballot officers appointed under section 183 is insufficient, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint additional special ballot officers on recommendations that are, as nearly as possible, in accordance with subsection 183(1).
In the case of a merger referred to in subsection (1), if there is no registered party whose leader may nominate special ballot officers under paragraph 183(1)(c), the Chief Electoral Officer shall make the appointments from among individuals that he or she considers appropriate.
In the case of a merger of two or more of the registered parties that are represented by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of the registered party that has the third largest number of members in the House of Commons as of the last general election, the person who may recommend special ballot officers under paragraph 183(1)(c) is the leader of the registered party with the largest number of members in the House of Commons as of the last general election among registered parties other than those three.
without delay after a list of candidates is established under section 187, a sufficient number of copies of it.
without delay after the writs are issued, a sufficient quantity of election materials, including street indexes and guides to electoral districts for the purpose of determining in which electoral district an elector is entitled to vote; and
voting period means the period beginning 14 days before polling day and ending 9 days before polling day. (période de scrutin)
elector means a person who is a Canadian Forces elector under section 191. (électeur)
a person who is employed outside Canada by the Canadian Forces as a teacher in, or as a member of the administrative support staff for, a Canadian Forces school.
a member of the special force of the Canadian Forces; and
a member of the reserve force of the Canadian Forces on full-time training or service or on active service;
a member of the regular force of the Canadian Forces;
In addition to the information specified in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer may invite the elector to provide other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to implement agreements made under section 55, but the elector is not required to provide that information.
if it is made at any other time, 60 days after the commanding officer of the elector’s unit receives it.
if it is made during an election period, 14 days after polling day; and
An amendment to a statement of ordinary residence takes effect
An elector described in subsection (1), (2) or (3) who has not completed a statement of ordinary residence in accordance with subsection (1) may do so at any time.
the elector’s place of ordinary residence immediately before being enrolled in or hired by the Canadian Forces.
the place where the member is residing by reason of his or her performance of services as a member of the Canadian Forces; or
the place of ordinary residence of the spouse, the common-law partner, a relative or a dependant of the eligible elector, a relative of his or her spouse or common-law partner or a person with whom the elector would live but for his or her being enrolled in or hired by the Canadian Forces;
An elector may amend the information in his or her statement of ordinary residence and may indicate as a place of ordinary residence the civic address of
A person who was not qualified as an elector at an election when enrolled in or hired by the Canadian Forces shall, without delay after becoming qualified, complete a statement of ordinary residence in accordance with subsection (1) that indicates a place of ordinary residence described in subsection (4).
A person who cannot complete a statement of ordinary residence under subsection (1) because he or she did not have a place of ordinary residence in Canada when enrolled in or hired by the Canadian Forces shall, without delay after being able to indicate a place referred to in paragraph (4)(a) or (b) as his or her place of ordinary residence, complete a statement of ordinary residence in accordance with subsection (1), indicating that place as his or her place of ordinary residence.
his or her current mailing address.
the civic address of his or her place of ordinary residence in Canada immediately before the enrolment or hiring; and
his or her date of birth;
his or her surname, given names, sex and rank;
In order to vote under this Division, a person shall, without delay after becoming an elector described in paragraph 191(a), (c) or (d) by virtue of his or her being enrolled in or hired by the Canadian Forces, complete a statement of ordinary residence in the prescribed form that indicates
In addition to the information specified in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer may invite the member to provide other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to implement agreements made under section 55, but the member is not required to provide that information.
if it is made at any other time, 60 days after the commanding officer of the elector’s unit receives it.
if it is made during an election period, 14 days after polling day; and
An amendment to a statement of ordinary residence takes effect
An elector described in subsection (1), (2) or (3) who has not completed a statement of ordinary residence in accordance with subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, may do so at any time.
the elector’s place of ordinary residence immediately before being on training or service.
the place where the elector is residing by reason of his or her being on training or service; or
the place of ordinary residence of a person with whom the elector would live but for his or her being on training or service or a person designated by the elector as next of kin;
An elector may amend the information in his or her statement of ordinary residence and may indicate as a place of ordinary residence the civic address of
A member of the reserve force of the Canadian Forces referred to in subsection (1) or (2) who was not qualified as an elector at an election while on full-time training or service shall, without delay after becoming qualified, complete a statement of ordinary residence in accordance with subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, that indicates a place of ordinary residence described in subsection (4).
the member’s current mailing address.
the civic address of the member’s place of ordinary residence in Canada immediately before the member was placed on active service; and
the member’s date of birth;
the member’s surname, given names, sex and rank;
Every member of the reserve force of the Canadian Forces who is placed on active service, other than a member who immediately before being placed on active service was on full-time training or service and completed a statement of ordinary residence in accordance with subsection (1) after that full-time training or service began, shall complete a statement of ordinary residence in the same form as in subsection (1) that indicates
the member’s current mailing address.
the civic address of the member’s place of ordinary residence in Canada immediately before that full-time training or service began; and
the member’s date of birth;
the member’s surname, given names, sex and rank;
A member of the reserve force of the Canadian Forces who is not on active service and who, at any time during the period beginning on the issue of the writs and ending on the Saturday immediately before polling day, is on full-time training or service, shall complete a statement of ordinary residence in the prescribed form that indicates
On receiving the validated statement of ordinary residence, the commanding officer may destroy any other original or copy of a statement of ordinary residence that was filed with the elector’s unit service documents.
On receiving the statement of ordinary residence, the commanding officer shall destroy the copy kept under subsection (1) and keep the validated original with the elector’s unit service documents.
return it to the commanding officer of the unit in which the elector is serving.
validate it by indicating on it the name of the electoral district that includes the place of ordinary residence shown in the statement; and
On receiving the statement of ordinary residence, the Chief Electoral Officer shall
The original of a statement of ordinary residence of an elector, other than a statement completed under section 195, shall be sent to the Chief Electoral Officer and a copy of that original shall be kept in the unit in which the elector is serving.
The coordinating officer shall, on request, provide to the Chief Electoral Officer the following information relating to each elector:
The Minister of National Defence shall designate a person as a coordinating officer to work, during and between elections, with the Chief Electoral Officer in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Division.
the elector’s current mailing address.
the civic address of the elector’s place of ordinary residence indicated on any validated statement of ordinary residence; and
the elector’s date of birth;
the elector’s surname, given names, sex and rank;
inform the Chief Electoral Officer of the name and address of each liaison officer.
inform each commanding officer of their issue; and
A liaison officer shall cooperate with the Chief Electoral Officer in the administration of the vote.
On being designated, a liaison officer shall communicate with each commanding officer in respect of whose unit the liaison officer has liaison duties, with respect to any matter that relates to the vote.
prepare a list of the names of the electors of his or her unit.
publish a notice as a part of unit orders; and
The list shall be arranged alphabetically and shall indicate each elector’s surname, given names, sex and rank, and
The notice shall notify electors that an election has been called and of the date of polling day and shall inform the electors that
On being informed of the issue of the writs, each commanding officer shall
the commanding officer will designate one or more deputy returning officers to collect their votes and fix the voting times during the voting period.
they may vote in accordance with this Division; and
if the elector’s statement of ordinary residence has not been validated, the place of ordinary residence as indicated in the statement of ordinary residence.
if the elector’s statement of ordinary residence has been validated, the name of the elector’s electoral district; or
provide the designated deputy returning officers with a copy of the list of electors for the unit.
through a liaison officer, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a list of the designated deputy returning officers and their ranks, and sufficient copies of the list of electors for the unit; and
designate an elector as the deputy returning officer for each polling station;
establish polling stations;
Each commanding officer shall fix the voting times so that the polling stations in his or her unit are open for at least three hours a day on at least three days during the voting period.
Each commanding officer shall provide the facilities that are necessary to enable the electors to vote in accordance with this Division.
Within seven days after being informed of the issue of the writs, each commanding officer shall
A mobile polling station shall remain in an area and be open for the collection of votes for the days and hours during the voting period that the commanding officer considers necessary to give electors in the area a reasonable opportunity to vote.
A commanding officer may establish a mobile polling station in any area for the purpose of collecting the votes of electors who cannot conveniently reach polling stations established at their unit.
in the case of a mobile polling station, its location and the anticipated period during which it is to remain at that location.
the precise location of, and the voting hours at, each polling station, other than a mobile polling station; and
the days on which the electors may vote;
post copies of the list in conspicuous places.
distribute the materials in sufficient quantities to the designated deputy returning officers; and
keep available for consultation by the electors one copy of this Part, one set of street indexes, one guide to electoral districts and one list of candidates.
put in conspicuous places two or more copies of voting instructions provided by the Chief Electoral Officer and relating to the vote under this Division in the prescribed form; and
An elector shall not be given more than one special ballot under subsection (4).
If an elector has inadvertently handled a special ballot in such a manner that it cannot be used, the elector shall return it to the deputy returning officer who shall mark it as spoiled and give an additional special ballot to the elector.
The candidate shall be indicated on a special ballot by writing the candidate’s given name or initials and surname. If two or more candidates have the same name, their political affiliations shall be indicated.
The elector shall use the special ballot to vote by writing on it, in private, the name of the candidate of his or her choice, folding the special ballot and, in the presence of the deputy returning officer,
A deputy returning officer shall, on completion of the documents referred to in section 212, give the elector a special ballot, an inner envelope and the outer envelope signed by the elector.
placing the inner envelope in the outer envelope and sealing the outer envelope.
placing the folded special ballot in the inner envelope and sealing the envelope; and
If the elector chooses to use a postal service, the deputy returning officer must ensure that sufficient postage is affixed to the outer envelope.
If the elector does not use the delivery service provided by the Canadian Forces, it is the elector’s responsibility to ensure that the outer envelope is sent to the special voting rules administrator.
The deputy returning officer shall inform an elector that, in order to be counted, the outer envelope must be received by the special voting rules administrator in Ottawa not later than 6:00 p.m. on polling day. The deputy returning officer shall inform the elector of the location of the nearest post office or mail box and of the service provided by the Canadian Forces to deliver the outer envelope.
marking the special ballot as directed by the elector in his or her presence and in the presence of another elector selected by the elector as a witness.
completing the declaration on the outer envelope and writing the elector’s name where his or her signature is to be written; and
The deputy returning officer and an elector acting as a witness shall
If an elector is, because of a physical disability, unable to vote in the manner described in this Division, the deputy returning officer shall assist him or her by
keep secret the name of the candidate for whom the elector voted.
sign a note on the outer envelope indicating that the elector was assisted; and
A deputy returning officer for electors who are patients in a service hospital or convalescent institution may, if that officer considers it advisable and the commanding officer for the unit approves, go from room to room to administer and collect the votes of electors who are confined to bed.
If no deputy returning officer has been designated for a service hospital or convalescent institution, the deputy returning officer for the unit to which the hospital or institution belongs is the deputy returning officer for electors who are patients in the hospital or institution.
An elector who is a patient in a service hospital or convalescent institution during the voting times fixed for the polling stations in his or her unit is deemed to be a member of the unit under the command of the officer in charge of the hospital or institution.
in a separate and clearly identified parcel, every statement of ordinary residence completed at the time of voting.
any unused or spoiled special ballots and unused inner envelopes; and
any unused or spoiled outer envelopes;
the outer envelopes that contain the marked special ballots;
On receipt of the documents referred to in subsection (1), the commanding officer shall
At the end of the voting period, the deputy returning officer for a unit shall deliver to the unit’s commanding officer
deliver to the Chief Electoral Officer all other documents and election materials received from the deputy returning officers.
deal with the originals and copies of the statements of ordinary residence in accordance with this Division; and
register means the register referred to in subsection 222(1). (registre)
elector means an elector, other than a Canadian Forces elector, who resides temporarily outside Canada. (électeur)
a person who lives with a member of the Canadian Forces or with a person referred to in paragraph 191(d).
a person who lives with an elector referred to in paragraph (a) or (b); or
employed outside Canada by an international organization of which Canada is a member and to which Canada contributes;
employed outside Canada in the federal public administration or the public service of a province;
Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to an elector who is
intends to return to Canada to resume residence in the future.
has been residing outside Canada for less than five consecutive years immediately before making the application; and
at any time before making the application, resided in Canada;
The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of electors who are temporarily resident outside Canada in which is entered the name, date of birth, civic and mailing addresses, sex and electoral district of each elector who has filed an application for registration and special ballot and who
any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to determine the elector’s entitlement to vote or the electoral district in which he or she may vote.
the elector’s mailing address outside Canada; and
the date on which the elector intends to resume residence in Canada;
the address of the elector’s last place of ordinary residence in Canada before he or she left Canada or the address of the place of ordinary residence in Canada of the spouse, the common-law partner or a relative of the elector, a relative of the elector’s spouse or common-law partner, a person in relation to whom the elector is a dependant or a person with whom the elector would live but for his or her residing temporarily outside Canada;
the date the elector left Canada;
the elector’s date of birth;
if paragraph 222(1)(b) does not apply in respect of the elector, proof of the applicability of an exception set out in subsection 222(2);
satisfactory proof of the elector’s identity;
In addition to the information specified in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer may request that the elector provide other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary for implementing agreements made under section 55, but the elector is not required to provide that information.
An application for registration and special ballot may be made by an elector. It shall be in the prescribed form and shall include
except for an elector to whom any of paragraphs 222(2)(a) to (d) applies, has resided outside Canada for five consecutive years or more.
cannot be contacted; or
returns to Canada to reside;
has died and concerning whom a request has been received to have the elector’s name deleted from the register, to which request is attached a death certificate or other documentary evidence of the death;
makes a signed request to the Chief Electoral Officer to have his or her name deleted from the register;
does not provide the information referred to in section 225 within the time fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer;
The candidate shall be indicated on a special ballot by writing the candidate’s given name or initials and surname. If two or more candidates have the same name, their political affiliation shall be indicated.
An elector shall vote by special ballot by
After approving an application for registration and special ballot and after the issue of the writs, the Chief Electoral Officer shall send a special ballot, an inner envelope and an outer envelope to every elector whose name is entered in the register, at the address referred to in paragraph 223(1)(g).
signing the declaration on the outer envelope and sealing it.
placing the inner envelope in the outer envelope; and
placing the ballot in the inner envelope and sealing it;
writing the name of the candidate of his or her choice on the ballot;
by delivering it to a Canadian Embassy, Canadian High Commission or Canadian Consular Office, to a Canadian Forces base or to any place that the Chief Electoral Officer may designate.
by mail or any other means; or
his or her special ballot is received within the period specified to be counted.
his or her application for registration and special ballot is made within the period specified; and
by the special voting rules administrator.
by a returning officer in an electoral district; or
any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to determine the elector’s entitlement to vote or the electoral district in which he or she may vote.
the elector’s mailing address; and
satisfactory proof of the elector’s identity and residence;
the elector’s date of birth;
the elector’s name and place of ordinary residence;
An elector who makes an application for registration and special ballot shall indicate whether his or her name is already on a list of electors and, if it is, in which electoral district.
In addition to the information specified in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer may request that the elector provide other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to implement agreements made under section 55, but the elector is not required to provide that information.
An elector who would be under reasonable apprehension of bodily harm if he or she were to indicate the mailing address of his or her dwelling place for the purpose of paragraph (1)(d) may apply to the returning officer or special voting rules administrator to use another address for that purpose. The returning officer or special voting rules administrator, unless he or she considers that it would not be in the public interest to do so, shall grant the application and shall not reveal that other address except as required to send the special ballot to the elector. For greater certainty, the granting of the application does not change the elector’s place of ordinary residence for the purposes of this Act.
The application for registration and special ballot shall be in the prescribed form and shall include the following information:
If an elector’s name is not already included on a list of electors, the special voting rules administrator shall so inform the returning officer for the electoral district in which the elector is to vote by special ballot. The returning officer shall enter the elector’s name on the list of electors for the appropriate polling division in that electoral district and shall indicate that the elector has received a special ballot.
The special voting rules administrator shall inform the returning officer of any elector whose name is on a list of electors for the returning officer’s electoral district and who has received a special ballot from another electoral district. The returning officer shall indicate on the list of electors that the elector has received a special ballot.
by delivering it to a Canadian Embassy, High Commission or Consular Office, to a Canadian Forces base outside Canada or to any place that the Chief Electoral Officer may designate.
by mail or any other means; or
In order to have the special ballot counted, an elector shall ensure that the ballot is received
An elector who does not vote in his or her electoral district shall send the sealed outer envelope to the special voting rules administrator
if the special ballot is cast outside the elector’s electoral district, at the office of the special voting rules administrator in Ottawa, not later than 6:00 p.m. on polling day.
if the special ballot is cast in the elector’s electoral district, at the office of the returning officer before the close of the polling stations on polling day; or
his or her special ballot is received within the period specified to be counted as a vote.
his or her application for registration and special ballot is made within the period specified; and
An elector shall not be given more than one ballot under subsection (1).
If an elector has inadvertently handled a ballot or a special ballot in such a manner that it cannot be used, the elector shall return it to the election officer who shall mark it as a spoiled ballot and give the elector another ballot.
marking the ballot as directed by the elector in his or her presence.
completing the declaration on the outer envelope and writing the elector’s name where his or her signature is to be written; and
An election officer who assists an elector under subsection (1) shall indicate, by signing the note on the outer envelope, that the elector was assisted.
When an elector personally goes to the office of the returning officer and is unable to read or because of a physical disability is unable to vote in the manner described in this Division, the designated election officer shall assist the elector by
marking the ballot as directed by the elector in the elector’s presence.
completing the declaration on the outer envelope and writing the elector’s name where the elector’s signature is to be written; and
The election officer and the witness who assist an elector under subsection (1) shall indicate, by signing the note on the outer envelope, that the elector was assisted.
On application of an elector who is unable to read, or who is unable to vote in the manner described in this Division because of a physical disability, and who is unable to personally go to the office of the returning officer because of a physical disability, the designated election officer shall go to the elector’s dwelling place and, in the presence of a witness who is chosen by the elector, assist the elector by
An elector is entitled to vote under this Division only for a candidate in the electoral district in which his or her place of ordinary residence is situated as shown on the application for registration and special ballot made by the elector under section 251.
An elector is not entitled to vote under this Division unless he or she has signed an application for registration and special ballot under section 251 and a declaration described in section 257.
Every person who is incarcerated and who is otherwise qualified to vote under this Act is entitled to vote under this Division on the 10th day before polling day.
On being informed of the issue of the writs, each minister responsible for corrections in a province shall
Without delay after the issue of the writs, the Chief Electoral Officer shall inform the minister responsible for corrections in a province of their issue and of the location of administrative centres.
inform the Chief Electoral Officer and the coordinating officer for that province of the name and address of each liaison officer.
designate one or more persons to act as liaison officers in connection with the taking of the votes of electors; and
inform the coordinating officer for that province of the issue of the writs;
During the election period, a liaison officer shall cooperate with the Chief Electoral Officer in the administration of the registration and the taking of the votes of electors.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint persons designated under paragraph 247(2)(b) in the prescribed form.
The polling stations shall be open on the 10th day before polling day from 9:00 a.m. and shall be kept open until every elector who is registered under subsection 251(1) has voted, but in no case shall they be kept open later than 8:00 p.m. on that day.
A liaison officer shall, without delay after being appointed, post a notice in the prescribed form in a prominent place in the correctional institution that informs electors of the date on which they are entitled to vote in accordance with this Division.
If a dispute arises as to in which electoral district an elector may vote, the elector may refer the matter to the returning officer for the electoral district where the correctional institution is located, and the returning officer shall make a final determination in accordance with the process for revising lists of electors.
The liaison officer shall validate the application for registration and special ballot by signing it and indicating on it the name of the electoral district that includes the place of ordinary residence as determined under subsection (2).
In addition to providing his or her place of ordinary residence, the Chief Electoral Officer may request that the elector provide other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to implement agreements made under section 55, but the elector is not required to provide that information.
The place of ordinary residence of an elector is the first of the following places for which the elector knows the civic and mailing addresses:
Before the 10th day before polling day, each liaison officer shall ensure that an application for registration and special ballot in the prescribed form is completed for every eligible elector of the correctional institution who wishes to vote, indicating his or her place of ordinary residence as determined under subsection (2).
the last court where the elector was convicted and sentenced.
the place of his or her arrest; or
the residence of the spouse, the common-law partner, a relative or a dependant of the elector, a relative of his or her spouse or common-law partner or a person with whom the elector would live but for his or her incarceration;
his or her residence before being incarcerated;
A liaison officer shall, on receiving the election materials and list of candidates,
Before the 18th day before polling day, each returning officer shall, for each correctional institution in his or her electoral district, in consultation with the liaison officer for the institution, establish one or more polling stations and appoint a deputy returning officer and a poll clerk for each polling station.
post the list of candidates in one or more conspicuous places in the correctional institution.
provide the materials in sufficient quantities to the deputy returning officers appointed under subsection (1) for the correctional institution; and
keep readily available for consultation by electors a copy of this Part, a set of street indexes, a guide to electoral districts and a list of candidates.
post two or more copies of the voting instructions, in the prescribed form, in conspicuous places; and
A returning officer may, in cooperation with liaison officers, create a mobile polling station for correctional institutions of fewer than 50 electors that are within the returning officer’s electoral district and that are within reasonable travelling distance of each other.
A liaison officer shall, when required, establish a mobile polling station within a correctional institution to take the votes of the electors who are confined to their cells or in an infirmary.
After the elector has signed the declaration on the outer envelope, the deputy returning officer shall
Before delivering a special ballot to an elector, the deputy returning officer for a correctional institution shall require the elector to complete an application for registration and special ballot, if the elector has not already done so, and to make and sign the declaration on the outer envelope.
give the elector a special ballot, an inner envelope and the outer envelope.
sign the outer envelope; and
placing the inner envelope in the outer envelope and sealing the outer envelope.
placing the ballot in the inner envelope and sealing the envelope; and
An elector shall not be given more than one special ballot under subsection (3).
If an elector has inadvertently handled a special ballot in such a manner that it cannot be used, the elector shall return it to the deputy returning officer who shall mark it as a spoiled ballot and give the elector another special ballot.
The candidate shall be indicated on a special ballot by writing the candidate’s given name or initials and surname. If two or more candidates have the same name, their political affiliations shall be indicated.
The elector shall vote by writing on the special ballot the name of the candidate of his or her choice, folding the special ballot and, in the presence of the deputy returning officer,
marking the special ballot as directed by the elector in his or her presence and in the presence of the poll clerk.
completing the declaration on the outer envelope and writing the elector’s name where his or her signature is to be written; and
The deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall sign a note on the outer envelope indicating that the elector was assisted.
If an elector is unable to read or because of a physical disability is unable to vote under this Division, the deputy returning officer shall assist the elector by
the applications for registration and special ballot.
any unused or spoiled special ballots and unused inner envelopes; and
any unused or spoiled outer envelopes;
the outer envelopes that contain the marked special ballots;
Special ballot officers shall work in pairs of persons representing different registered parties.
The counting of the special ballots shall be conducted by special ballot officers under the supervision of the special voting rules administrator.
the outer envelope relates to an electoral district for which the election was postponed in accordance with section 77.
the outer envelope has been received in Ottawa by the special voting rules administrator after 6:00 p.m. on polling day; or
the correct electoral district of the elector whose ballot is contained in the outer envelope cannot be ascertained;
the envelope, other than an envelope in respect of an elector who has taken a vote under section 216, 243 or 259, does not bear the signature of an elector;
the information concerning the elector, as described on the outer envelope, does not correspond with the information on the application for registration and special ballot;
The special voting rules administrator shall prepare a report in respect of the number of outer envelopes that are laid aside under this Division.
When an outer envelope is laid aside unopened as described in subsection (1) or (2),
If, after receiving but before counting the outer envelopes, the special ballot officers ascertain that an elector has voted more than once, they shall lay the outer envelopes that relate to the elector aside unopened.
The special ballot officers shall set aside an outer envelope unopened when they ascertain on its examination that
in the case of an outer envelope laid aside under subsection (1), the ballot contained in it is deemed to be a spoiled ballot.
at least two special ballot officers shall initial the endorsement; and
the outer envelope shall be endorsed by the special voting rules administrator with the reason why it has been laid aside;
there is any writing or mark on it by which the elector could be identified.
it is marked with the names of more than one candidate; or
it is marked with a name other than the name of a candidate;
it is not marked;
it has not been supplied by the Chief Electoral Officer;
The number of disputed special ballots and the name of the electoral district in which they were cast are to be noted by the special ballot officers.
If a dispute arises as to the validity of a special ballot, it shall be referred to the special voting rules administrator, whose decision is final.
No special ballot shall be rejected for the sole reason that the elector has incorrectly written the name of a candidate, if the ballot clearly indicates the elector’s intent.
Each pair of special ballot officers shall, on examining a special ballot, reject it if
On request, after the day that the results are communicated, a special ballot officer may be given a copy of the statement of the vote that he or she prepared.
The special voting rules administrator shall keep the statements of the vote in safe custody until the day after the communication of the results under section 280.
Each pair of special ballot officers shall prepare a statement of the vote in the prescribed form and deliver it to the special voting rules administrator.
the number of rejected ballots for each electoral district.
the total number of votes counted for each electoral district; and
the number of votes counted for each candidate for every electoral district;
the complete files of correspondence, reports and records in his or her possession.
the oaths of office; and
all other documents and election materials received from commanding officers, deputy returning officers and special ballot officers;
the lists of electors;
The returning officer shall, as soon as possible, notify the candidates of the name and address of the persons appointed as the deputy returning officer and the poll clerk.
For the purpose of subsection (2), in determining whether the candidate of a registered party finished first or second in the last election in a case where the registered party is the result of a merger with one or more parties that were registered parties at the last election, there shall be attributed to the candidate of the merged party, the number of votes of the candidate of the merging party with the largest number of votes at that last election.
The returning officer shall assign duties so that a deputy returning officer chosen from among the persons recommended by the registered party whose candidate finished first in the last election in the electoral district works with a poll clerk chosen from among the persons recommended by the registered party whose candidate finished second in that election in that electoral district.
The returning officer shall appoint a deputy returning officer and poll clerk to verify the outer envelopes and to count the special ballots issued to electors in his or her electoral district and received in his or her office. More than one deputy returning officer and poll clerk may be appointed if the number of votes warrants it.
All outer envelopes received after the prescribed deadline shall be kept separate and sealed and shall be initialled by the returning officer and marked with the date and time of their receipt.
The returning officer shall ensure that the ballots received at his or her office are kept sealed until they are given to the deputy returning officer.
The deputy returning officer shall be provided with the applications for registration and special ballot received before the deadline, along with any other materials that may be required.
The returning officer shall notify the candidates of the time and place of the verification.
A deputy returning officer and a poll clerk shall verify the outer envelopes, at the time fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer and in accordance with his or her instructions, by determining from the information on the outer envelope whether the elector is entitled to vote in the electoral district.
the outer envelope was received after the prescribed deadline.
more than one ballot has been issued to an elector; or
the outer envelope, other than an outer envelope in respect of an elector who has taken a vote under section 243 or 243.1, does not bear the signature of an elector;
the information concerning the elector, as described on the outer envelope, does not correspond with the information on the application for registration and special ballot;
When an outer envelope is set aside unopened as described in subsection (1), the deputy returning officer shall note on it the reasons for the rejection. The deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall initial the envelope.
When the outer envelopes are verified, the poll clerk shall register any objection to an elector’s right to vote in the electoral district in the prescribed form.
The deputy returning officer shall set aside an outer envelope unopened when he or she ascertains on its examination that
After the close of the polling stations, the deputy returning officer shall open the ballot box and he or she together with the poll clerk shall open the inner envelopes and count the votes.
The deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall open the outer envelopes and put all the inner envelopes in a ballot box provided by the returning officer.
The deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall count all valid outer envelopes.
there is any writing or mark on it by which the elector could be identified.
it is marked for more than one candidate; or
it is marked with a name other than the name of a candidate;
it is not marked;
it has not been supplied for the election;
The deputy returning officer shall not reject a special ballot for the sole reason that the elector has written, in addition to the name of a candidate, the candidate’s political affiliation, if the ballot clearly indicates the elector’s intent.
The deputy returning officer shall not reject a special ballot for the sole reason that the elector has incorrectly written the name of a candidate, if the ballot clearly indicates the elector’s intent.
The deputy returning officer shall, in counting the ballots, reject a ballot if
When the returning officer receives information from the Chief Electoral Officer respecting the results of the count under Division 6, the returning officer shall add those results to the results of the count under Division 7 and release all of them as being the results of the vote under the Special Voting Rules.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, without delay after the closing of the polling stations at an election, inform each returning officer of the results of the count under Division 6 for the returning officer’s electoral district, giving the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of rejected ballots.
wilfully at the counting of the votes, attempt to obtain information or communicate information obtained at the counting as to the candidate for whom a vote is given in a particular ballot or special ballot.
wilfully prevent or endeavour to prevent an elector from voting at an election; or
knowingly make a false declaration in the statement of ordinary residence completed by him or her;
knowingly make a false statement in a declaration signed by him or her before a deputy returning officer;
knowingly apply for a ballot or special ballot to which that person is not entitled;
knowingly make a false statement in an application for registration and special ballot;
wilfully interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, an elector when marking a ballot or special ballot, or otherwise attempt to obtain any information as to the candidate for whom any elector is about to vote or has voted;
wilfully disclose information as to how a ballot or special ballot has been marked by an elector;
by any pretence or contrivance, including by representing that the ballot or the manner of voting at an election is not secret, induce a person to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election under this Part.
by intimidation or duress, compel a person to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election under this Part; or
The deputy returning officer shall, in the following order,
The deputy returning officer shall supply the poll clerk and all the persons referred to in subsection (1) who are present and who so request with a tally sheet to keep their own score of the voting.
Immediately after the close of a polling station, the deputy returning officer shall count the votes in the presence of the poll clerk and any candidates or their representatives who are present or, if no candidates or representatives are present, in the presence of at least two electors.
examine each ballot, show the ballot to each person who is present, and ask the poll clerk to make a note on the tally sheet beside the name of the candidate for whom the vote was cast for the purpose of arriving at the total number of votes cast for each candidate.
open the ballot box and empty its contents onto a table; and
total the numbers arrived at in paragraphs (a) to (c) in order to ascertain that all ballots that were provided by the returning officer are accounted for;
count the unused ballots that are not detached from the books of ballots, place them with the stubs of the used ballots in the envelope supplied for the purpose, indicate on the envelope the number of unused ballots, and seal it;
count the spoiled ballots, place them in the envelope supplied for the purpose, indicate on the envelope the number of spoiled ballots, and seal it;
count the number of electors who voted at the polling station, make an entry at the end of the list of electors that states “The number of electors who voted at this election in this polling station is (stating the number)”, sign the list, and place the list in the envelope supplied for the purpose;
on which there is any writing or mark by which the elector could be identified.
that has been marked in more than one circle at the right of the candidates’ names; or
that is void by virtue of section 76;
that has not been marked in a circle at the right of the candidates’ names;
that has not been supplied by him or her;
When a ballot is found with the counterfoil attached, the deputy returning officer shall, while concealing the number on it from all persons present and without examining it, remove and destroy the counterfoil.
No ballot shall be rejected by reason only that the deputy returning officer placed on it any writing, number or mark, or failed to remove the counterfoil.
In examining the ballots, the deputy returning officer shall reject one
all ballots that were provided by the returning officer have been accounted for, as described in paragraph 283(3)(d).
the ballot was supplied by him or her; and
The deputy returning officer shall decide every question that is raised by an objection described in subsection (1), and the decision is subject to reversal only on a recount or on application under subsection 524(1).
The deputy returning officer shall keep a record, in the prescribed form, of every objection to a ballot made by a candidate or his or her representatives, give a number to the objection, write that number on the ballot and initial it.
The deputy returning officer shall give a copy of the statement of the vote to each of the candidate’s representatives present at the count.
The deputy returning officer shall prepare a statement of the vote, in the prescribed form, that sets out the number of votes in favour of each candidate and the number of rejected ballots and place the original statement and a copy of it in the separate envelopes supplied for the purpose.
The ballot box shall be sealed by the deputy returning officer with the seals provided by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The large envelope described in subsection (3) and the envelope that contains the copy of the statement of the vote shall be placed in the ballot box.
The deputy returning officer shall seal in a large envelope supplied for the purpose
The deputy returning officer shall place into separate envelopes the rejected ballots, the registration certificates and the list of electors, and shall seal the envelopes.
The deputy returning officer shall place the ballots for each candidate into separate envelopes, write on each envelope the name of the candidate and the number of votes he or she received, and seal it. The deputy returning officer and the poll clerk shall sign the seal on each envelope, and the witnesses may also sign them.
any other election documents, except for the envelopes that contain the statements of the vote and the registration certificates.
the envelopes that contain the marked ballots for the candidates, any spoiled ballots, unused ballots or rejected ballots, and the official list of electors; and
No person shall make a count of the votes cast at an advance poll before the close of the polling stations on polling day.
Subsections 283(1) and (2), paragraphs 283(3)(e) and (f) and sections 284 to 288 apply with any necessary modifications to the counting of the votes of an advance poll.
The deputy returning officer of an advance poll shall, at the close of the polling stations on polling day, attend with the poll clerk at the place mentioned in the notice of advance poll in subparagraph 172(a)(iii) to count the votes.
A returning officer may appoint persons to collect ballot boxes together with the envelopes referred to in subsection (1) from polling stations, and any person so appointed shall take the prescribed oath when he or she sends those materials to the returning officer.
The deputy returning officer for a polling station or an advance poll shall, without delay after sealing the ballot box, send the box, with the envelope that contains the original statement of the vote and the envelope that contains the registration certificate, to the returning officer.
examine and record the condition of the seals affixed to it and, if necessary, affix new seals.
take every precaution to prevent any other person, except the assistant returning officer, from having access to it; and
If, on the day fixed for the proceedings by virtue of an adjournment under subsection (2), the returning officer has not, for any reason, received the ballot boxes or information referred to in that subsection, the returning officer may make further adjournments. The further adjournments may not exceed a total of two weeks.
If, on the day fixed for the validation of the results as described in paragraph 62(c), a returning officer has not received all the ballot boxes or the information required by section 280, the returning officer shall adjourn the proceedings for not more than seven days.
After a returning officer receives all of the ballot boxes, he or she shall, at his or her office, in the presence of the assistant returning officer at the time indicated in paragraph 62(c), validate the results of the vote from the original statements of the vote and the information communicated under section 280.
If the returning officer opens the large envelope, he or she shall place its contents into another envelope, seal that envelope and initial the seal.
The returning officer shall not open an envelope that appears to contain ballots.
If a copy of the statement of the vote is not found or is not useful for the purpose of validating the results, the returning officer may use the information that is written on the envelopes that contain the ballots for that purpose.
If the original statement of the vote is missing, appears to contain an error, to be incomplete or to have been altered, or is disputed by a candidate or his or her representative, the returning officer may open the ballot box and the envelope that contains the copy of the statement of the vote or, if that copy is missing, the large envelope.
Every person to whom a summons is directed under paragraph (2)(b) shall obey it.
If paragraph (2)(b) applies, the returning officer shall give notice to the candidates for that electoral district of the date and time fixed for the appearance.
If the returning officer is unable to obtain either the original statement of the vote or the ballot box, he or she
If a ballot box has been destroyed or is missing, the returning officer shall ascertain the cause of the destruction or loss and shall complete the validation of the results from the original copy of the statement of the vote in the same manner as if he or she had received the ballot box.
may examine on oath the deputy returning officer, poll clerk or other person respecting the matter in question.
for ascertaining the total number of votes under paragraph (a), may summon any deputy returning officer, poll clerk or other person to appear before him or her at a fixed date and time and to bring with them all necessary documents; and
shall ascertain, by any evidence that he or she is able to obtain, the total number of votes cast for each candidate at the polling stations;
A judge who is authorized by sections 300 to 309 to act may act, to the extent authorized, within or outside his or her judicial district.
In this Part, judge means a judge who sits in the electoral district where the results are validated.
The returning officer shall attend the recount and shall bring all relevant election materials including
The judge shall fix the date for the recount to be conducted within four days after he or she receives the request.
The returning officer shall notify each candidate or his or her official agent in writing of the request for a recount.
If the difference between the number of votes cast for the candidate with the most votes and the number cast for any other candidate is less than 1/1000 of the votes cast, the returning officer shall make a request to a judge for a recount within four days after the results are validated.
all ballots cast and statements of the vote made in accordance with Part 11.
the statements of the vote used to validate the results; and
the ballot boxes;
A returning officer to whom a summons is directed under subsection (4) shall obey it and shall be present throughout the recount.
The judge shall notify each candidate or his or her official agent in writing of the time and place fixed for the recount. The judge may decide that service of the notice will be substitutional, by mail or posting or in any other manner.
The date fixed for the recount shall be within four days after the judge receives the application. The judge shall summon the returning officer to attend and to bring the relevant ballot boxes and statements of the vote together with the ballots that were counted, and the statements that were completed, under Part 11.
The applicant shall deposit with the clerk or prothonotary of the court the sum of $250 as security for the costs of the candidate who obtained the largest number of votes.
The judge shall fix a date for a recount if it appears, on the affidavit of a credible witness, that
An elector may, within four days after the date on which a returning officer issues a certificate under section 297, apply to a judge for a recount.
the returning officer has incorrectly added up the results set out in the statements of the vote.
a deputy returning officer has incorrectly counted or rejected any ballots, or has written an incorrect number on the statement of the vote for the votes cast for a candidate; or
Except with the permission of the judge, no person other than those described in subsection (1) and the returning officer may be present at the recount.
Each candidate and up to three of his or her representatives may attend at a recount. If a candidate is not present and is not represented at the recount, no more than three electors are entitled to attend on the candidate’s behalf.
Subject to the approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, a judge may retain the services of support staff to assist in the performance of his or her duties under this Part.
For the purpose of conducting a recount, a judge has the power to summon any deputy returning officer or poll clerk as a witness and to require him or her to give evidence on oath and, for that purpose, has the same power that is vested in any court of record.
For the purpose of arriving at the facts with respect to a missing ballot box or statement of the vote, the judge has all the powers of a returning officer with regard to the attendance and examination of witnesses who, in case of non-attendance, are subject to the same consequences as in the case of refusal or neglect to attend on the summons of a returning officer.
At a recount, the judge shall
If a recount of all of the ballots returned is required, the judge may open the sealed envelopes that contain the used and counted, unused, rejected and spoiled ballots. The judge shall not open any envelopes that appear to contain other documents or refer to any other election documents.
The judge shall conduct the recount by adding the number of votes reported in the statements of the vote or by counting the valid ballots or all of the ballots returned by the deputy returning officers or the Chief Electoral Officer.
review the decision of the returning officer with respect to the number of votes cast for a candidate, in the case of a missing or destroyed ballot box or statement of the vote.
verify or correct, if necessary, each statement of the vote; and
count the ballots in the manner prescribed for a deputy returning officer or a special ballot officer;
The judge shall personally supervise the parcelling and sealing of ballots and documents at a recount and take all necessary precautions for their security.
During a break described in section 305, the judge or any other person who has possession of ballots and other election documents shall keep them sealed in parcels, and the seal shall be signed by the judge and may be signed by any other person in attendance.
deliver the original of the certificate to the returning officer and a copy of it to each candidate.
seal the ballots in a separate envelope for each polling station and without delay prepare a certificate in the prescribed form that sets out the number of votes cast for each candidate; and
tax those costs, following as closely as possible the tariff of costs allowed with respect to proceedings in the court in which the judge ordinarily presides.
order the costs of the candidate for whom the largest number of votes have been cast to be paid by the person who applied for the recount; and
The money deposited as security for costs shall, as far as is necessary, be paid out to the candidate in whose favour costs are awarded under subsection (1) and, if the deposit is insufficient to cover the costs, the party in whose favour the costs are awarded has their action for the balance.
If a recount does not alter the result of the vote so as to affect the return, the judge shall
The Receiver General, on receipt of a request for reimbursement from the Chief Electoral Officer, shall pay to the candidate the amount requested from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
On receipt of an application under subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall determine the costs, and shall make a request for reimbursement to the Receiver General, up to a maximum of $500 for each day or part of a day during which the judge conducted the recount.
After a recount, a candidate may make an application to the Chief Electoral Officer for reimbursement of his or her costs in respect of the recount, setting out the amount and nature of the costs and whether they were actually and reasonably incurred.
in the Province of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, to a judge of the trial division of the Supreme Court of the Province.
in the Province of Manitoba or Saskatchewan, to a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for the Province; and
in the Province of Nova Scotia or British Columbia, to a judge of the Supreme Court of the Province;
in the Province of Quebec, New Brunswick or Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, to a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Province or Territory;
in the Province of Ontario, to a judge of the Superior Court of Justice;
The judge complained of and any interested party may file in the office of the clerk, registrar or prothonotary of the court of the judge to whom the application is made affidavits in reply to those filed by the applicant and shall provide the applicant with copies of them on demand.
The judge to whom an application is made under subsection (1) shall, if it appears that there was a failure to comply, make an order
An application under subsection (1) may be made on affidavit, which need not be entitled in any matter or cause, that sets out the facts relating to the failure to comply.
If a judge does not comply with the provisions of sections 300 to 309, an aggrieved party may, within eight days after the failure to comply, make application for an order under subsection (3)
giving directions for the service of the order, and of any affidavit on which it was granted, on the judge alleged to have failed to comply and on any other interested party.
directing the attendance of all parties interested at that time and place; and
fixing the time, within the following eight days, and place to hear the application;
may make an order with respect to costs.
shall make an order dismissing the application or ordering the judge in default to comply with the requirements of this Act in respect of the recount; and
Remedies for the recovery of costs awarded under paragraph (1)(b) are the same as for costs in ordinary cases in the same court.
A judge found to be in default shall without delay comply with an order made under subsection (1).
After hearing the judge complained of and any other parties, the judge to whom the application was made or another judge of the same court
If there is an equality of votes between the candidates with the largest number of votes, the returning officer shall indicate that on the return of the writ.
The returning officer, without delay after the sixth day that follows the completion of the validation of results or, if there is a recount, without delay after receiving the certificate referred to in section 308, shall declare elected the candidate who obtained the largest number of votes by completing the return of the writ in the prescribed form on the back of the writ.
all other documents that were used at the election.
a summary, in the prescribed form, of the number of votes cast for each candidate at each polling station; and
a report of the returning officer’s proceedings in the prescribed form including his or her comments with respect to the state of the election documents received from the deputy returning officers;
In any case arising under section 296, the returning officer shall mention specially in the report the circumstances accompanying the disappearance of the ballot boxes or the lack of any statement of the vote, and the mode by which the returning officer ascertained the number of votes cast for each candidate.
On completing the return of the writ, the returning officer shall without delay send to the Chief Electoral Officer all election documents in his or her possession together with
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, if necessary, send back the return of the writ and any or all of the related election documents to the returning officer for completion or correction.
A premature return of the writ is deemed not to have reached the Chief Electoral Officer until it should have reached the Chief Electoral Officer in due course.
The returning officer shall forward a copy of the return of the writ to each candidate.
A substitute return made under paragraph (2)(a) has the effect of cancelling the original return.
On receiving a judge’s certificate with respect to the result of a recount, the returning officer shall
Where, at the time of the issue of an order under section 311 or 312, the returning officer for the electoral district in respect of which the order is made has made a return of the writ under section 314, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, on being provided with a certified copy of the order, send back to the returning officer all election documents required for use at the recount.
if the result of the recount is to confirm the return, send the papers back to the Chief Electoral Officer without delay and not make a substitute return of the writ.
if the result of the recount is that a person other than the person named in the original return is to be returned, make a substitute return of the writ; or
publish in the Canada Gazette the name of the candidate who was declared elected.
indicate, in a book kept by the Chief Electoral Officer for the purpose, that he or she has received it; and
publish in the Canada Gazette
prepare and send to the Speaker of the House of Commons or, if none, two members of the House or two candidates who have been declared elected, as the case may be, a report stating that no candidate was declared elected in the electoral district because of the equality of votes; and
notice that, as no candidate was declared elected in the electoral district because of the equality of votes, a by-election will be conducted under subsection 29(1.1) of the Parliament of Canada Act.
the names of the candidates between whom there was an equality of votes, and
the transmission by an individual, on a non-commercial basis on what is commonly known as the Internet, of his or her personal political views.
the transmission of a document directly by a person or a group to their members, employees or shareholders, as the case may be; or
the distribution of a book, or the promotion of the sale of a book, for no less than its commercial value, if the book was planned to be made available to the public regardless of whether there was to be an election;
the transmission to the public of an editorial, a debate, a speech, an interview, a column, a letter, a commentary or news;
prime time, in the case of a radio station, means the time between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and, in the case of a television station, means the hours between 6 p.m. and midnight.
network operator means a person or undertaking to which permission has been granted by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to form and operate a network.
network means a network as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act, but does not include a temporary network operation as defined in that subsection.
election survey means an opinion survey of how electors voted or will vote at an election or respecting an issue with which a registered party or candidate is associated.
election advertising means the transmission to the public by any means during an election period of an advertising message that promotes or opposes a registered party or the election of a candidate, including one that takes a position on an issue with which a registered party or candidate is associated. For greater certainty, it does not include
For the purpose of subsection (1), a person includes a group within the meaning of Part 17.
No person shall knowingly conduct election advertising or cause it to be conducted using a means of transmission of the Government of Canada.
Despite subsection (1), a landlord, person, condominium corporation or agent referred to in that subsection may set reasonable conditions relating to the size or type of election advertising posters that may be displayed on the premises and may prohibit the display of election advertising posters in common areas of the building in which the premises are found.
No landlord or person acting on their behalf may prohibit a tenant from displaying election advertising posters on the premises to which the lease relates and no condominium corporation or any of its agents may prohibit the owner of a condominium unit from displaying election advertising posters on the premises of his or her unit.
For the purpose of subsection (1), a person includes a registered party and a group within the meaning of Part 17.
The transmission to the public of a notice of an event that the leader of a registered party intends to attend or an invitation to meet or hear the leader of a registered party is not election advertising for the purpose of subsection (1).
No person shall knowingly transmit election advertising to the public in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in the electoral district.
the distribution during that period of pamphlets or the posting of messages on signs, posters or banners.
the transmission of a message that was transmitted to the public on what is commonly known as the Internet before the blackout period described in that subsection and that was not changed during that period; or
Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to
No person shall prevent or impair the transmission to the public of an election advertising message without the consent of a person with authority to authorize its transmission.
the removal by an employee of a public authority of a sign, poster or banner where the posting of it is a hazard to public safety.
the prevention or impairment, by a public authority, of an unlawful transmission if reasonable notice has first been given to the person who authorized the transmission; or
if applicable, the margin of error in respect of the data obtained.
the number of people who were contacted to participate in the survey; and
the population from which the sample of respondents was drawn;
the date on which or the period during which the survey was conducted;
the name of the person or organization that conducted the survey;
the name of the sponsor of the survey;
A sponsor may charge a fee of up to $0.25 per page for a copy of a report provided under subsection (3).
A sponsor of an election survey shall, at any time during an election period after the results of the survey are transmitted to the public, provide, on request, a copy of a written report on the results of the survey, as transmitted under subsection (1). The report shall include the following, as applicable:
In addition to the information referred to in subsection (1), the following must be provided in the case of a transmission to the public by means other than broadcasting:
The first person who transmits the results of an election survey — other than a survey that is described in section 327 — to the public during an election period and any person who transmits them to the public within 24 hours after they are first transmitted to the public must provide the following together with the results:
the means by which a report referred to in subsection (3) may be obtained.
the wording of the survey questions in respect of which data is obtained; and
the wording of the survey questions and, if applicable, the margins of error in respect of the data obtained.
information about the method used to collect the data from which the survey results are derived, including
the date on which or the period during which the survey was conducted;
the name and address of the person or organization that conducted the survey;
the name and address of the sponsor of the survey;
any weighting factors or normalization procedures used in deriving the results of the survey; and
the method used to recalculate data to take into account in the survey the results of participants who expressed no opinion, were undecided or failed to respond to any or all of the survey questions, and
the dates and time of day of the interviews,
the number of individuals who were asked to participate in the survey and the numbers and respective percentages of them who participated in the survey, refused to participate in the survey, and were ineligible to participate in the survey,
the size of the initial sample,
the population from which the sample was drawn,
the sampling method,
For the purpose of this section, a person includes a group within the meaning of Part 17.
No person shall transmit to the public, in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in that electoral district, the results of an election survey that have not previously been transmitted to the public.
No person shall knowingly cause to be transmitted to the public, in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in that electoral district, the results of an election survey that have not previously been transmitted to the public.
During an election period, no person shall broadcast, outside Canada, election advertising with respect to an election.
No person shall, with intent to influence persons to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election, use, aid, abet, counsel or procure the use of a broadcasting station outside Canada, during an election period, for the broadcasting of any matter having reference to an election.
a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
a Canadian citizen; or
named by the Chief Electoral Officer, if the consultations do not result in a unanimous decision.
chosen by a unanimous decision of representatives of registered parties; or
A Broadcasting Arbitrator shall be paid the salary or other remuneration that may be fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
A Broadcasting Arbitrator whose term of office has expired is eligible to be re-appointed.
The Chief Electoral Officer may remove the Broadcasting Arbitrator from office only for cause.
The term of office of the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall expire six months after polling day at the general election next following his or her appointment.
A Broadcasting Arbitrator shall be appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer without delay after the consultations described in section 333. The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall be
14 days after the day on which the Broadcasting Arbitrator dies, becomes incapacitated, resigns or is removed from office, if that day is not during the election period of a general election.
90 days after polling day at a general election; or
The representatives of the registered parties referred to in subsection (1) shall make a report signed by each of them to the Chief Electoral Officer of the results of their consultations no later than
The Chief Electoral Officer shall designate the Chairperson at the meeting referred to in subsection (1) and at all subsequent consultations.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall hold a meeting of two representatives of each registered party represented in the House of Commons at that time, or if Parliament is dissolved, at the time of dissolution, designated in writing by their party leader, for the purpose of holding consultations to choose a Broadcasting Arbitrator. The meeting shall be held within
four weeks after a meeting referred to in paragraph (1)(b).
six weeks after a meeting referred to in paragraph (1)(a); and
If a broadcaster is affiliated with a network, the part of the broadcasting time to be made available under subsection (1) that may be determined by agreement between the broadcaster and the network operator shall be made available by the network operator during the portion of the broadcaster’s prime time broadcasting schedule that has been delegated to the control of the network operator.
In the period beginning on the issue of the writs for a general election and ending at midnight on the day before polling day, every broadcaster shall, subject to the regulations made under the Broadcasting Act and the conditions of its licence, make available, for purchase by all registered parties for the transmission of political announcements and other programming produced by or on behalf of the registered parties, six and one-half hours of broadcasting time during prime time on its facilities.
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall act as Chairperson at any meeting referred to in subsection (1).
The written request may not be made until the Broadcasting Arbitrator has been in office for 60 days.
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall convene a meeting of representatives of all registered parties to consult on the allocation of broadcasting time made available under section 335 within 30 days after the receipt of a written request from the chief agent of a registered party, or six months after the Broadcasting Arbitrator takes office, whichever is earlier.
fails to communicate to the Broadcasting Arbitrator its intentions regarding the allocation of the broadcasting time and fails to have its representative attend the meeting.
indicates in writing to the Broadcasting Arbitrator that it does not wish to be allocated broadcasting time; or
If unanimous agreement is not reached within four weeks after the meeting referred to in subsection 336(1), the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall allocate the broadcasting time, and that allocation is binding on all registered parties.
Unanimous agreement of the registered parties on the allocation of the broadcasting time is binding on all registered parties.
A registered party shall not be allocated broadcasting time if, after receiving notice of the meeting referred to in subsection 336(1), the party
the percentage of the popular vote at the previous general election of each registered party.
the percentage of seats in the House of Commons held by each of the registered parties at the previous general election; and
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall, as soon as possible, give notice in writing of every allocation of broadcasting time made by the Broadcasting Arbitrator or by the registered parties to
If the Broadcasting Arbitrator considers that an allocation determined in accordance with subsection (1) would be unfair to a registered party or contrary to the public interest, the allocation may be modified, subject to subsections (3) and (4), in any manner that the Broadcasting Arbitrator considers appropriate.
If the calculation under subsection (1) would give more than 50% of the total of the broadcasting time to a registered party, the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall allocate the excess amount to the other registered parties entitled to broadcasting time on a proportionate basis.
In no case shall the Broadcasting Arbitrator allocate more than 50% of the total of the broadcasting time to a registered party.
Subject to subsections (3) to (5), in allocating broadcasting time in the case of the merger of two or more registered parties, the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall
Subject to subsections (3) to (5), in allocating broadcasting time, the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall give equal weight to
for the purpose of giving the half-weight under subsection (1), assign to the merged party the number of candidates endorsed by the merging party that had the greatest number of candidates at that election.
in determining the percentage of the popular vote of a merged party at the previous general election for the purpose of paragraph (1)(b), include the total number of votes obtained by the merging parties; and
in determining the percentage of seats held by a merged party at the previous general election for the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), include the total number of seats held by the merging parties;
every political party that became an eligible party either before or after the allocation.
every registered party; and
six minutes.
the smallest portion of broadcasting time to be made available under section 335 allocated to a registered party under sections 337 and 338, and
The maximum amount of broadcasting time available for purchase by eligible parties under this section is 39 minutes and, once that amount of broadcasting time is reached, all entitlement under this section shall be altered or established to be of whatever number of minutes or portions of minutes is necessary so that all eligible parties requesting time under this section receive the same amount of time within the 39-minute limit.
In addition to the broadcasting time to be made available under section 335, and within the period referred to in that section, every broadcaster shall, subject to the regulations made under the Broadcasting Act and to the conditions of its licence, make available, for purchase by every eligible party entitled to broadcasting time under this section, broadcasting time in the amount determined under this section for the eligible party for the transmission of political announcements and other programming produced by or on behalf of the eligible party during prime time on that broadcaster’s facilities.
An eligible party referred to in paragraph 338(6)(b) is not entitled to have any broadcasting time made available to it under this section if the party
Subject to subsection (4), every eligible party referred to in paragraph 338(6)(b) that makes a request as described in subsection 338(6) within the time referred to in that subsection is entitled to purchase broadcasting time in an amount equal to the lesser of
fails to make a request as described in subsection 338(6) within the time referred to in that subsection.
indicates in writing that it does not wish any broadcasting time under this section; or
If the deregistration or cessation of eligibility referred to in subsection (1) or (2), respectively, occurs after the issue of the writs for a general election, the broadcasting time that was allocated to the deregistered party or to the party that has ceased to be eligible shall not be reallocated.
Where an eligible party to which broadcasting time has been allocated under section 339 subsequently ceases to be an eligible party, the Broadcasting Arbitrator, within two weeks after the cessation of eligibility, shall convene the representatives of the remaining registered parties and eligible parties to whom broadcasting time has been allocated for the purpose of reallocating that party’s broadcasting time.
If a registered party to which broadcasting time has been allocated under this Part is subsequently deregistered, the Broadcasting Arbitrator, within two weeks after publication in the Canada Gazette of the notice of deregistration, shall convene the representatives of the remaining registered parties and eligible parties to which broadcasting time has been allocated for the purpose of reallocating that party’s broadcasting time.
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall, on request, provide all registered parties and all eligible parties referred to in paragraph 338(6)(b) with the names and addresses of all broadcasters and network operators.
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall notify the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission of every allocation under sections 337 and 338 and every entitlement under section 339 as soon as possible after it is made or requested and the Commission shall notify every broadcaster and every network operator of every such allocation and entitlement without delay after it is made and again immediately after the issue of the writs for the next general election.
If, at a meeting referred to in subsection (1), it is determined that the total broadcasting time allocated or requested exceeds six and one-half hours, the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall reduce the allocated or requested time to six and one-half hours on a proportionate basis and that reduction shall be final and binding on all registered parties and eligible parties.
In each of the calendar years after the calendar year in which an allocation of broadcasting time has been made under sections 337 and 338 or an eligible party has requested and has become entitled to broadcasting time under section 339, the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall convene and chair a meeting of the representatives of all registered parties to review the allocation or entitlement.
program time means any period longer than two minutes during which a broadcaster does not normally present commercial messages, public service announcements or station or network identification. (durée de l’émission)
commercial time means any period of two minutes or less during which a broadcaster normally presents commercial messages, public service announcements or station or network identification. (temps commercial)
A decision of the Broadcasting Arbitrator under subsection (4) is final and binding on the registered party or eligible party, as the case may be, and the broadcaster or network operator.
In making a decision under subsection (4), the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall take into account the following principles:
If no agreement is reached under subsection (3) within two days after the commencement of the consultation required by that subsection, the matter shall be referred to the Broadcasting Arbitrator who shall decide on the requests without delay and give notice of his or her decision to the broadcaster or network operator and to the representatives of the registered party or eligible party that made the requests.
Every broadcaster or network operator who receives a notice under subsection (2) shall, within two days after its receipt, consult with representatives of the registered party or eligible party that sent the notice for the purpose of reaching an agreement on the requests contained in it.
Each registered party and each eligible party entitled to purchase broadcasting time under this Act shall, not later than 10 days after the issue of the writs for a general election, send a notice in writing to each broadcaster and each network operator from whom it intends to purchase broadcasting time, setting out its preference as to the proportion of commercial time and program time to be made available to it and the days on which and the hours during which that time as so proportioned is to be made available, but at no time shall that party obtain broadcasting time before the 5th day after the notice is received by the broadcaster or network operator.
The definitions in this subsection apply in subsections (2) and (5).
that any broadcasting time to be made available to a registered party or eligible party should be made available fairly throughout prime time.
that each registered party and each eligible party should have the freedom and flexibility to determine the proportion of commercial time and program time to be made available to it and the days on which and the hours during which that time as so proportioned should be made available; and
does not involve a distribution undertaking as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act.
is licensed with respect to more than a particular series of programs or type of programming; and
reaches a majority of Canadians whose mother tongue is the same as that in which the network broadcasts;
For the purpose of subsection (1), a network is deemed to reach
The value of free broadcasting time made available to a registered party under this section shall not be taken into consideration in calculating its election expenses within the meaning of section 407.
For the purpose of subsection (1), the minimum amount of broadcasting time that a network operator is to make available shall be no less than the amount of free broadcasting time made available by it at the last general election and shall be made available as follows:
In the period beginning on the issue of the writs for a general election and ending at midnight on the day before polling day at that election, every network operator shall, subject to the regulations made under the Broadcasting Act and to the conditions of its licence, make available, at no cost, to the registered parties and eligible parties referred to in subsection (2), for the transmission of political announcements and other programming produced by or on behalf of those parties, broadcasting time as determined under that subsection if the network formed and operated by the network operator
the remainder to all registered parties that have been allocated any of the broadcasting time to be made available under section 335 and all eligible parties that have requested broadcasting time under section 339 in the proportion that their allocated or requested purchasable broadcasting time bears to the total broadcasting time allocated or requested under those sections.
two minutes to every registered party referred to in paragraph 337(1)(a) and every eligible party referred to in paragraph 339(2)(a); and
in the case of television stations, are enclosed by the Grade B official contour of the stations; and
in the case of F.M. radio stations, are enclosed by the 50 mV per metre official contour of the stations, and
in the case of A.M. radio stations, are enclosed by the night-time interference-free official contour of the stations,
people resident outside the areas described in paragraph (a) to whom the signals of broadcasting stations affiliated to the network are available via distribution undertakings licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
people resident within the areas served by broadcasting stations affiliated to the network that
any other matters that may be pertinent to the conduct of broadcasters and network operators under this Act.
the procedures for booking broadcasting time by registered parties and eligible parties; and
the allocation of or entitlement to broadcasting time under this Act;
a rate for an advertisement in a periodical publication published or distributed and made public in the period referred to in paragraph (a) that exceeds the lowest rate charged by the person for an equal amount of equivalent advertising space in the same issue of the periodical publication or in any other issue of it that is published or distributed and made public in that period.
a rate for broadcasting time made available to the party or candidate, in the period beginning on the issue of the writs and ending at midnight on the day before polling day, that exceeds the lowest rate charged by the person for an equal amount of equivalent time on the same facilities made available to any other person at any time within that period; or
third party means a person or a group, other than a candidate, registered party or electoral district association of a registered party. (tiers)
group means an unincorporated trade union, trade association or other group of persons acting together by mutual consent for a common purpose. (groupe)
expenses means
election advertising expense means an expense incurred in relation to
election advertising has the same meaning as in section 319. (publicité électorale)
the acquisition of the means of transmission to the public of an election advertising message. (dépenses de publicité électorale)
the production of an election advertising message; and
amounts that represent the difference between an amount paid or a liability incurred for property and services, other than volunteer labour, and the commercial value of the property and services, when they are provided at less than their commercial value. (dépenses)
the commercial value of property and services, other than volunteer labour, that are donated or provided; and
liabilities incurred;
amounts paid;
The amounts referred to in subsections (1), (2) and (4) shall be multiplied by the inflation adjustment factor referred to in section 414 that is in effect on the issue of the writ or writs.
A third party shall not incur election advertising expenses of a total amount of more than $3,000 in a given electoral district during the election period of a by-election.
The limit set out in subsection (2) only applies to an amount incurred with respect to a leader of a registered party or eligible party to the extent that it is incurred to promote or oppose his or her election in a given electoral district.
Not more than $3,000 of the total amount referred to in subsection (1) shall be incurred to promote or oppose the election of one or more candidates in a given electoral district, including by
A third party shall not incur election advertising expenses of a total amount of more than $150,000 during an election period in relation to a general election.
taking a position on an issue with which they are particularly associated.
identifying them by their respective political affiliations; or
showing their likenesses;
naming them;
The registration of a third party is valid only for the election period during which the application is made, but the third party continues to be subject to the requirement to file an election advertising report under subsection 359(1).
A third party may not be registered under a name that, in the opinion of the Chief Electoral Officer, is likely to be confused with the name of a candidate, registered party, registered third party or eligible party.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, without delay after receiving an application, determine whether the requirements set out in subsections (1) to (3) and (5) are met and shall then notify the person who signed the application whether the third party is registered. In the case of a refusal to register, the Chief Electoral Officer shall give reasons for the refusal.
If the third party is a trade union, corporation or other entity with a governing body, the application must include a copy of the resolution passed by its governing body authorizing it to incur election advertising expenses.
If a third party’s financial agent is replaced, it shall, without delay, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the new financial agent’s name, address and telephone number and a declaration signed by the new financial agent accepting the appointment.
An application under subsection (2) must be accompanied by a declaration signed by the financial agent accepting the appointment.
An application for registration shall be sent to the Chief Electoral Officer in the prescribed form and shall include
A third party shall register immediately after having incurred election advertising expenses of a total amount of $500 and may not register before the issue of the writ.
if the third party is a group, the group and a person who is responsible for the group;
if the third party is a corporation, the corporation and the officer who has signing authority for it, and
if the third party is an individual, the individual,
the name, address and telephone number of the third party’s financial agent.
the address and telephone number of the office of the third party where its books and records are kept and of the office to which communications may be addressed; and
the signature of the individual, officer or person referred to in subparagraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii), respectively, as the case may be;
the name, address and telephone number of
The following persons are not eligible to be a financial agent of a third party:
A third party that is required to register under subsection 353(1) shall appoint a financial agent who may be a person who is authorized to sign an application for registration made under that subsection.
a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
an election officer or an employee of a returning officer; and
a person who is the chief agent, or a registered agent, of a registered party;
a candidate or an official agent of a candidate;
If a third party’s auditor is replaced, it must, without delay, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the new auditor’s name, address, telephone number and occupation and a signed declaration accepting the appointment.
Every third party, without delay after an auditor is appointed, must provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the auditor’s name, address, telephone number and occupation and a signed declaration accepting the appointment.
The following persons are not eligible to be an auditor for a third party:
The following are eligible to be an auditor for a third party:
A third party that incurs election advertising expenses in an aggregate amount of $5,000 or more must appoint an auditor without delay.
a partnership every partner of which is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants.
a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants; or
a registered agent of a registered party.
the chief agent of a registered party or an eligible party; and
the official agent of a candidate;
a candidate;
an election officer;
a person who signed the application made under subsection 353(2);
the third party’s financial agent;
No third party shall use a contribution for election advertising if the third party does not know the name and address of the contributor or is otherwise unable to determine within which class of contributor referred to in subsection 359(6) they fall.
A financial agent may authorize a person to accept contributions or incur election advertising expenses, but that authorization does not limit the responsibility of the financial agent.
Every contribution made during an election period to a registered third party for election advertising purposes must be accepted by, and every election advertising expense incurred on behalf of a third party must be authorized by, its financial agent.
a foreign government or an agent of one.
a foreign political party; or
a trade union that does not hold bargaining rights for employees in Canada;
a corporation or an association that does not carry on business in Canada;
a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
A third party shall, at the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, provide the original of any bill, voucher or receipt in relation to an election advertising expense that is in an amount of more than $50.
An election advertising report shall include the signed declarations of the financial agent and, if different, of the person who signed the application made under subsection 353(2) that the report is accurate.
If the third party is unable to identify which contributions were received for election advertising purposes in the period referred to in paragraph (4)(a), it must list, subject to paragraph (4)(b.1), the names and addresses of every contributor who donated a total of more than $200 to it during that period.
For the purposes of paragraphs (4)(a) and (b), the following are the classes of contributor:
For the purpose of subsection (4), a contribution includes a loan.
The election advertising report shall include
If a third party has not incurred expenses referred to in paragraph (2)(a) or (b), that fact shall be indicated in its election advertising report.
An election advertising report shall contain
Every third party that is required to be registered in accordance with subsection 353(1) shall file an election advertising report in the prescribed form with the Chief Electoral Officer within four months after polling day.
a list of all election advertising expenses other than those referred to in subparagraph (i) and the time and place of broadcast or publication of the advertisements to which the expenses relate; and
a list of election advertising expenses referred to in subsection 350(2) and the time and place of the broadcast or publication of the advertisements to which the expenses relate, and
in the case of a by-election, a list of election advertising expenses referred to in subsection 350(4) and the time and place of the broadcast or publication of the advertisements to which the expenses relate.
in the case of a general election,
the amount, other than an amount of a contribution referred to in paragraph (a), that was paid out of the third party’s own funds for election advertising expenses.
in the case of a numbered company that is a contributor referred to in paragraph (b), the name of the chief executive officer or president of that company; and
for each contributor who made contributions of a total amount of more than $200 for election advertising purposes during the period referred to in paragraph (a), subject to paragraph (b.1), their name, address and class, and the amount and date of each contribution;
the amount, by class of contributor, of contributions for election advertising purposes that were received in the period beginning six months before the issue of the writ and ending on polling day;
unincorporated organizations or associations other than trade unions.
corporations without share capital other than trade unions; and
trade unions;
governments;
commercial organizations;
businesses;
individuals;
The auditor shall have access at any reasonable time to all of the documents of the third party, and may require the third party to provide any information or explanation, that, in the auditor’s opinion, is necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
An auditor shall include in the report any statement that the auditor considers necessary, when
The third party’s auditor shall report on the election advertising report and shall make any examination that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether the election advertising report presents fairly the information contained in the accounting records on which it is based.
The election advertising report of a third party that incurs $5,000 or more in election advertising expenses must include a report made under subsection (2).
based on the auditor’s examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the third party.
the auditor has not received from the third party all of the required information and explanation; or
the election advertising report that is the subject of the auditor’s report does not present fairly the information contained in the accounting records on which it is based;
publish, within one year after the issue of the writ, reports made under subsection 359(1).
publish the names and addresses of registered third parties, as they are registered; and
To confirm that the purpose referred to in paragraph (2)(j) is one of the party’s fundamental purposes, the Chief Electoral Officer may ask the party’s leader to provide any relevant information, including the information described in subsection 521.1(5).
An application for registration must include
The leader of a political party may apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for the political party to become a registered party.
the leader’s declaration in the prescribed form that, having considered all of the factors — including those described in subsection 521.1(5) — relevant to determining the party’s purposes, one of the party’s fundamental purposes is to participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election.
the names and addresses of 250 electors and their declarations in the prescribed form that they are members of the party and support the party’s application for registration; and
the name and address of the party’s chief agent and his or her signed consent to act;
the name and address of the appointed auditor of the party and their signed consent to act;
the names and addresses of the officers of the party and their signed consent to act;
the address of the office of the party where records are maintained and to which communications may be addressed;
the name and address of the leader of the party and a copy of the party’s resolution to appoint the leader, certified by the leader and another officer of the party;
the party’s logo, if any;
the short-form name of the party, or its abbreviation, if any, that is to be shown in election documents;
the full name of the political party;
In the period of 30 days after the deregistration of a political party,
the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the party has provided the information required under subsection 366(2) and that the information is accurate.
the party has at least three officers in addition to its leader and has appointed a chief agent and an auditor; and
include the word “independent” or a word that so resembles “independent” that it would, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, likely be confused with it;
so resemble the name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo of a registered party or an eligible party that it would, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, likely be confused with it, or
its name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo does not
if a new application is made for the registration of the deregistered party under the name, short-form name, abbreviation and logo that it had at the time of its deregistration, the Chief Electoral Officer may not refuse the application on the ground that it does not comply with paragraph 368(a).
no application for another political party to become a registered party may be accepted — and no report under section 382 shall be effective — that would permit another political party to use a name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo that would, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, likely be confused with that of the deregistered party; and
A political party, having been informed of its eligibility under subsection (1), loses its eligibility if
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as practicable after the day on which the application is received, inform the leader of a political party that has applied to become registered whether or not the party is eligible for registration under section 368. If the party is not eligible, he or she shall also indicate which of that section’s requirements have not been met.
its auditor is not eligible under section 377.
its chief agent is not eligible under section 376; or
one of its officers is not eligible under subsection 374.1(2);
it contravenes any of section 371, subsection 374.1(1), sections 378 to 380.1, subsections 382(1), (3) and (4) and 383(1) and section 384;
For the purposes of sections 407, 422, 429 and 435, an eligible party that becomes registered under subsection (1) is deemed to have been registered from the day of the issue of the writ or writs for that election.
An eligible party, other than one referred to in subsection (2), loses its eligibility on being informed under subsection (3) that it has not been registered.
in the case of a general election, inform the leader of an eligible party that does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) that the party has not been registered.
inform the leader of an eligible party that meets the requirements of subsection (1) that the party has been registered; and
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as practicable after the 48-hour period following the close of nominations,
An eligible party whose application was made after the 60 days referred to in subsection (1) becomes a registered party for the next general election — or any by-election that precedes it — if it satisfies the requirements of that subsection for that election.
An eligible party becomes a registered party if it has at least one candidate whose nomination has been confirmed for an election and its application to become registered was made at least 60 days before the issue of the writ or writs for that election and has not been withdrawn.
a declaration in the prescribed form by the chief agent of the registered party concerning that statement.
a report on that statement made by the registered party’s auditor to its chief agent that contains the auditor’s opinion as to whether that statement presents fairly and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the information on which it is based; and
a statement, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of its assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, as of the day before the effective date of the registration;
Within 30 days after the appointment of the replacement, the registered party or eligible party shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer by providing a report under subsection 382(1).
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation, ineligibility or revocation of the appointment of an officer of a registered party or an eligible party, the party shall, if the remaining number of officers is less than four, appoint a replacement within 30 days.
Only a person whose ordinary residence is in Canada is eligible to be an officer of a registered party or an eligible party.
Subject to subsection (3), a registered party and an eligible party shall have at least three officers in addition to the leader of the party.
Within 30 days after an appointment of a person as a registered agent, the registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a written report, certified by its leader or chief agent, that includes the person’s name and address and any terms and conditions to which the appointment is subject. The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter that information in the registry of parties.
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 9]
A registered party may, subject to any terms and conditions that it specifies, appoint persons to act as its registered agents.
a chief agent or an agent of an eligible party.
a chief agent or a registered agent of a registered party; or
The following persons are not eligible to be a chief agent, a registered agent or an agent:
A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province is eligible to be
a person who does not have the capacity to enter into contracts in the province in which the person ordinarily resides.
subject to subsection (1), a person who is not an elector; and
an auditor appointed as required by this Act;
an undischarged bankrupt;
a candidate;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
a partnership of which every partner is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants.
a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants; or
The following persons are not eligible to be an auditor:
Only the following are eligible to be an auditor for a registered party or an eligible party:
financial agents of registered third parties.
nomination contestants and their financial agents; and
leadership contestants and their leadership campaign agents;
electoral district agents of registered associations;
a registered agent of a registered party;
a chief agent of a registered party or an eligible party;
an official agent of a candidate;
an officer of a registered party or an eligible party;
a candidate;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
Within 30 days after the appointment of a replacement under subsection (1), a registered party or eligible party shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer of it by providing a report under subsection 382(1).
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or revocation of the appointment of its chief agent or auditor, a registered party or eligible party shall without delay appoint a replacement.
A registered party and an eligible party shall have at least 250 members who are electors.
No person who is not eligible to be an auditor of a registered party or an eligible party shall so act.
No person who is not eligible to be a chief agent or registered agent of a registered party or an eligible party shall so act.
No person who is not eligible to be an officer of a registered party or an eligible party shall so act.
A person referred to in subsection (1) may sign an application under section 388.
the party has not made an application under section 388.
they know that the party does not have as one of its fundamental purposes participating in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election; and
Subject to subsection (2), no person shall act or continue to act as an officer of a registered party or an eligible party if
The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter any change in the information referred to in subsection (2) in the registry of electoral district associations.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter any change in the information referred to in this section in the registry of parties.
A report under subsection (1) that involves the replacement of an officer, the chief agent or the auditor must include a copy of the consent referred to in section 378.
A report of a change of leader for a party must include a copy of the resolution of the party to appoint the new leader, certified by the new leader and another officer of the party.
A report of a change in the information referred to in paragraphs 366(2)(a) to (c) must include a copy of the resolution of the party to make the change. If the changed information complies with subparagraph 368(a)(i) or (ii), the change is deemed to be effective as of
Within 30 days after a change in the information on a registered party or an eligible party in the registry of parties, the party shall, in writing, report the change to the Chief Electoral Officer. The report must be certified by the leader of the party.
the day on which the report was made, in any other case.
the day after polling day, in the case of a report made during an election period; and
A registered party and an eligible party, whose leader designates representatives to endorse candidates at a general election, shall include with the statement or report referred to in subsection (1) a statement certified by its leader that sets out the names of the designated representatives.
if there is a change in that information, the report referred to in subsection 382(1).
a statement certified by its leader confirming the validity of the information on the party in the registry of parties; or
A registered party and an eligible party shall, not later than 10 days after the issue of the writs for a general election, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
On or before June 30 of every year, a registered party and an eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a declaration in the prescribed form by the leader that, having considered all of the factors relevant to determining the party’s purposes — including those described in subsection 521.1(5) — one of the party’s fundamental purposes is as described in paragraph 366(2)(j).
On or before June 30 of every third year, beginning in 2007, a registered party and an eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the names and addresses of 250 electors and their declarations in the prescribed form that they are members of the party.
if there is a change in that information, the report made under subsection 382(1) on the change.
a statement certified by its leader confirming the validity of the information on that party in the registry of parties; or
On or before June 30 of every year, a registered party and an eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
No member of a party shall make a declaration referred to in section 366 or 384 that they know is false or misleading.
No leader of a party shall make a declaration referred to in section 366, 382 or 384 that they know is false or misleading.
No leader of a party shall certify, under any of sections 382 to 384, a report or statement that they know contains false or misleading information.
No registered party or eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with information under any of sections 382 to 384 that it knows is false or misleading.
No leader of a party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with information under section 366 that they know is false or misleading.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall give notice of a deregistration under section 385 or 385.1 to the registered party and its chief agent and of the resulting deregistration under section 389.2 to the registered associations and their financial agents.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall deregister a registered party if it fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be.
If the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the party has made reasonable efforts to comply with subsection 374.1(1) or section 380.1 within the time set out in the notice, he or she may, in writing, notify the party that it has another period of up to 60 or 90 days, as the case may be, in which to comply.
section 380.1, within 90 days after receipt of the notice.
subsection 374.1(1), within 60 days after receipt of the notice; or
If the Chief Electoral Officer is not satisfied that a registered party is in compliance with subsection 374.1(1) or section 380. 1, he or she shall, in writing, notify the party that it is required to show its compliance with
a report that it is required by subsection 478.02(1) to provide.
a statement required by subsection 435.04(1) or (2); or
any of the documents referred to in paragraphs 372(a) to (c);
a report under subsection 382(1) on a change in any other registered information;
a report under subsection 375(3) on the appointment of a registered agent;
any of the documents referred to in subsection 379(2) or 382(1) or (4) with respect to a replacement of its auditor or chief agent;
either of the documents referred to in subsections 382(1) and (3) with respect to a change of its leader;
a report in accordance with subsection 382(2) on a change in the registered information on its name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo mentioned in paragraphs 366(2)(a) to (c);
confirmation under subsection 383(1) or section 384 of the validity of the registered information;
for a general election, with a document in accordance with subsection 429(1).
for a fiscal year, with a document in accordance with subsection 424(1); or
satisfy the Chief Electoral Officer that the omission was not the result of negligence or a lack of good faith.
within 30 days after receipt of the notice, in any other case; or
within 5 days after receipt of the notice, in the case of a failure to comply with subsection 383(1), or
rectify the omission by the discharge of those obligations under section 386 or 387,
If a registered party is deregistered, its registered associations are also deregistered.
The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered party if its leader, its chief agent or one of its officers fails to comply with a notice referred to in subsection (1), or amended notice under subsection (2).
If paragraph (1)(b) applies, the Chief Electoral Officer may amend the notice by
If the Chief Electoral Officer believes on reasonable grounds that a registered party, its leader, its chief agent or one of its other officers has omitted to do anything referred to in section 386 or 387, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in writing, notify the party and any of its officers who are named in the registry of parties that the party or officer must
specifying a period for compliance with the requirements referred to in subparagraph (1)(a)(i) or (ii), as the case may be.
exempting, in whole or in part, the recipients of the notice from complying with the obligations referred to in section 386 or 387; or
The notice under subsection (1) shall be sent by registered mail or by a method of courier service that provides proof of mailing, a record while in transit and a record of delivery.
The notice under subsection (1) shall specify the effective date of the deregistration, which shall be at least 15 days after the date of the sending of the notice.
If the Chief Electoral Officer proposes to deregister a registered party under section 388 or subsection 389(3), the Chief Electoral Officer shall so notify the party and its registered associations.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall indicate the deregistration of the party in the registry of parties.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall without delay cause a notice of the deregistration of a registered party and of its registered associations to be published in the Canada Gazette.
any earlier fiscal period for which those documents have not already been provided under that subsection; and
the portion of its current fiscal period ending on the day of its deregistration, and
the documents referred to in subsection 429(1), for any general election for which those documents have not already been provided under that subsection.
the documents referred to in subsection 424(1) for
An application to merge two or more registered parties must
Two or more registered parties may, at any time other than during the period beginning 30 days before the issue of a writ for an election and ending on polling day, apply to the Chief Electoral Officer to become a single registered party resulting from their merger.
contain the information required from a party to be registered, except for the information referred to in paragraph 366(2)(i).
be accompanied by a resolution from each of the merging parties approving the proposed merger; and
be certified by the leaders of the merging parties;
If the Chief Electoral Officer amends the registry of parties, he or she shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette a notice that the names of the merging parties have been replaced in the registry with the name of the merged party.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall notify the officers of the merging parties in writing whether the registry of parties is to be amended under subsection (1).
the merging parties have discharged their obligations under this Act, including their obligations to report on their financial transactions and their election expenses and to maintain valid and up-to-date information concerning their registration.
the merged party is eligible for registration as a political party under this Act, and
the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that
the application for the merger was not made in the period referred to in subsection 400(1); and
The Chief Electoral Officer shall amend the registry of parties by replacing the names of the merging parties with the name of the merged party if
On the merger of registered parties, any registered association of a merging party is deregistered and, despite paragraph 403.01(c), may transfer goods or funds to the merged party or a registered association of the merged party in the six months immediately after the merger. Any such transfer is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act.
any decision of a judicial or quasi-judicial nature involving a merging party may be enforced by or against the merged party.
the merged party replaces a merging party in any proceedings, whether civil, penal or administrative, by or against the merging party; and
the merged party is responsible for the obligations of each merging party to report on its financial transactions and election expenses for any period before the merger took effect;
the merged party is responsible for the liabilities of each merging party;
the assets of each merging party belong to the merged party;
the merged party becomes a registered party;
the merged party is the successor of each merging party;
On the merger of two or more registered parties,
A merger of registered parties takes effect on the day on which the Chief Electoral Officer amends the registry of parties under subsection 401(1).
No financial agent of a registered association shall make a declaration referred to in paragraph 403.05(b) if the agent knows or ought reasonably to have known that the statement referred to in paragraph 403.05(a) is not complete and accurate.
No financial agent of a registered association shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a financial transactions return that
The financial agent of a registered association shall, without delay, pay an amount of money equal to the value of a contribution received by the association to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward it to the Receiver General, if the name of the contributor of a contribution of more than $20, or the name or the address of the contributor having made contributions of a total amount of more than $200, is not known.
On the application of a person who has a claim to be paid for an expense of a registered association or of an electoral district agent of the association, a judge who is competent to conduct a recount, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, may by order authorize the electoral district agent to pay the amount claimed if
The financial agent of a registered association is responsible for administering its financial transactions and for reporting on them, in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
The financial agent of a deregistered electoral district association shall, within six months after the day of its deregistration, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the documents referred to in subsection 403.35(1) for
A deregistered electoral district association continues to have the obligations of a registered association for the application of section 403.26.
The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered association if its financial agent fails to provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a document for a fiscal year in accordance with subsection 403.35(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered association if the association fails to provide
On or before May 31 of every year, unless an election campaign is in process in that electoral district on that date, in which case the date shall be July 31, a registered association shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
A registered association shall have no more than one financial agent and one auditor at a time.
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or revocation of the appointment of its financial agent or auditor, a registered association shall without delay appoint a replacement.
A registered association shall obtain from the financial agent or auditor, on appointment, their signed consent to so act.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry of electoral district associations that contains the information referred to in subsection 403.02(1).
Without delay after becoming registered, a registered association shall, if necessary, vary its fiscal period so that it ends at the end of the calendar year. The then current fiscal period may not be less than 6 months or more than 18 months.
The fiscal period of a registered association is the calendar year.
Within six months after becoming a registered association, the association shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
No electoral district association of a registered party shall, during an election period, incur expenses for election advertising, as defined in section 319.
A claim that has been sent in accordance with section 403.29 must be paid within six months after payment of it is due.
A registered party may not have more than one registered association in an electoral district.
No electoral district association of a registered party shall, unless it is registered,
a declaration in the prescribed form by the chief agent of the merged party concerning the statement.
an auditor’s report, submitted to the chief agent of the merged party, as to whether the statement presents fairly and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the information on which it was based, and
a statement, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of its assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, at the date of the merger,
the merged party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
any earlier fiscal period for which those documents have not been provided; and
the portion of its current fiscal period that ends on the day before the day on which the merger takes effect, and
each of the merging parties shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the documents referred to in subsection 424(1) for
accept surplus electoral funds of a candidate, surplus leadership campaign funds of a leadership contestant or surplus nomination campaign funds of a nomination contestant.
provide goods or services or transfer funds to a registered party or a registered association; or
provide goods or services or transfer funds to a candidate endorsed by a registered party;
accept contributions;
An electoral district association is registered as of the date on which the Chief Electoral Officer enters it in the registry of electoral district associations.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall register an electoral district association that meets the requirements of subsections (1) and (2). In the case of a refusal to register, the Chief Electoral Officer shall indicate which of those requirements have not been met.
a declaration signed by the leader of the party certifying that the electoral district association is an electoral district association of the party.
the signed consent of the auditor to so act; and
the signed consent of the financial agent to so act;
The application must be accompanied by
the name and address of the financial agent of the association.
the name and address of the appointed auditor of the association; and
the names and addresses of the chief executive officer and other officers of the association;
the address of the office of the association at which records are maintained and to which communications may be addressed;
the full name of the registered party;
the full name of the association and of the electoral district;
An application for registration of an electoral district association of a registered party may be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer by the association, and must include
a declaration in the prescribed form by the financial agent of the registered association that the statement is complete and accurate.
a statement, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of its assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, as of the day before the effective date of the registration; and
Within 30 days after the appointment of an electoral district agent, the registered association shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a written report, certified by its financial agent, that includes the name and address of the person appointed and any terms and conditions to which the appointment is subject. The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter that information in the registry of electoral district associations.
A registered association may, subject to any terms and conditions that it specifies, appoint, as electoral district agents, persons who are authorized by the association to accept contributions and to incur and pay expenses on behalf of the association.
A person may be appointed as agent for a registered association notwithstanding that the person is a member of a partnership that has been appointed as an auditor, in accordance with this Act for the registered party.
a person who does not have the capacity to enter into contracts in the province in which the person ordinarily resides.
an undischarged bankrupt; and
subject to subsection (1), a person who is not an elector;
an auditor appointed as required by this Act;
a candidate;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
The following persons are not eligible to be a financial agent or an electoral district agent:
A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province is eligible to be the financial agent or an electoral district agent of a registered association.
financial agents of registered third parties.
nomination contestants and their financial agents; and
leadership contestants and their leadership campaign agents;
electoral district agents of registered associations;
candidates and official agents of candidates;
chief agents of registered parties or eligible parties and registered agents of registered parties;
election officers and members of the staff of returning officers;
The following persons are not eligible to be an auditor for a registered association:
a partnership of which every partner is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants.
a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants; or
Only the following are eligible to be an auditor for a registered association:
No person who is not eligible to be an auditor of a registered association shall so act.
No person who is not eligible to be a financial agent or an electoral district agent of a registered association shall so act.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter any change in the information referred to in this section in the registry of electoral district associations.
A report under subsection (1) that involves the replacement of the auditor or financial agent of the registered association must include a copy of the signed consent obtained under section 403.12.
Within 30 days after a change in the information referred to in subsection 403.02(1) other than paragraph 403.02(1)(b), a registered association shall report the change in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer. The report must be certified by the chief executive officer of the association.
if there is a change in that information, the report made under subsection 403.16(1) of the change.
a statement certified by its chief executive officer confirming the validity of the information concerning that association in the registry of electoral district associations; or
a report that is required to be filed under subsection 478.02(1).
any of the documents referred to in section 403.05; or
a report under subsection 403.16(1) of a change in any other registered information;
a report under subsection 403.09(2) concerning the appointment of an electoral district agent;
any of the documents referred to in subsection 403.16(1) or (2) with respect to a replacement of its auditor or financial agent;
confirmation under section 403.17 of the validity of the registered information;
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply during an election period in the electoral district of the registered association.
On application by a registered party, signed by its leader and two of its officers, to deregister one of its registered associations, the Chief Electoral Officer shall deregister the association.
On application by a registered association to become deregistered, signed by its chief executive officer and the financial agent, the Chief Electoral Officer may deregister the association.
The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered association if the association or its financial agent fails to comply with a notice referred to in subsection (1) or with an amended notice under subsection (2).
A copy of any notice or amendment under subsection (1) or (2) shall be sent to the leader and the chief agent of the registered party with which the registered association is affiliated.
specifying a period for compliance with the obligations referred to in paragraph (1)(a).
exempting, in whole or in part, the recipients of the notice from complying with the obligations referred to in section 403.18 or 403.19; or
If paragraph (1)(b) applies, the Chief Electoral Officer may amend the notice by
satisfy the Chief Electoral Officer that the omission was not the result of negligence or a lack of good faith.
rectify the omission by the discharge of those obligations within 30 days after receipt of the notice; or
If the Chief Electoral Officer believes on reasonable grounds that a registered association or its financial agent has omitted to perform any obligation referred to in section 403.18 or 403.19, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in writing, notify the chief executive officer and the financial agent of the association that the association or financial agent must
The applicant in an application referred to in subsection (4) is deemed to be an electoral district association as of the date on which the application is received by the Chief Electoral Officer.
As soon as a proclamation is issued under section 25 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act relating to a representation order, an application may be made under section 403.02 for the registration of an electoral district association for an electoral district that is created by — or whose boundaries are revised as a result of — the order. Any resulting registration does not take effect before the order comes into force.
Any registered association in an electoral district whose boundaries are revised as a result of a representation order under section 25 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act that does not give a notice under subsection (1) is deregistered on the day on which the representation order comes into force under subsection 25(1) of that Act and, despite paragraph 403.01(c), may transfer goods or funds to the registered party with which it is affiliated or to any of its registered associations in the six months after that day. Any such transfer is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act.
If a notice has been filed under subsection (1), on the coming into force of the representation order, the registered association is continued as the registered association for the electoral district specified in the notice and assumes all the rights and obligations of the association for the former electoral district.
If the boundaries of an electoral district are revised as a result of a representation order under section 25 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, a registered association for the electoral district may, before the day on which the representation order comes into force under subsection 25(1) of that Act, file with the Chief Electoral Officer a notice that it will be continued as the registered association for a particular electoral district described in the representation order. The notice must be accompanied by a consent signed by the leader of the registered party with which it is affiliated.
The notice under subsection (1) shall specify the effective date of the deregistration, which shall be at least 15 days after the day on which the notice is sent.
If the Chief Electoral Officer deregisters a registered association under section 403.2 or subsection 403.21(4), the Chief Electoral Officer shall so notify in writing by registered mail or by a method of courier service that provides proof of mailing, a record while in transit and a record of delivery, the association and the registered party with which it is affiliated.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall indicate any deregistration of a registered association in the registry of electoral district associations.
If a registered association is deregistered for any reason other than the deregistration of the political party with which it is affiliated, the Chief Electoral Officer shall without delay cause a notice of deregistration to be published in the Canada Gazette.
any earlier fiscal period for which those documents have not already been provided under that subsection.
the portion of its current fiscal period ending on the day of its deregistration; and
No person, other than the financial agent of a registered association, shall accept or make transfers of goods or funds on behalf of the association.
No person, other than an electoral district agent of a registered association shall accept contributions to the registered association.
No person or entity, other than an electoral district agent of a registered association, shall incur the registered association’s expenses.
No person or entity, other than an electoral district agent of a registered association, shall pay the registered association’s expenses.
If a claimant dies before the end of the three-month period, a new three-month period begins, for the purposes of subsection (1), on the day on which the claimant’s legal representative becomes entitled to act for the claimant.
A claimant is barred from recovery of a claim that is sent after the three-month period.
A person with a claim to be paid for an expense of a registered association shall, within three months after the expense was incurred, send the invoice or other document evidencing the claim to the registered association or one of its electoral district agents.
The Chief Electoral Officer may fix any term or condition that he or she considers appropriate on a payment authorized under subsection (1).
the payment was not made in accordance with section 403.3.
the claim was not sent in accordance with subsection 403.29(1); or
On the written application of a claimant with a claim to be paid for an expense of a registered association or of an electoral district agent, the Chief Electoral Officer may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, in writing authorize the electoral district agent of the registered association to pay the amount claimed if
the amount claimed has not been paid in accordance with an authorization obtained from the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 403.31(1) and the applicant establishes that he or she was unable to comply with that authorization for reasons beyond his or her control.
the applicant establishes that an authorization under subsection 403.31(1) has been refused and that the claim was sent after the three-month period referred to in subsection 403.29(1) or the payment has not been made in the six-month period referred to in section 403.3; or
An amount paid by an electoral district agent of a registered association as a result of proceedings referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have been paid in accordance with this Act.
after the end of the period referred to in section 403.3 or any extension of that period authorized by subsection 403.31(1) or section 403.32, in any other case.
at any time, if the electoral district agent refuses to pay that amount or disputes that it is payable; or
A person who has sent a claim in accordance with section 403.29 may commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover any unpaid amount
As soon as practicable after the day referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the list of claims that are deemed under subsection (1) to be contributions.
The financial agent of a registered association who believes that any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) applies to a liability to pay an amount shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer before the day referred to in subsection (1).
has been written off by the creditor as an uncollectable debt in accordance with the creditor’s normal accounting practices.
is the subject of a dispute as to the amount the association was liable to pay or the amount that remains unpaid; or
is the subject of a legal proceeding to secure its payment;
is the subject of a binding agreement to pay;
Subsection (1) does not apply to an unpaid claim that, on the day referred to in that subsection,
An unpaid claim mentioned in a return referred to in subsection 403.35(1) that, on the day that is 18 months after the end of the fiscal period to which the return relates, remains unpaid, in whole or in part, is deemed to be a contribution of the unpaid amount to the registered association made as of the day on which the expense was incurred.
The financial agent of a registered association shall provide the documents referred to in subsection (1) within five months after the end of the fiscal period.
For the purpose of subsection (2), other than paragraph (2)(j), a contribution includes a loan.
a statement of contributions received by the registered association but returned in whole or in part to the contributors or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this Act.
a statement that provides full disclosure of financial loans for the purposes of the campaign, including interest rates, repayment schedules and the name of the lender; and
a statement of loans or security received by the registered association, including any conditions on them;
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred to the registered association from the registered party, another registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant;
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred by the registered association to the registered party, to another registered association or to a candidate endorsed by the registered party;
a statement of the registered association’s revenues and expenses in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
unpaid claims that are, or may be, the subject of an application referred to in subsection 403.31(1) or section 403.32;
disputed claims under section 403.33, and
a statement of the registered association’s assets and liabilities and any surplus or deficit in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including a statement of
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 41]
the name and address of each contributor who made contributions of a total amount of more than $200 to the registered association, that total amount, as well as the amount of each such contribution and the date on which it was received by the association;
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 41]
the number of contributors;
a statement of contributions received by the registered association;
A financial transactions return must set out
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 41]
a declaration in the prescribed form by the financial agent that the financial transactions return is complete and accurate.
the auditor’s report on the financial transactions return, if one is required under subsection 403.37(1); and
a financial transactions return, substantially in the prescribed form, on the association’s financial transactions;
The financial agent of a registered association shall, for each fiscal period of the association, provide to the Chief Electoral Officer
The auditor shall have access at any reasonable time to all documents of the association and may require the financial agent and electoral district agents of the association to provide any information or explanation that, in the auditor’s opinion, may be necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
based on the examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the registered association.
the financial transactions return that is the subject of the report does not present fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based; or
The auditor shall include in the report under subsection (1) any statement the auditor considers necessary if
The auditor of a registered association that has, in a fiscal period, accepted contributions of $5,000 or more in total or incurred expenses of $5,000 or more in total shall report to the association’s financial agent on the financial transactions return of the association and shall, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, make any examination that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether it presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based.
does not substantially set out the information required by subsection 403.35(2).
the financial agent knows or ought reasonably to know contains a materially false or misleading statement; or
On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall pay the amount set out in it to the auditor out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
On receipt of the documents referred to in subsection 403.35(1) and a copy of the auditor’s invoice, the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that sets out the amount, up to a maximum of $1,500, of the expenses incurred for the audit made under subsection 403.37(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may in writing request a registered association to correct, within a specified period, a document referred to in subsection 403.35(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may correct a document referred to in subsection 403.35(1) if the correction does not materially affect its substance.
inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of a clerk or an officer of the financial agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the financial agent or a predecessor;
The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless he or she is satisfied by the evidence submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of
under paragraph (1)(b), as soon as the applicant becomes aware of the need for correction.
under paragraph (1)(a), within the period provided in subsection 403.35(4); and
An application may be made
the correction, within a specified period, of a document referred to in subsection 403.35(1).
the extension of a period provided in subsection 403.35(4); or
The Chief Electoral Officer, on the written application of the financial agent of a registered association or, if the financial agent is absent or incapacitated, the chief executive officer of the association, may authorize
For the purposes of this Act, an extension or correction referred to in subsection (1) is authorized on the date of the order or, if the order specifies that conditions are to be met, the date as of which the applicant has met them.
An order may require that the applicant satisfy any condition that the judge considers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
A judge may not grant an order unless he or she is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of one of the factors referred to in subsection 403.41(3).
the expiration of the extended period or specified period authorized under paragraph 403.41(1)(a) or (b).
the rejection of an application, made in accordance with section 403.41, for the extension or correction, or
under paragraph (1)(b), within two weeks after, as the case may be,
under paragraph (1)(a), within the specified period referred to in subsection 403.4(2) or within the two weeks after the expiration of that period; or
An application may be made
authorizing an extension referred to in paragraph 403.41(1)(a) or correction referred to in paragraph 403.41(1)(b).
relieving the association from complying with a request referred to in subsection 403.4(2); or
The financial agent of a registered association or, if the financial agent is absent or incapacitated, the chief executive officer of the association, may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 43]
A provincial division of a registered party may, subject to any terms and conditions that it specifies, appoint registered agents. This Act applies to those agents as if they were registered agents appointed by the party under subsection 375(1).
For greater certainty, contributions to and expenses of a provincial division of a registered party are contributions to and expenses of the party. Similarly, transfers to or by the division are transfers to or by the party.
If a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant receives a contribution from an ineligible contributor, the chief agent of the registered party, the financial agent of the registered association, the official agent of the candidate or the financial agent of the leadership contestant or nomination contestant, as the case may be, shall, within 30 days after becoming aware of the ineligibility, return the contribution unused to the contributor or, if that is not possible, pay the amount of it or, in the case of a non-monetary contribution, an amount of money equal to its commercial value, to the Chief Electoral Officer who shall forward that amount to the Receiver General.
No person or entity other than an individual who is a citizen or permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act shall make a contribution to a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant.
For greater certainty, the payment by or on behalf of an individual of fees to attend an annual, biennial or leadership convention of a particular registered party is a contribution to that party.
The payment by an individual during a year of fees of not more than $25 per year in relation to a period of not more than 5 years for membership in a registered party is not a contribution.
The provision, by an employer, of a paid leave of absence during an election period to an employee for the purpose of allowing the employee to be a nomination contestant or candidate is not a contribution.
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 44]
from a registered party to a leadership contestant with funds from a directed contribution referred to in subsection 404.3(3).
from a nomination contestant of a registered party to the party, the registered association of the party that held the nomination contest or the official agent of the candidate endorsed by the party in the electoral district in which the nomination contest was held; or
from a leadership contestant of a registered party to the party or a registered association of the party;
A transfer of funds is permitted and is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act if it is
from a candidate to himself or herself in his or her capacity as a nomination contestant in respect of the same election.
from a candidate endorsed by a registered party to the party or a registered association of the party; or
from a registered association to the party with which it is affiliated, another registered association of the party or a candidate endorsed by the party;
from a registered party to an electoral district association of the party or a candidate endorsed by the party;
A provision of goods or services or a transfer of funds is permitted and is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act if it is
Any money that is used for a candidate’s, leadership contestant’s or nomination contestant’s campaign out of the candidate’s or contestant’s own funds is considered to be a contribution for the purposes of this Act.
The amount of a directed contribution for transfer to a leadership contestant is deemed to be a contribution made by the contributor to the contestant.
Subsection (1) does not apply to an amount transferred out of a directed contribution by the registered party to the leadership contestant mentioned in the request if the party provides, with the amount transferred, a statement in the prescribed form setting out the name and address of the contributor, the amount and date of the contribution, the amount of the directed contribution, the amount that the party is transferring and the date of the transfer.
In this section, directed contribution means an amount, being all or part of a contribution made to a registered party, that the contributor requests in writing be transferred to a particular leadership contestant.
No registered party and no electoral district association of a registered party shall provide goods or services or transfer funds to a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant, unless the goods or services are offered equally to all contestants.
the total amount of anonymous contributions accepted.
the approximate number of people at the function; and
the date of the function;
a description of the function at which the contributions were collected;
If anonymous contributions of $20 or less per person are collected in response to a general solicitation at a meeting or fundraising event related to the affairs of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant, the person authorized to accept those contributions must record the following:
Any person who is authorized to accept contributions on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant shall issue a receipt — of which he or she shall keep a copy — for each contribution of more than $20 that he or she accepts.
$1,000 in total to the leadership contestants in a particular leadership contest.
$1,000 in total to a candidate for a particular election who is not the candidate of a registered party; and
$1,000 in total in any calendar year to the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of a particular registered party;
$1,000 in total in any calendar year to a particular registered party;
No individual shall, in respect of each contribution made under this Part, contribute cash in an amount that exceeds $20.
If a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant receives a contribution made in contravention of subsection 405(1) or 405.2(4) or section 405.3 or 405.31, the chief agent of the registered party, the financial agent of the registered association, the official agent of the candidate or the financial agent of the leadership contestant or nomination contestant, as the case may be, shall, within 30 days after becoming aware of the contravention, return the contribution unused to the contributor, or, if that is not possible, pay the amount of it or, in the case of a non-monetary contribution, an amount of money equal to its commercial value, to the Chief Electoral Officer who shall forward that amount to the Receiver General.
No individual shall make a contribution to a registered party, a registered association, a candidate or a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant that comes from money, property or the services of any person or entity that was provided to that individual for that purpose.
For the purposes of this Act, contributions made to a leadership contestant within 18 months after a leadership contest are deemed to be contributions for that contest.
The following contributions shall not be taken into account in calculating contributions for the purposes of subsection (1):
For the purposes of subsection (1), a contribution to a person who presents himself or herself as seeking the endorsement of a particular registered party shall be treated as a contribution referred to in paragraph (1)(a.1) to a candidate of that party and a contribution to a person who presents himself or herself as seeking to be a candidate not endorsed by any registered party shall be treated as a contribution referred to in paragraph (1)(b).
Subsection (1) does not apply to contributions that are made by way of an unconditional, non-discretionary testamentary disposition.
No individual shall make contributions that exceed
contributions that do not exceed $1,000 in total by a leadership contestant in a particular leadership contest out of his or her own funds to his or her own campaign.
contributions that do not exceed $1,000 in total by a candidate for a particular election who is not the candidate of a registered party out of his or her own funds to his or her own campaign; and
contributions that do not exceed $1,000 in total by a nomination contestant or candidate of a registered party out of his or her own funds to his or her own campaign as a nomination contestant or candidate;
Before each April 1, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette the amounts applicable from that date.
in the case referred to in paragraph 405(1)(c), with respect to a leadership contest that begins during that year.
in the case referred to in paragraph 405(1)(b), with respect to an election whose writ is issued during that year; and
in the cases referred to in paragraphs 405(1)(a) and (a.1), during the calendar year that commences in that year;
The amounts set out in subsection 405(1) shall be multiplied by the inflation adjustment factor referred to in subsection (1) for any given year and the resulting amounts apply
a denominator that is 119.0, which is the annual average Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act, for 2002, calculated on the basis of 1992 being equal to 100.
a numerator that is the annual average Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act, for the calendar year immediately before that date, calculated on the basis of 1992 being equal to 100; and
The inflation adjustment factor applicable to the limits established under subsection 405(1), in effect for a period of one year beginning on each April 1, is a fraction with
No person or entity shall enter into an agreement for the provision for payment of goods or services to a registered party or a candidate that includes a term that any individual will make a contribution, directly or indirectly, to a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant.
No person who is permitted to accept contributions under this Act shall knowingly accept a contribution that exceeds a limit under this Act.
act in collusion with another person or entity for that purpose.
conceal, or attempt to conceal, the identity of the source of a contribution governed by this Act; or
No person or entity shall
act in collusion with another person or entity for that purpose.
circumvent, or attempt to circumvent, the prohibition under subsection 404(1) or a limit set out in subsection 405(1) or section 405.31; or
No person or entity shall
No person or entity shall collude with a person or entity for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition in subsection (1).
No person or entity shall solicit or accept a contribution on behalf of a registered party, registered association or candidate if the person or entity made a representation to the contributor or potential contributor that part or all of the contribution would be transferred to a person or entity, other than the registered party or a candidate, leadership contestant or electoral district association.
any fees of the candidate’s auditor, and any costs incurred for a recount of votes cast in the candidate’s electoral district, that have not been reimbursed by the Receiver General.
a personal expense; and
an election expense;
In subsection (1), cost incurred means an expense that is incurred by a registered party or a candidate, whether it is paid or unpaid.
An election expense referred to in subsection (1) includes a cost incurred for, or a non-monetary contribution in relation to,
Expenses for a fund-raising activity and expenses to directly promote the nomination of a person as a candidate or as leader of a registered party, other than expenses referred to in paragraph (3)(a) that are related to such fund-raising and promotional activities, are not election expenses under subsection (1).
An election expense includes any cost incurred, or non-monetary contribution received, by a registered party or a candidate, to the extent that the property or service for which the cost was incurred, or the non-monetary contribution received, is used to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader or a candidate during an election period.
the conduct of election surveys or other surveys or research during an election period.
any product or service provided by a government, a Crown corporation or any other public agency; and
securing a meeting space or the supply of light refreshments at meetings;
the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of a person for their services as an official agent, registered agent or in any other capacity;
the production of advertising or promotional material and its distribution, broadcast or publication in any media or by any other means;
Any expenses of a candidate that are incurred to remunerate the candidate’s representatives referred to in subsection 136(1) are deemed to be personal expenses of the candidate.
The Chief Electoral Officer may establish categories of personal expenses and fix maximum amounts that may be incurred for expenses in each category.
in the case of a candidate who has a disability, additional personal expenses that are related to the disability.
expenses relating to the provision of care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for whom the candidate normally provides such care; and
childcare expenses;
travel and living expenses;
Personal expenses of a candidate are his or her electoral campaign expenses, other than election expenses, that are reasonably incurred in relation to his or her campaign and include
Where an expense of less than $50 was incurred and paid as described in subsection (1), the person who made the payment must keep a record of the nature of the expense together with proof that it was paid.
Where an expense of $50 or more was incurred under this Act by or on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant and paid by an agent or other person authorized under this Act to pay such an expense, the agent or other person must keep a copy of the invoice prepared by the person who provided the good or service to which the expense relates together with proof that it was paid.
No person who is authorized to pay petty expenses shall, in total, pay more than the maximum amount of petty expenses that the person is authorized to pay.
in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a nomination contestant, the day on which it is incurred.
in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a leadership contestant, the day on which it is incurred; and
in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a registered association, the day on which it is incurred;
in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a candidate, polling day;
in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a registered party, the day on which it is incurred;
A person who is authorized to pay a petty expense shall provide the registered agent or official agent who authorized it with the documentation referred to in section 410 within three months after
The written authorization referred to in subsection (1) must specify a maximum amount for the total of petty expenses that the person is authorized to pay.
the financial agent of a nomination contestant, as a nomination campaign expense.
a leadership campaign agent of a leadership contestant, as a leadership campaign expense; or
an electoral district agent of a registered association, as an expense incurred by the association;
the official agent of a candidate, as an expense incurred for the candidate’s electoral campaign;
a registered agent of a registered party, as an expense incurred by the registered party;
A person may pay a petty expense incurred for office supplies, postage, courier services and other incidental expenses under the written authorization of
in the case of an updated return, as soon as practicable after he or she receives it.
in the case of an original return, within one year after the issue of a writ for an election; and
As soon as practicable after receiving a return on financial transactions under subparagraph 392(a)(i) from a deregistered political party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish it in the manner that he or she considers appropriate.
As soon as practicable after receiving an electoral campaign return for each candidate in an electoral district, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a summary report or updated version of one which shall include the maximum election expenses allowed for the electoral district and, for each candidate,
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as practicable after receiving them, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the original election expenses returns of registered parties and electoral campaign returns of candidates and any updated versions of those returns
the nomination campaign returns of nomination contestants and any updated versions of them.
the leadership campaign returns of leadership contestants and the returns in respect of contributions of leadership contestants required under subsection 435.31(1) or (2), any updated versions of them and any statements containing information with respect to contributions referred to in paragraph 435.06(2)(d); and
the returns on financial transactions of registered parties and registered associations, and any updated versions of them;
if it applies, an indication that the auditor’s report on a return was qualified.
the name of the auditor; and
the name of the official agent;
the number of contributors and the total amount of contributions received;
the total personal expenses;
the total election expenses;
A returning officer who receives documents under subsection (1) shall retain them for three years after the six-month period mentioned in subsection (2) or any shorter period that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.
A returning officer who receives documents under subsection (1) shall, on request, make them available for six months during reasonable times for public inspection. Copies may be obtained for a fee of up to $0.25 per page.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as practicable after receiving the documents referred to in subsection 451(1) for an electoral district, deliver a copy of them to the returning officer for the electoral district.
a denominator that is 108.6, which is the annual average Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act, for 1998, calculated on the basis of 1992 being equal to 100.
a numerator that is the annual average Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act, for the calendar year immediately before that date, calculated on the basis of 1992 being equal to 100; and
No person or entity, other than a registered agent of a registered party, shall accept contributions to the registered party.
No person or entity, other than the chief agent of a registered party or one of its registered agents, shall incur the registered party’s expenses.
No person or entity, other than the chief agent of a registered party or one of its registered agents or a person authorized under subsection 411(1), shall pay the registered party’s expenses.
If a claimant dies before the end of the three-month period, a new three-month period begins, for the purposes of subsection (1), on the day on which the claimant’s legal representative becomes entitled to act for the claimant.
A claimant is barred from recovery of a claim that is sent after the three-month period.
A person with a claim to be paid for an expense of a registered party shall, within three months after the expense was incurred, send the invoice or other document evidencing the claim to the registered party or one of its registered agents.
The Chief Electoral Officer may fix any term or condition that he or she considers appropriate on a payment authorized under subsection (1).
the payment was not made in accordance with section 418.
the claim was not sent in accordance with subsection 417(1); or
On the written application of a claimant with a claim to be paid for an expense of a registered party or registered agent, the Chief Electoral Officer may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, in writing authorize the registered agent of the registered party to pay the amount claimed if
the amount claimed has not been paid in accordance with an authorization obtained from the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 419(1) and the applicant establishes that he or she was unable to comply with that authorization for reasons beyond his or her control.
the applicant establishes that an authorization under subsection 419(1) has been refused and that the claim was sent after the three-month period mentioned in subsection 417(1) or the payment has not been made in the six-month period mentioned in section 418; or
after the end of the period mentioned in section 418 or any extension of that period authorized by subsection 419(1) or section 420, in any other case.
at any time, if the registered agent refuses to pay that amount or disputes that it is payable; or
An amount paid by a registered agent of a registered party as a result of proceedings referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have been paid in accordance with this Act.
A person who has sent a claim in accordance with section 417 may commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover any unpaid amount
the inflation adjustment factor published by the Chief Electoral Officer under section 414 that is in effect on the date of the issue of the writs for the election.
$0.70 multiplied by the number of names on the preliminary lists of electors for electoral districts in which the registered party has endorsed a candidate or by the number of names on the revised lists of electors for those electoral districts, whichever is greater, and
For the purpose of subsection (1), an election expense of a registered party does not include
The maximum amount that is allowed for election expenses of a registered party for an election is the product of
an expense incurred by it through a registered agent or person authorized under subsection 411(1) who was not acting within the scope of the registered agent’s authority.
a transfer made by or on behalf of it to candidates in the election; or
No registered party and no third party, within the meaning of section 349, shall collude with each other for the purpose of circumventing the maximum amount referred to in subsection (1).
No chief agent of a registered party shall incur election expenses on its behalf the total amount of which is more than the maximum amount calculated under section 422.
As soon as practicable after the day referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the list of claims that are deemed under subsection (1) to be contributions.
The chief agent of a registered party who believes that any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) applies to a liability to pay an amount shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer before the day referred to in subsection (1).
has been written off by the creditor as an uncollectable debt in accordance with the creditor’s normal accounting practices.
is the subject of a dispute as to the amount the party was liable to pay or the amount that remains unpaid; or
is the subject of a legal proceeding to secure its payment;
is the subject of a binding agreement to pay;
Subsection (1) does not apply to an unpaid claim that, on the day referred to in that subsection,
An unpaid claim mentioned in the financial transactions return referred to in subsection 424(1) or in an election expenses return referred to in subsection 429(1) that remains unpaid in whole or in part on the day that is 18 months after the end of the fiscal period to which the return relates or in which the polling day fell, as the case may be, is deemed to be a contribution to the registered party of the unpaid amount on the day on which the expense was incurred.
The chief agent of a registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the documents referred to in subsection (1) within six months after the end of the fiscal period.
For the purpose of subsection (2), other than paragraph (2)(k), a contribution includes a loan.
a statement of contributions received by the registered party but returned in whole or in part to the contributors or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this Act.
a statement of loans or security received by the registered party, including any conditions on them; and
non-monetary contributions used by it;
expenses incurred by the registered party, whether paid or unpaid, and
a return for election expenses incurred for each by-election during the fiscal period that sets out
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred to the registered party from any of its registered associations, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant;
a statement of each amount transferred to a leadership contestant out of a directed contribution as defined in subsection 404.3(2), the information referred to in paragraph (c) with respect to the contributor and the name of the leadership contestant to whom the amount has been transferred;
a statement, for each electoral district, of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred by the registered party to a candidate or the electoral district association;
a statement of the registered party’s revenues and expenses in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
unpaid claims that are, or may be, the subject of an application referred to in subsection 419(1) or section 420;
disputed claims under section 421, and
a statement of the registered party’s assets and liabilities and any surplus or deficit in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including a statement of
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 34]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 34]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 34]
the name and address of each contributor who has made a contribution to the party that includes a directed contribution as defined in subsection 404.3(2), the amount of the contribution, the amount of the directed contribution and the date of the receipt of the contribution;
the name and address of each contributor who made contributions of a total amount of more than $200 to the registered party, that total amount, as well as the amount of each such contribution and the date on which it was received by the party;
the total contributions received by the registered party and the number of contributors;
A financial transactions return must set out
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 34]
a declaration in the prescribed form by the chief agent concerning those financial transactions.
the auditor’s report on the financial transactions return made under subsection 426(1); and
a financial transactions return, substantially in the prescribed form, on the registered party’s financial transactions;
For each fiscal period of a registered party, its chief agent shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
A quarterly return shall be provided within 30 days after the end of the period to which it relates.
The chief agent of a registered party that is entitled under subsection 435.01(1) to a quarterly allowance shall, for each quarter of the fiscal period of the party, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a return that includes the information required under paragraphs 424(2)(a) to (c), (h.2) and (k).
The auditor for a registered party shall have access at any reasonable time to all documents of the party, and may require the registered agents and officers of the party to provide any information or explanation that, in the auditor’s opinion, may be necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
An auditor shall include in the report under subsection (1) any statement the auditor considers necessary if
The auditor of a registered party shall report to the party’s chief agent on the financial transactions return of the party and shall make any examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether the return presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which the return is based.
based on the examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the registered party.
the auditor has not received from registered agents and officers of the registered party all of the required information and explanation; or
the financial transactions return that is the subject of the report does not present fairly and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the information contained in the financial records on which it is based;
does not substantially set out the information required by subsection 424(2).
the chief agent knows or ought reasonably to know contains a materially false or misleading statement; or
The chief agent of a registered party shall provide the documents referred to in subsection (1) to the Chief Electoral Officer within six months after the polling day for the general election.
the non-monetary contributions used by the registered party.
the expenses incurred by the registered party, whether paid or unpaid; and
An election expenses return must set out as an election expense each of
a declaration by the chief agent concerning those election expenses, in the prescribed form.
the auditor’s report referred to in subsection 430(1) on that return; and
an election expenses return on the registered party’s general election expenses in the general election that substantially is in the prescribed form;
For a general election, the chief agent of a registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
The auditor for a registered party shall have access at any reasonable time to all documents of the registered party, and may require the registered agents and officers of the party to provide any information or explanation that, in the auditor’s opinion, may be necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
An auditor shall include in the report under subsection (1) any statement the auditor considers necessary if
As soon as practicable after a general election, the auditor of a registered party shall report to its chief agent on its return on general election expenses and shall make any examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether the return presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which the return is based.
based on the examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the registered party.
the auditor has not received from registered agents or officers of the party all the required information and explanation; or
the return that is the subject of the report does not present fairly the information contained in the financial records on which the return is based;
does not substantially set out the information required by subsection 429(2).
the chief agent knows or ought reasonably to know contains a materially false or misleading statement; or
The Chief Electoral Officer may in writing request a registered party to correct, within a specified period, a document referred to in subsection 424(1) or 429(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may correct a document referred to in subsection 424(1) or 429(1) if the correction does not materially affect its substance.
the correction, within a specified period, of a document referred to in subsection 424(1) or 429(1).
the extension of a period provided in subsection 424(4) or 429(3); or
inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of a registered agent of the registered party or of an agent, a clerk or an officer of the chief agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the chief agent or a predecessor;
The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless he or she is satisfied by the evidence submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of
An application may be made
The Chief Electoral Officer, on the written application of the chief agent of a registered party or, if there is no chief agent, its leader, may authorize
under paragraph (1)(b), as soon as the applicant becomes aware of the need for correction.
under paragraph (1)(a), within the period provided in subsection 424(4) or 429(3), as the case may be; and
For the purposes of this Act, an extension or correction referred to in subsection (1) is authorized on the date of the order or, if the order specifies that conditions are to be met, the date as of which the applicant has met them.
An order may require that the applicant satisfy any condition that the judge considers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
A judge may not grant an order unless he or she is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of one of the factors referred to in paragraph 433(3)(a) to (c).
the expiration of the extended period or specified period authorized under paragraph 433(1)(a) or (b).
the rejection of an application, made in accordance with section 433, for the extension or correction, or
under paragraph (1)(b), within two weeks after, as the case may be,
under paragraph (1)(a), within the specified period referred to in subsection 432(2) or within the two weeks after the expiration of that period; or
An application may be made
authorizing an extension referred to in paragraph 433(1)(a) or correction referred to in paragraph 433(1)(b).
relieving the party from complying with a request referred to in subsection 432(2); or
The chief agent of a registered party or, if there is no chief agent, its leader, may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order
5% of the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which the registered party endorsed a candidate.
2% of the number of valid votes cast at the election, or
candidates endorsed by the registered party received at least
the auditor’s report does not include a statement referred to in subsection 430(2); and
the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the registered party and its chief agent have complied with the requirements of sections 429 to 434;
The surplus amount of leadership campaign funds that a leadership contestant receives for a leadership contest is the amount by which the sum of amounts referred to in subsection 404.3(3), contributions accepted by the leadership campaign agents on behalf of the contestant and any other amounts that were received by the contestant for his or her leadership campaign and that are not repayable is more than the sum of the contestant’s leadership campaign expenses paid under this Act and the transfers referred to in paragraph 404.2(3)(a).
No leadership contestant and no financial agent of a leadership contestant shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) or 435.35(1) that
A leadership contestant may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order that relieves the contestant from any liability or consequence under this or any other Act of Parliament in relation to an act or omission of the contestant’s financial agent, if the contestant establishes that
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall, without delay, pay an amount of money equal to the value of a contribution that the contestant received to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward it to the Receiver General, if the name of the contributor of a contribution of more than $20, or the name or the address of the contributor having made contributions of a total amount of more than $200, is not known.
On the application of a person with a claim to be paid for a leadership campaign expense in relation to a leadership contestant or on the application of the contestant’s financial agent or the contestant, as the case may be, a judge who is competent to conduct a recount may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, by order authorize the payment, through the contestant’s financial agent, of the amount claimed if
A contract involving a leadership campaign expense in relation to a leadership contestant is not enforceable against the contestant unless entered into by the contestant personally or by one of the contestant’s leadership campaign agents.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, on becoming aware that a leadership contestant of a registered party has failed to comply with any requirement under this Division, notify the party accordingly.
A leadership contestant who withdraws in accordance with section 435.16 or whose acceptance is withdrawn in accordance with section 435.17 is relieved of the obligation to provide returns under section 435.31 for any period after the withdrawal.
A registered party that withdraws its acceptance of a leadership contestant shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement in writing to that effect signed by the chief agent of the party and indicating the date of the withdrawal. The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter the withdrawal of acceptance in the registry of leadership contestants.
A leadership contestant who withdraws from the leadership contest shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement in writing to that effect signed by the contestant and indicating the date of the withdrawal. The Chief Electoral Officer shall indicate the withdrawal in the registry of leadership contestants.
A leadership contestant shall have no more than one financial agent and one auditor at a time.
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or revocation of the appointment of the financial agent or auditor, a leadership contestant shall without delay appoint a replacement.
A leadership contestant shall obtain from the financial agent or auditor, on appointment, their signed consent to so act.
The following persons are not eligible to be the financial agent or a leadership campaign agent of a leadership contestant:
The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry of leadership contestants that contains the information referred to in subsection 435.06(1).
In this Division, personal expenses of a leadership contestant means his or her expenses that are reasonably incurred in relation to his or her leadership campaign and include
The financial agent of a leadership contestant is responsible for administering the contestant’s financial transactions for his or her leadership campaign and for reporting on those transactions in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall reimburse the amount set out in it to the registered party by paying that amount out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
On receipt from a registered party of the documents referred to in subsection 429(1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that sets out the amount that is 50% of the registered party’s election expenses that were paid by its registered agents as set out in the return for its general election expenses, if
A merged party is entitled to the aggregate of the allowances to which the merging parties of which it is composed would have been entitled had they not merged.
Each such registered party’s allowance for a quarter is that part of the allowance fund for that quarter that corresponds to its percentage of valid votes cast in the election mentioned in subsection (1).
the inflation adjustment factor determined under subsection 405.1(1) that is in effect for that quarter.
$0.4375 multiplied by the number of valid votes cast in the election referred to in subsection (1), and
An allowance fund for a quarter is the product of
5% of the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which the registered party endorsed a candidate.
2% of the number of valid votes cast; or
The Chief Electoral Officer shall determine, for each quarter of a calendar year, an allowance payable to a registered party whose candidates for the most recent general election preceding that quarter received at that election at least
Within 15 days after a change in the information referred to in subsection (4), the chief executive officer of the provincial division shall report the change in writing to the chief agent of the registered party.
a declaration signed by the leader of the party certifying that the division is a division of the party.
the name and address of any registered agent appointed by the division; and
the names and addresses of the chief executive officer and other officers of the division;
the address of the office at which records of that division are maintained and to which communications may be addressed;
the name of the party;
the name of the division and of the province or territory;
In this Act, provincial division means a division of a registered party for a province or territory in relation to which the leader of the party has provided the following to the Chief Electoral Officer:
The Receiver General shall, on receipt of a certificate, pay to the registered party out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund the amount set out in the certificate. The payment may also be made in whole or in part to any provincial division of the party, as authorized in writing by the leader of the party.
If a registered party has not provided all the documents that it is required to provide under sections 424, 424.1 and 429, the Chief Electoral Officer shall postpone providing the certificate for any quarter until the party has provided those documents.
As soon as practicable after the end of each quarter, the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that sets out the amount of the allowance payable to a registered party for that quarter.
in the case of a contestant who has a disability, additional personal expenses that are related to the disability.
expenses relating to the provision of care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for whom the contestant normally provides such care; and
childcare expenses;
travel and living expenses;
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a notice containing the information referred to in subsections (1) and (2).
A registered party that proposes to vary the leadership contest period or to cancel a leadership contest shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement setting out, as the case may be, the amended beginning date or ending date or the fact of its cancellation.
If a registered party proposes to hold a leadership contest, the chief agent of the party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement setting out the dates on which the leadership contest is to begin and end.
For the purposes of this Part, a leadership contestant is deemed to have been a leadership contestant from the time he or she accepts a contribution or incurs a leadership campaign expense.
Every person who accepts contributions for, or incurs leadership campaign expenses in relation to, his or her campaign for the leadership of a registered party shall register as a leadership contestant.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall register a leadership contestant who meets the requirements set out in subsections (1) and (2). In the case of a refusal to register, the Chief Electoral Officer shall indicate which of those requirements have not been met.
a statement containing the information referred to in paragraphs 435.3(2)(d) and (e) with respect to contributions received before the application for registration.
a declaration signed by the chief agent of the registered party holding the leadership contest certifying that the party accepts the applicant as a leadership contestant; and
the signed consent of the auditor to so act;
the signed consent of the financial agent to so act;
The application must be accompanied by the following:
the name and address of the leadership contestant’s appointed auditor.
the name and address of the leadership contestant’s financial agent; and
the address of the place at which the records of the leadership contestant are maintained and to which communications may be addressed;
the name of the leadership contestant;
An application for registration as a leadership contestant must include the following:
Within 30 days after the appointment of a leadership campaign agent, the leadership contestant shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a written report, certified by the contestant’s financial agent, that includes the name and address of the leadership campaign agent and any terms and conditions to which the appointment is subject. The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter that information in the registry of leadership contestants.
A leadership contestant may, subject to any terms and conditions that the contestant specifies, appoint leadership campaign agents authorized to accept contributions and to incur and pay leadership campaign expenses for the contestant.
a person who does not have the capacity to enter into contracts in the province in which the person ordinarily resides.
an undischarged bankrupt; and
a person who is not an elector;
an auditor appointed as required by this Act;
a leadership contestant;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
A person may be appointed as agent for a leadership contestant notwithstanding that the person is a member of a partnership that has been appointed as an auditor, in accordance with the Act for the registered party.
financial agents of registered third parties.
nomination contestants and their financial agents; and
leadership contestants and their leadership campaign agents;
electoral district agents of registered associations;
candidates and official agents of candidates;
chief agents of registered parties or eligible parties and registered agents of registered parties;
election officers and members of the staff of returning officers;
The following persons are not eligible to be an auditor for a leadership contestant:
a partnership of which every partner is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants.
a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants; or
Only the following are eligible to be an auditor for a leadership contestant:
No person who is not eligible to be an auditor of a leadership contestant shall so act.
No person who is not eligible to be the financial agent or a leadership campaign agent of a leadership contestant shall so act.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter any change in the information referred to in this section in the registry of leadership contestants.
A report under subsection (1) that involves the replacement of the auditor or financial agent of the leadership contestant must include a copy of the signed consent obtained under section 435.11.
Within 30 days after a change in the information referred to in subsection 435.06(1), a leadership contestant shall report the change in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer.
The financial agent shall, on closing the account, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the final statement of the account.
if there are unpaid claims at the end of the leadership contest, after those claims have been dealt with in accordance with this Act.
after the subsequent disposal of any surplus leadership campaign funds in accordance with this Act; or
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall close the account after the end of the leadership contest or the withdrawal or death of the contestant and
All financial transactions of the leadership contestant in relation to the contestant’s leadership campaign that involve the payment or receipt of money are to be paid from or deposited to the account.
The account must name the account holder as follows: “(name of financial agent), financial agent”.
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall open, for the sole purpose of the contestant’s leadership campaign, a separate bank account in a Canadian financial institution as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act, or in an authorized foreign bank as defined in that section, that is not subject to the restrictions and requirements referred to in subsection 524(2) of that Act.
No person, other than a leadership contestant or his or her financial agent, shall pay the contestant’s personal expenses.
No person or entity, other than a leadership contestant or one of his or her leadership campaign agents, shall incur leadership campaign expenses of the contestant.
No person or entity, other than a leadership campaign agent of the leadership contestant, shall pay leadership campaign expenses, other than personal expenses, of the contestant.
No leadership campaign agent of a leadership contestant shall accept a transfer of funds from a registered party or registered association, except the transfer by a registered party of an amount out of a directed contribution as defined in subsection 404.3(2).
No person, other than a leadership campaign agent of a leadership contestant, shall accept contributions to the contestant’s leadership campaign.
If a claimant dies before the end of the three-month period, a new three-month period begins, for the purposes of subsection (1), on the day on which the claimant’s legal representative becomes entitled to act for the claimant.
A claimant is barred from recovery of a claim to be paid if the invoice or other document evidencing the claim is sent more than three months after the end of the leadership contest.
the leadership contestant, if there is no financial agent.
the leadership contestant’s financial agent; or
A person who has a claim to be paid for an expense in relation to a leadership campaign shall send the invoice or other document evidencing the claim to
proceedings have been commenced under section 435.28.
a judge has authorized payment under section 435.27; or
the Chief Electoral Officer has authorized payment under section 435.26;
the documents may be sent within a new period under subsection 435.23(3);
The requirement to pay a claim within 18 months does not apply to a claim in respect of which
A claim for leadership campaign expenses that has been sent in accordance with section 435.23 must be paid within 18 months after the end of the leadership contest.
The Chief Electoral Officer may impose any term or condition that he or she considers appropriate on a payment authorized under subsection (1).
the payment was not made in accordance with subsection 435.24(1).
the invoice or other document evidencing the claim was not sent in accordance with section 435.23; or
On the written application of a leadership contestant, of the contestant’s financial agent or of a person with a claim to be paid for a leadership campaign expense in relation to a leadership contestant, the Chief Electoral Officer may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, in writing authorize the payment, through the contestant’s financial agent, of the amount claimed if
the amount claimed has not been paid in accordance with an authorization obtained under subsection 435.26(1) and the applicant establishes their inability to comply with the authorization for reasons beyond their control.
the applicant establishes that an authorization under subsection 435.26(1) has been refused and that the invoice or other document evidencing the claim was not sent in accordance with section 435.23 or the payment has not been made in the four-month period referred to in subsection 435.24(1); or
An amount paid by the financial agent of a leadership contestant as a result of proceedings referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have been paid in accordance with this Act.
after the end of the period referred to in subsection 435.24(1) or any extension of that period authorized by subsection 435.26(1) or section 435.27, in any other case.
at any time, if the leadership contestant or his or her financial agent refuses to pay that amount or disputes that it is payable; and
A person who has sent a claim in accordance with section 435.23 may commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover any unpaid amount
As soon as practicable after the day referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the list of claims that are deemed under subsection (1) to be contributions.
A leadership contestant or a financial agent who believes that any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) applies to a liability to pay an amount shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer before the day referred to in subsection (1).
has been written off by the creditor as an uncollectable debt in accordance with the creditor’s normal accounting practices.
is the subject of a dispute as to the amount the leadership contestant was liable to pay or the amount that remains unpaid; or
is the subject of a legal proceeding to secure its payment;
is the subject of a binding agreement to pay;
Subsection (1) does not apply to an unpaid claim that, on the day referred to in that subsection,
An unpaid claim mentioned in a return referred to in subsection 435.3(1) that, on the day that is 18 months after the end of the leadership contest, remains unpaid, in whole or in part, is deemed to be a contribution of the unpaid amount to the leadership contestant made as of the day on which the expense was incurred.
the financial agent is deemed to have sent the declaration to the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with subsection (1).
he or she is deemed to have sent the declaration in accordance with that subsection; and
If a leadership contestant dies without having sent the declaration within the period referred to in subsection (7)
A leadership contestant shall, within six months after the end of the leadership contest, send to his or her financial agent the declaration referred to in paragraph (1)(d).
The documents referred to in subsection (1) must be provided to the Chief Electoral Officer within six months after the end of the leadership contest.
For the purpose of subsection (2), other than paragraph (2)(h), a contribution includes a loan.
If the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that the documents provided under subsection (3) are not sufficient, the Chief Electoral Officer may require the financial agent to provide by a specified date any additional documents that are necessary to comply with that subsection.
Together with the leadership campaign return, the financial agent of a leadership contestant shall provide to the Chief Electoral Officer documents evidencing expenses set out in the return, including bank statements, deposit slips, cancelled cheques and the contestant’s written statement concerning personal expenses referred to in subsection 435.36(1).
a statement of contributions received but returned to the contributor or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this Act.
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred by the leadership contestant to a registered party or a registered association; and
the name and address of each contributor who made a contribution that includes a directed contribution as defined in subsection 404.3(2) out of which an amount has been transferred by the party to the contestant, the amount of the contribution, the amount of the directed contribution, the amount transferred, as well as the dates of the receipt of the contribution and of the transfer;
the name and address of each contributor who made contributions of a total amount of more than $200 to the leadership contestant, that total amount, as well as the amount of each such contribution and the date on which it was received by the contestant;
disclosure of all financial loans for the purposes of the campaign, including interest rates, repayment schedules and the name of the lender;
the total contributions received by the leadership contestant and the number of contributors;
a statement of unpaid claims that are, or may be, the subject of an application under section 435.26 or 435.27;
a statement of disputed claims that are the subject of proceedings under section 435.28;
a statement of leadership campaign expenses;
The leadership campaign return shall include the following information in respect of the leadership contestant:
a declaration in the prescribed form made by the leadership contestant that the return is complete and accurate.
a declaration, in the prescribed form, made by the financial agent that the return is complete and accurate; and
the auditor’s report on the return, if one is required under subsection 435.33(1);
a leadership campaign return, substantially in the prescribed form, on the financing and leadership campaign expenses for the leadership campaign;
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the following in respect of a leadership campaign:
A return referred to in subsection (1) or (2) shall be provided no later than one week after the end of the period to which it relates.
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall, for each of the three weeks after the end of the period referred to in subsection (1), provide the Chief Electoral Officer with such a return weekly.
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall, for the period beginning on the first day of the leadership contest and ending on the day that is four weeks before the end of the leadership contest, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a return that includes the information required under paragraphs 435.3(2)(d) to (h).
A person referred to in subsection 435.1(2) who is a partner or an associate of an auditor of a leadership contestant or who is an employee of that auditor, or of the firm in which that auditor is a partner or associate, may not participate, other than in the manner referred to in subsection (3), in the preparation of the auditor’s report.
The auditor shall have access at any reasonable time to all documents of the leadership contestant and may require the contestant and his or her financial agent to provide any information or explanation that, in the auditor’s opinion, is necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
based on the examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the financial agent.
the auditor has not received from the leadership contestant or his or her financial agent all the information and explanation that the auditor required; or
the return does not present fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based;
The auditor’s report shall include any statement that the auditor considers necessary if
As soon as practicable after the end of a leadership contest, the auditor of a leadership contestant who has accepted contributions of $5,000 or more in total or incurred leadership campaign expenses of $5,000 or more in total shall report to the contestant’s financial agent on the leadership campaign return and shall, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, make any examination that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether the return presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based.
Subsection (1) does not apply to excuse a leadership contestant’s financial agent from complying with his or her obligations under this Act to prepare the return on the contestant’s leadership campaign expenses and make a declaration concerning it referred to in paragraph 435.3(1)(c).
Despite subsection 435.3(6), a leadership contestant who is outside Canada when the other documents referred to in subsection 435.3(1) are provided shall, within 14 days after returning to Canada, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the leadership contestant’s declaration referred to in paragraph 435.3(1)(d).
The leadership contestant’s financial agent shall provide an updated version of a document referred to in subsection (1) within 30 days after making a payment that is dealt with in the updated version.
If the matters dealt with in the updated versions of the documents have been subject to an audit under section 435.33, an updated version of the auditor’s report need not be provided.
a disputed claim under section 435.28.
an order to pay under section 435.27; or
an authorization to pay under section 435.26;
an extended period of recoverability under subsection 435.23(3) because of the death of a claimant;
After the period referred to in subsection 435.3(6), the leadership contestant’s financial agent shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with an updated version of any document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) that relates to a claim involving
Subsection (1) does not apply to a leadership contestant who dies without having sent the written statement referred to in that subsection before the end of the five-month period referred to in it.
declares that he or she did not pay for any personal expenses.
sets out the amount of any personal expenses that he or she paid and details of those personal expenses, including documentation of their payment; or
A leadership contestant shall, within five months after the end of the leadership contest, send to his or her financial agent a written statement in the prescribed form that
The Chief Electoral Officer may in writing request the leadership contestant or his or her financial agent to correct, within a specified period, a document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) or 435.35(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may correct a document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) or 435.35(1), if the correction does not materially affect its substance.
inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of a clerk or an officer of the financial agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the financial agent or a predecessor;
the illness of the applicant;
The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless he or she is satisfied by the evidence submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of
under paragraph (1)(b), as soon as the applicant becomes aware of the need for correction.
under paragraph (1)(a), within the period provided in subsection 435.3(4) or 435.35(3), as the case may be; and
An application may be made
the correction, within a specified period, of a document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) or updated document referred to in subsection 435.35(1).
the extension of a period provided in subsection 435.3(4) or 435.35(3); or
The Chief Electoral Officer, on the written application of a leadership contestant or his or her financial agent, may authorize
An order under subsection (1) may require that the applicant satisfy any condition that the judge considers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
A judge may not grant an order unless he or she is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of one of the factors referred to in subsection 435.38(3).
the expiration of the extended period or specified period authorized under paragraph 435.38(1)(a) or (b).
the rejection of an application, made in accordance with section 435.38, for the extension or correction, or
under paragraph (1)(b), within two weeks after, as the case may be,
under paragraph (1)(a), within the specified period referred to in subsection 435.37(2) or within the two weeks after the expiration of that period; or
An application may be made
authorizing an extension referred to in paragraph 435.38(1)(a) or correction referred to in paragraph 435.38(1)(b).
relieving the contestant or financial agent from complying with a request referred to in subsection 435.37(2); or
A leadership contestant or his or her financial agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order
be examined concerning any information that pertains to the refusal or failure.
do anything that the judge considers appropriate in order to remedy the refusal or failure; or
The judge shall, unless the financial agent or predecessor on his or her appearance shows cause why an order should not be issued, order in writing that he or she
A judge dealing with an application under section 435.39 or 435.41 who is satisfied that a leadership contestant or a financial agent has not provided the documents referred to in subsection 435.3(1) in accordance with this Act because of a refusal by, or a failure of, the financial agent or a predecessor of the financial agent shall, by order served personally, require the financial agent or that predecessor to appear before the judge.
he or she exercised all due diligence to avoid its occurrence.
it occurred without his or her knowledge or acquiescence; or
For the purposes of this Act, the applicant is relieved from the obligation referred to in subsection (1) on the date of the order.
The judge may not grant the order unless he or she is satisfied that the applicant cannot provide the documents because of their destruction by a superior force, including a flood, fire or other disaster.
A leadership contestant or his or her financial agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order relieving the financial agent from the obligation to provide a document referred to in subsection 435.3(1) or 435.35(1). The contestant or financial agent shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
does not substantially set out the information required by subsection 435.3(2) or required to be updated under subsection 435.35(1).
the contestant or the financial agent, as the case may be, knows or ought reasonably to know contains a material statement that is false or misleading; or
The financial agent of a leadership contestant who has a surplus of leadership campaign funds but has not received a notice of estimated surplus under subsection (1) shall dispose of that estimated surplus within 60 days after the provision of the contestant’s leadership campaign return.
If the Chief Electoral Officer estimates that a leadership contestant has a surplus of leadership campaign funds, the Chief Electoral Officer shall issue a notice of the estimated amount of the surplus to the contestant’s financial agent.
Surplus leadership campaign funds must be transferred to the registered party that is holding the leadership contest or a registered association of that party.
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall dispose of a surplus of leadership campaign funds within 60 days after receiving the notice of estimated surplus.
As soon as practicable after the disposal of a leadership contestant’s surplus leadership campaign funds, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a notice referred to in subsection (1).
The financial agent of a leadership contestant shall, within seven days after disposing of the contestant’s surplus leadership campaign funds, notify the Chief Electoral Officer in the prescribed form of the amount and date of the disposal and to whom the surplus was transferred.
The official agent shall, on closing the account, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the final statement of the account.
After the election or the withdrawal or death of the candidate, the official agent of a candidate shall close the account once any unpaid claim or surplus of electoral funds has been dealt with in accordance with this Act.
All financial transactions of the candidate in relation to an electoral campaign that involve the payment or receipt of money are to be paid from or deposited to the account.
The account must name the account holder as follows: “(name of official agent), official agent”.
An official agent of a candidate shall open, for the sole purpose of the candidate’s electoral campaign, a separate bank account in a Canadian financial institution as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act, or in an authorized foreign bank as defined in that section, that is not subject to the restrictions and requirements referred to in subsection 524(2) of that Act.
Subsection (4) or (5), as the case may be, does not apply to a registered agent of a registered party who pays or incurs expenses in relation to the electoral campaign of the leader of the registered party.
No person, other than a candidate or his or her official agent, shall pay the candidate’s personal expenses.
No person or entity, other than a candidate, his or her official agent or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c) to enter into contracts, shall incur expenses in relation to the candidate’s electoral campaign.
No person or entity, other than the official agent of a candidate, shall pay expenses in relation to the candidate’s electoral campaign except for petty expenses referred to in section 411 and the candidate’s personal expenses.
No person, other than an official agent of a candidate, shall provide official receipts to contributors of monetary contributions to a candidate for the purpose of subsection 127(3) of the Income Tax Act.
No person, other than an official agent of a candidate, shall accept contributions to the candidate’s electoral campaign.
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 42]
No candidate, official agent of a candidate or person who is authorized under paragraph 446(c) to enter into contracts shall incur or cause to be incurred expenses on account of notices referred to in subsection (1) that are in excess of the amount determined under that subsection.
that the Chief Electoral Officer determines, in any other case.
that were allowed for a candidate in that electoral district during the immediately preceding general election, if the boundaries for the electoral district have not changed since then; or
The amount that may be spent on providing notice of meetings that are to be held during an election period for the principal purpose of nominating a candidate for an election in an electoral district cannot be more than 1% of the maximum election expenses
the amount calculated, on the basis of the revised lists of electors for the electoral district, in accordance with subsections (7) to (10).
the amount calculated, on the basis of the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district, in accordance with subsections (3) to (6), and
If the number of electors per square kilometre, calculated on the basis of the revised lists of electors for the electoral district, is less than 10, the amount calculated under subsection (7) is increased by the lesser of $0.31 per square kilometre and 25% of that amount.
In the case of a by-election, if the number of electors on the revised lists of electors for the electoral district is less than the average number of electors on all revised lists of electors in the immediately preceding general election, then, in making a calculation under subsection (7), the number of electors is deemed to be half-way between the number on the revised lists of electors for the electoral district and that average number.
If the number of electors on the revised lists of electors for the electoral district is less than the average number of electors on all revised lists of electors in a general election, then, in making a calculation under subsection (7), the number of electors is deemed to be half-way between the number on the revised lists of electors for the electoral district and that average number.
$0.52 for each of the remaining electors.
$1.04 for each of the next 10,000 electors; and
$2.07 for each of the first 15,000 electors;
The amount referred to in paragraph (1)(b) is the aggregate of the following amounts, based on the number of the electors on the revised lists of electors:
If the number of electors per square kilometre, calculated on the basis of the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district, is less than 10, the amount calculated under subsection (3) is increased by the lesser of $0.31 per square kilometre and 25% of that amount.
In the case of a by-election, if the number of electors on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district is less than the average number of electors on all revised lists of electors in the immediately preceding general election, then, in making a calculation under subsection (3), the number of electors is deemed to be half-way between the number on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district and that average number.
If the number of electors on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district is less than the average number of electors on all preliminary lists of electors in a general election, then, in making a calculation under subsection (3), the number of electors is deemed to be half-way between the number on the preliminary lists of electors for the electoral district and that average number.
$0.52 for each of the remaining electors.
$1.04 for each of the next 10,000 electors; and
$2.07 for each of the first 15,000 electors;
The amount referred to in paragraph (1)(a) is the aggregate of the following amounts, based on the number of the electors on the preliminary lists of electors:
If a candidate for an electoral district whose nomination was endorsed by a registered party dies in the period beginning at 2:00 p.m. on the 5th day before the closing day for nominations and ending on polling day, the base amount for that electoral district is increased by 50%.
The base amount of a candidate’s election expenses in an electoral district is the higher of
The maximum amount calculated under subsection (1) is an estimate and, as such, may be increased or decreased for an electoral district in the subsequent election period.
The maximum amount for an electoral district must be sent
On October 15 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall calculate the maximum amount referred to in section 440 for each electoral district, based on the lists of electors in the Register of Electors, as if an election were then to be held.
to the member and each registered party that endorsed a candidate in the electoral district in the last election, together with the copy of the lists of electors referred to in subsection 45(1).
to any person on request; and
No candidate, official agent of the candidate, person authorized under paragraph 446(c) to enter into contracts or third party, within the meaning given that expression by section 349, shall collude with each other for the purpose of circumventing the election expenses limit calculated under section 440.
No candidate, official agent of a candidate or person authorized under paragraph 446(c) to enter into contracts shall incur election expenses in an amount that is more than the election expenses limit calculated under section 440.
the candidate, if there is no official agent.
the candidate’s official agent; or
If a claimant dies before the end of the three-month period, a new three-month period begins, for the purposes of subsection (1), on the day on which the claimant’s legal representative becomes entitled to act for the claimant.
A claimant is barred from recovery of a claim to be paid if the invoice or other document evidencing the claim is sent more than three months after
A person who has a claim to be paid for an expense in relation to an electoral campaign shall send the invoice or other document evidencing the claim to
the publication of a notice of the withdrawal or deemed withdrawal of the writ for the election in the Canada Gazette, in any other case.
the day set for polling day; or
the publication in the Canada Gazette of a notice of the withdrawal or deemed withdrawal of the writ for the election.
the day set for polling day; or
The requirement to pay a claim within four months does not apply to a claim in respect of which
A claim for electoral campaign expenses that has been sent in accordance with section 444 must be paid within four months after
proceedings have been commenced under section 449.
a judge has authorized payment under section 448; or
the Chief Electoral Officer has authorized payment under section 447;
the documents may be sent within a new period under subsection 444(3);
a person whom the official agent may, in writing, have authorized to enter into the contract.
the candidate’s official agent; or
the candidate personally;
The Chief Electoral Officer may impose any term or condition that he or she considers appropriate on a payment authorized under subsection (1).
the payment was not made in accordance with subsection 445(1).
the invoice or other document evidencing the claim was not sent in accordance with section 444; or
On the written application of a person with a claim to be paid for a candidate’s electoral campaign expense or of the candidate’s official agent or the candidate in relation to such a claim, the Chief Electoral Officer may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, in writing authorize the payment, through the candidate’s official agent, of the amount claimed if
the amount claimed has not been paid in accordance with an authorization obtained under subsection 447(1) and the applicant establishes their inability to comply with the authorization for reasons beyond their control.
the applicant establishes that an authorization under subsection 447(1) has been refused and that the invoice or other document evidencing the claim was not sent in accordance with section 444 or the payment has not been paid in the four-month period mentioned in subsection 445(1); or
An amount paid by an official agent of a candidate as a result of proceedings referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have been paid in accordance with this Act.
after the end of the period mentioned in subsection 445(1) or any extension of that period authorized by subsection 447(1) or section 448, in any other case.
at any time, if the candidate or his or her official agent refuses to pay that amount or disputes that it is payable;
A person who has sent a claim in accordance with section 444 may commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover any unpaid amount
As soon as practicable after the day referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the list of claims that are deemed under subsection (1) to be contributions.
A candidate or an official agent who believes that any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) applies to a liability to pay an amount shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer before the day referred to in subsection (1).
Subsection (1) does not apply to an unpaid claim that, on the day referred to in that subsection,
An unpaid claim mentioned in a return referred to in subsection 451(1) that, on the day that is 18 months after polling day for the election to which the return relates, remains unpaid, in whole or in part, is deemed to be a contribution of the unpaid amount to the candidate made as of the day on which the expense was incurred.
has been written off by the creditor as an uncollectable debt in accordance with the creditor’s normal accounting practices.
is the subject of a dispute as to the amount the candidate was liable to pay or the amount that remains unpaid; or
is the subject of a legal proceeding to secure its payment;
is the subject of a binding agreement to pay;
the Chief Electoral Officer is deemed to have received the declaration for the purposes of sections 464, 466 and 467.
the official agent is deemed to have sent the declaration to the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with subsection (1); and
he or she is deemed to have sent the declaration in accordance with that subsection;
If a candidate dies without having sent the declaration within the period referred to in subsection (5)
A candidate shall, within four months after polling day, send to his or her official agent the declaration referred to in paragraph (1)(e).
the publication of a notice of the withdrawal or deemed withdrawal of the writ for the election, in any other case.
the day set for polling day; or
The documents referred to in subsection (1) must be provided to the Chief Electoral Officer within four months after
For the purpose of subsection (2), other than paragraph (2)(k), a contribution includes a loan.
If the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that the documents provided under subsection (2.1) are not sufficient, the Chief Electoral Officer may require the official agent to provide by a specified date any additional documents that are necessary to comply with that subsection.
Together with the electoral campaign return, the official agent of a candidate shall provide to the Chief Electoral Officer documents evidencing expenses set out in the return, including bank statements, deposit slips, cancelled cheques and the candidate’s written statement concerning personal expenses referred to in subsection 456(1).
a statement of contributions received but returned to the contributor or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this Act.
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred to the candidate from a registered party, a registered association or a nomination contestant; and
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred by the candidate to a registered party, to a registered association or to himself or herself in his or her capacity as a nomination contestant;
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 52]
the name and address of each contributor who made contributions of a total amount of more than $200 to the candidate, that total amount, as well as the amount of each such contribution and the date on which it was received by the candidate;
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 52]
the number of contributors;
a statement of contributions received;
a statement of unpaid claims that are, or may be, the subject of an application under section 447 or 448;
a statement of disputed claims that are the subject of proceedings under section 449;
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 44]
a statement of electoral campaign expenses, other than election expenses;
a statement of election expenses;
The electoral campaign return shall include the following in respect of the candidate:
a declaration in the prescribed form made by the candidate concerning the return.
a declaration, in the prescribed form, made by the official agent concerning the return; and
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 44]
the auditor’s report under section 453 on the return;
an electoral campaign return, substantially in the prescribed form, on the financing and expenses for the candidate’s electoral campaign;
The official agent of a candidate shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the following in respect of an election:
A person referred to in subsection 85(2) who is a partner or an associate of an auditor of a candidate or who is an employee of that auditor, or of the firm in which that auditor is a partner or associate, may not participate, other than in the manner referred to in subsection (4), in the preparation of the auditor’s report.
The auditor shall have access at any reasonable time to all documents of the candidate, and may require the candidate and his or her official agent to provide any information or explanation that, in the auditor’s opinion, is necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
based on the examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the official agent.
the auditor has not received from the candidate or his or her official agent all the information and explanation that the auditor required; or
the return does not present fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based;
The auditor’s report shall include any statement that the auditor considers necessary if
The auditor’s report shall include a completed checklist for audits in the prescribed form.
As soon as practicable after an election, the auditor of a candidate shall report to the candidate’s official agent on the electoral campaign return referred to in paragraph 451(1)(a) and shall, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, make any examination that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether the return presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based.
Subsection (1) does not apply to excuse a candidate’s official agent from complying with his or her obligations under this Act to prepare the return on the candidate’s election expenses and make a declaration concerning it referred to in paragraph 451(1)(d).
Despite subsection 451(4), a candidate who is outside Canada when the other documents referred to in subsection 451(1) are provided shall, within 14 days after returning to Canada, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the candidate’s declaration concerning his or her electoral campaign return referred to in paragraph 451(1)(e).
The candidate’s official agent shall provide an updated version of a document referred to in subsection (1) within 30 days after making a payment that is dealt with in the updated version.
If the matters dealt with in the updated versions of the documents have been subject to an audit under section 453, an updated version of the auditor’s report need not be provided.
a disputed claim under section 449.
an order to pay under section 448; or
an authorization to pay under section 447;
an extended period of recoverability under subsection 444(3) because of the death of a claimant;
After the four-month period referred to in subsection 451(4), the candidate’s official agent shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with an updated version of any document referred to in subsection 451(1) that relates to a claim involving
declares that he or she did not pay for any personal expenses.
sets out the amount of any personal expenses that he or she paid and details of those personal expenses, including documentation of their payment; or
Subsection (1) does not apply to a candidate who dies without having sent the written statement referred to in that subsection before the end of the three-month period mentioned in it.
A candidate shall, within three months after polling day, send to his or her official agent a written statement in the prescribed form that
The Chief Electoral Officer may in writing request the candidate or his or her official agent to correct, within a specified period, a document referred to in subsection 451(1) or 455(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may correct a document referred to in subsection 451(1) or 455(1), if the correction does not materially affect its substance.
the correction, within a specified period, of a document referred to in subsection 451(1) or updated document referred to in subsection 455(1).
the extension of a period provided in subsection 451(4) or 455(3); or
inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of an agent, a clerk or an officer of the official agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the official agent or a predecessor;
the illness of the applicant;
The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless he or she is satisfied by the evidence submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of
An application may be made
The Chief Electoral Officer, on the written application of a candidate or his or her official agent, may authorize
under paragraph (1)(b), as soon as the applicant becomes aware of the need for correction.
under paragraph (1)(a), within the period provided in subsection 451(4) or 455(3), as the case may be; and
An order under subsection (1) may require that the applicant satisfy any condition that the judge considers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
A judge may not grant an order unless he or she is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of one of the factors referred to in paragraphs 458(3)(a) to (d).
the expiration of the extended period or specified period authorized under paragraph 458(1)(a) or (b).
the rejection of an application, made in accordance with section 458, for the extension or correction, or
under paragraph (1)(b), within two weeks after, as the case may be,
under paragraph (1)(a), within the specified period referred to in subsection 457(2) or within the two weeks after the expiration of that period; or
An application may be made
authorizing an extension referred to in paragraph 458(1)(a) or correction referred to in paragraph 458(1)(b).
relieving the candidate or official agent from complying with a request referred to in subsection 457(2); or
A candidate or his or her official agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order
be examined concerning any information that pertains to the refusal or failure.
do anything that the judge considers appropriate in order to remedy the refusal or failure; or
The judge shall, unless the official agent or predecessor on his or her appearance shows cause why an order should not be issued, order in writing that he or she
A judge dealing with an application under section 459 or 461 who is satisfied that a candidate or an official agent has not provided the documents referred to in subsection 451(1) in accordance with this Act because of a refusal by, or a failure of, the official agent or a predecessor of the official agent shall, by order served personally, require the official agent or that predecessor to appear before the judge.
he or she exercised all due diligence to avoid its occurrence.
it occurred without his or her knowledge or acquiesence; or
For the purposes of this Act, the applicant is relieved from the obligation referred to in subsection (1) on the date of the order.
The judge may not grant the order unless he or she is satisfied that the applicant cannot provide the documents because of their destruction by an act of God or a superior force, including a flood, fire or other disaster.
A candidate or his or her official agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order relieving the official agent from the obligation to provide a document referred to in subsection 451(1) or 455(1). The candidate or official agent shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
does not substantially set out the information required by subsection 451(2) or required to be updated under subsection 455(1).
the candidate or the official agent, as the case may be, knows or ought reasonably to know contains a material statement that is false or misleading; or
An elected candidate who fails to provide a document as required by section 451 or 455 or fails to make a correction as requested under subsection 457(2) or authorized by 458(1) shall not continue to sit or vote as a member until they are provided or made, as the case may be.
No candidate and no official agent of a candidate shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a document referred to in subsection 451(1) or 455(1) that
the candidate’s election expenses that have been paid by his or her official agent, as set out in the candidate’s electoral campaign return.
the candidate’s personal expenses that have been paid by him or her, and
An official agent of a candidate shall without delay return to the Receiver General any amount received by him or her under subsection (2) that is more than 60% of the total of
On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall pay the amount set out in it out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the official agent of any candidate named in the certificate as partial reimbursement for the candidate’s election expenses and personal expenses. The payment may be made to the person designated by the official agent.
the amount that is 15% of the election expenses limit provided for in section 440.
the name of any candidate who received 10% or more of the number of valid votes cast; and
the name of the elected candidate, if any;
Without delay after receipt of a return of the writ for an electoral district, the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that sets out
On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall pay the amount set out in it out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the official agent of the candidate. The payment may be made to the person designated by the official agent.
60% of the election expenses limit provided for in section 440, less the partial reimbursement made under section 464.
60% of the sum of the candidate’s paid election expenses and paid personal expenses, less the partial reimbursement made under section 464, and
The amount referred to in paragraph (1)(d) is the lesser of
sets out the amount of the final instalment of the candidate’s election expenses and personal expenses reimbursement.
states that the candidate has incurred more than 30% of the election expenses limit provided for in section 440; and
states that the auditor’s report does not include a statement referred to in subsection 453(3);
states that the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the candidate and his or her official agent have complied with the requirements of subsection 447(2) and sections 451 to 462;
On receipt of the documents referred to in subsection 451(1), or an update of them under subsection 455(1), 458(1) or 459(1), from a candidate named in a certificate referred to in subsection 464(1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that
any candidate who has died before the closing of all the polling stations.
each candidate, including one who has withdrawn under subsection 74(1), who the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied has provided the documents under section 451 and returned any unused forms referred to in section 477, in accordance with subsection 478(2); and
Any nomination deposit that is not returned under this section is forfeited to Her Majesty in right of Canada.
If there is no official agent in the case described in paragraph (1)(b), the Chief Electoral Officer may return the nomination deposit to any person that he or she considers appropriate.
On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall pay out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund the amount of each listed candidate’s nomination deposit to his or her official agent. The payment may be made to the person designated by the official agent.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that lists the names of
the Chief Electoral Officer shall set out a percentage of 22.5 in the certificate referred to in subsection 464(1) for the other candidates in that electoral district.
he or she is deemed for the purpose of section 464 to receive 10% of the valid votes cast in the electoral district in which he or she was a candidate; and
the amount by which the candidate’s election expenses and personal expenses, as disclosed in his or her electoral campaign return, exceeds the total value of the contributions that the candidate received.
the amount that is the election expenses limit provided for in section 440, and
on receipt of a certificate referred to in section 464 or 465, the Receiver General shall pay out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the candidate’s official agent — or may alternatively pay to the person designated by the agent — the lesser of
each candidate is deemed to have obtained 10% of the votes that would have been validly cast at that deemed election; and
the election is deemed to have been held on a polling day that is the day of publication of the notice of withdrawal in the Canada Gazette;
Despite subsection (1), a candidate is not entitled to reimbursement for election expenses or personal expenses if
This Part applies, with the following modifications, to electoral campaign expenses of candidates in an electoral district in which a writ is withdrawn under section 59 or deemed to be withdrawn under section 551:
the election expenses, as disclosed in the candidate’s electoral campaign return, are not more than the value of contributions that the candidate received.
the writ is withdrawn or deemed to be withdrawn before the closing day for nominations; or
any funds transferred by the candidate under paragraph 404.2(2)(d).
any amount of a reimbursement referred to in paragraphs (2)(b) and (c) that the candidate transfers to that registered party; and
any funds that the candidate transfers, during the election, to a registered party or a registered association;
A transfer made by a candidate is a transfer of
The electoral revenues of a candidate include any amount that represents
The surplus amount of electoral funds that a candidate receives for an election is the amount by which the candidate’s electoral revenues referred to in subsection (2) are more than the total of the candidate’s electoral campaign expenses paid by his or her official agent and the transfers referred to in subsection (3).
any other amount that was received by the candidate for his or her electoral campaign and that is not repayable.
the candidate’s nomination deposit for which he or she was reimbursed; and
an election expense or personal expense for which the candidate was reimbursed under this Act;
a monetary contribution made to the candidate;
the provision of the candidate’s electoral campaign return, if the candidate did not receive either of the reimbursements mentioned in paragraph (a).
the later of the reception of the final instalment of the reimbursement of the candidate’s election expenses and personal expenses and the reimbursement of the candidate’s nomination deposit; or
An official agent of a candidate who has a surplus of electoral funds but has not received a notice of estimated surplus under subsection (1) shall dispose of that estimated surplus within 60 days after, as the case may be,
If the Chief Electoral Officer estimates that a candidate has a surplus of electoral funds, the Chief Electoral Officer shall issue a notice of the estimated amount of the surplus to the candidate’s official agent.
in any other case, to the Receiver General.
in the case of a candidate who was endorsed by a registered party, to that party or to the registered association of that party in the candidate’s electoral district; or
Surplus electoral funds must be transferred
An official agent of a candidate shall dispose of a surplus of electoral funds within 60 days after receiving the notice of estimated surplus.
As soon as practicable after the disposal of a candidate’s surplus electoral funds, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a notice referred to in subsection (1).
An official agent of a candidate shall, within seven days after disposing of a candidate’s surplus electoral funds, notify the Chief Electoral Officer in the prescribed form of the amount and date of the disposal and to whom the surplus was transferred.
On receipt of a request for payment from the Chief Electoral Officer in relation to an application, the Receiver General shall pay the amount specified in the application to the official agent out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
An official agent who has disposed of a candidate’s surplus electoral funds under paragraph 473(2)(b) and must subsequently pay an electoral campaign expense of the candidate may apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for repayment in an amount that is not more than the lesser of the amount of the subsequent payment and the amount of the surplus electoral funds.
The surplus amount of nomination campaign funds that a nomination contestant receives for a nomination contest is the amount by which the contributions accepted by the financial agent on behalf of the contestant and any other amounts received by the contestant for his or her nomination campaign that are not repayable are more than the contestant’s nomination campaign expenses paid under this Act and any transfers referred to in paragraph 404.2(3)(b).
No nomination contestant and no financial agent of a nomination contestant shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a document referred to in subsection 478.23(1) or 478.3(1) that
A nomination contestant may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order that relieves the contestant from any liability or consequence under this or any other Act of Parliament in relation to an act or omission of the contestant’s financial agent, if the contestant establishes that
No person who is not eligible to be an auditor of a nomination contestant shall so act.
A nomination contestant shall have no more than one auditor at a time.
The financial agent of a nomination contestant shall, without delay, pay an amount of money equal to the value of a contribution received by the contestant to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward it to the Receiver General, if the name of the contributor of a contribution of more than $20, or the name or the address of the contributor having made contributions of a total amount of more than $200, is not known.
A contract involving a nomination campaign expense in relation to a nomination contestant is not enforceable against the contestant unless entered into by the contestant personally or by the contestant’s financial agent.
The limit for nomination campaign expenses — other than personal expenses as defined in section 478.01 — that is allowed for a nomination contestant in an electoral district is the amount
The financial agent of a nomination contestant is responsible for administering the contestant’s financial transactions for his or her nomination campaign and for reporting on those transactions in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
No person who is not eligible to be the financial agent of a nomination contestant shall so act.
A nomination contestant shall have no more than one financial agent at a time.
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or revocation of the appointment of the financial agent, a nomination contestant shall without delay appoint a replacement.
A nomination contestant shall obtain from the financial agent, on appointment, their signed consent to so act.
No nomination contestant shall, in relation to his or her nomination campaign, accept contributions or incur nomination campaign expenses unless he or she has appointed a financial agent.
For the purposes of this Part, a nomination contestant is deemed to have been a nomination contestant from the time he or she accepts a contribution or incurs a nomination campaign expense.
On the application of a person with a claim to be paid for a nomination campaign expense in relation to a nomination contestant or on the application of the contestant’s financial agent or the contestant, as the case may be, a judge who is competent to conduct a recount may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, by order authorize the payment, through the contestant’s financial agent, of the amount claimed if
The definitions in this section apply in this Division.
The Chief Electoral Officer may, from among forms that are to be provided under subsection (1), designate those that may only be provided to the official agent of a candidate whose nomination has been confirmed under subsection 71(1).
A candidate and his or her official agent shall return any unused forms referred to in section 477 within a month after polling day.
A returning officer shall provide each candidate in his or her electoral district with a reasonable number of copies of each form requested by the candidate or by his or her official agent.
selection date means the date on which a nomination contest is decided.
in the case of a contestant who has a disability, additional personal expenses that are related to the disability.
expenses relating to the provision of care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for whom the contestant normally provides such care; and
childcare expenses;
travel and living expenses;
personal expenses means the expenses that are reasonably incurred by or on behalf of a nomination contestant in relation to a nomination campaign and include
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a notice containing the information referred to in subsection (1).
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, communicate to each nomination contestant the information related to that contestant that was reported under subsection (1).
the name of the person selected in the nomination contest.
the name and address of each nomination contestant as of the selection date and of his or her financial agent; and
the date on which the nomination contest began and the selection date;
the name of the electoral district, the registered association and the registered party that the nomination contest concerns;
When a nomination contest is held, the registered party, or the registered association if the contest was held by the registered association, shall, within 30 days after the selection date, file with the Chief Electoral Officer a report setting out
A person may be appointed as agent for a nomination contestant notwithstanding that the person is a member of a partnership that has been appointed as an auditor, in accordance with the Act for the registered party.
a person who does not have the capacity to enter into contracts in the province in which the person ordinarily resides.
an undischarged bankrupt; and
a person who is not an elector;
an auditor appointed as required by this Act;
a candidate or a nomination contestant;
an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;
The following persons are not eligible to be the financial agent of a nomination contestant:
A report under subsection (1) that involves the replacement of the financial agent of the nomination contestant must include a copy of the signed consent under section 478.06.
Within 30 days after a change in the information referred to in paragraph 478.02(1)(c), a nomination contestant shall report the change in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer.
The financial agent shall, on closing the account, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the final statement of the account.
After the selection date, the financial agent of a nomination contestant shall close the account once any unpaid claims or surplus nomination campaign funds have been dealt with in accordance with this Act.
All financial transactions of the nomination contestant in relation to the contestant’s nomination campaign that involve the payment or receipt of money are to be paid from or deposited to the account.
The account must name the account holder as follows: “(name of financial agent), financial agent”.
The financial agent of a nomination contestant shall open, for the sole purpose of the contestant’s nomination campaign, a separate bank account in a Canadian financial institution as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act, or in an authorized foreign bank as defined in that section, that is not subject to the restrictions and requirements referred to in subsection 524(2) of that Act.
No person, other than a nomination contestant or his or her financial agent, shall pay the contestant’s personal expenses.
No person or entity, other than a nomination contestant or his or her financial agent, shall incur nomination campaign expenses of the contestant.
No person or entity, other than the financial agent of a nomination contestant, shall pay nomination campaign expenses, other than personal expenses, of the contestant.
No financial agent of a nomination contestant shall accept a transfer from a registered party or registered association.
No person, other than the financial agent of a nomination contestant, shall accept contributions to the contestant’s nomination campaign.
that the Chief Electoral Officer determines, in any other case.
that is 20% of the limit that was allowed under section 440 for a candidate’s election expenses in that electoral district during the immediately preceding general election, if the boundaries for the electoral district have not changed since then; or
act in collusion with another person or entity for that purpose.
circumvent, or attempt to circumvent, the limit referred to in section 478.14; or
No person or entity shall
No nomination contestant or financial agent of a nomination contestant shall incur nomination campaign expenses — other than personal expenses as defined in section 478.01 — in an amount that is more than the limit allowed for that electoral district under section 478.14.
If a claimant dies before the end of the three-month period, a new three-month period begins, for the purposes of subsection (1), on the day on which the claimant’s legal representative becomes entitled to act for the claimant.
A claimant is barred from recovery of a claim to be paid if the invoice or other document evidencing the claim is sent more than three months after the selection date.
the nomination contestant, if there is no financial agent.
the nomination contestant’s financial agent; or
A person who has a claim to be paid for an expense in relation to a nomination campaign shall send the invoice or other document evidencing the claim to
proceedings have been commenced under section 478.21.
a judge has authorized payment under section 478.2; or
the Chief Electoral Officer has authorized payment under section 478.19;
the documents may be sent within a new period under subsection 478.16(3);
The requirement to pay a claim within four months does not apply to a claim in respect of which
A claim for nomination campaign expenses that has been sent in accordance with section 478.16 must be paid within four months after the selection date, or in the case referred to in subsection 478.23(7), the polling day.
The Chief Electoral Officer may impose any term or condition that he or she considers appropriate on a payment authorized under subsection (1).
the payment was not made in accordance with subsection 478.17(1).
the invoice or other document evidencing the claim was not sent in accordance with section 478.16; or
On the written application of a person with a claim to be paid for a nomination campaign expense in relation to a nomination contestant or of the contestant’s financial agent or the contestant in relation to such a claim, the Chief Electoral Officer may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, in writing authorize the payment, through the contestant’s financial agent, of the amount claimed if
the amount claimed has not been paid in accordance with an authorization obtained under subsection 478.19(1) and the applicant establishes their inability to comply with the authorization for reasons beyond their control.
the applicant establishes that an authorization under subsection 478.19(1) has been refused and that the invoice or other document evidencing the claim was not sent in accordance with section 478.16 or the payment has not been made in the four-month period referred to in subsection 478.17(1); or
An amount paid by the financial agent of a nomination contestant as a result of proceedings referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have been paid in accordance with this Act.
after the end of the period referred to in subsection 478.17(1) or any extension of that period authorized by subsection 478.19(1) or section 478.2, in any other case.
at any time, if the nomination contestant or his or her financial agent refuses to pay that amount or disputes that it is payable; or
A person who has sent a claim in accordance with section 478.16 may commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover any unpaid amount
As soon as practicable after the day referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the list of claims that are deemed under subsection (1) to be contributions.
A nomination contestant or a financial agent who believes that any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) applies to a liability to pay an amount shall so notify the Chief Electoral Officer before the day referred to in subsection (1).
has been written off by the creditor as an uncollectable debt in accordance with the creditor’s normal accounting practices.
is the subject of a dispute as to the amount the nomination contestant was liable to pay or the amount that remains unpaid; or
is the subject of a legal proceeding to secure its payment;
is the subject of a binding agreement to pay;
Subsection (1) does not apply to an unpaid claim that, on the day referred to in that subsection,
An unpaid claim mentioned in a return referred to in subsection 478.23(1) that remains unpaid, in whole or in part, on the day that is 18 months after the selection date — or in the case referred to in subsection 478.23(7), after the polling day — is deemed to be a contribution of the unpaid amount to the nomination contestant made as of the day on which the expense was incurred.
the financial agent is deemed to have sent the declaration to the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with subsection (1).
he or she is deemed to have sent the declaration in accordance with that subsection; and
If a nomination contestant dies without having sent the declaration within the period referred to in subsection (8),
A nomination contestant shall, within four months after the selection date, send to his or her financial agent the declaration referred to in paragraph (1)(d).
Despite subsection (6), if the selection date of a nomination contest falls within an election period for that electoral district or the 30 days before it, a nomination contestant may submit the documents referred to in subsection (1) within the period for candidates referred to in subsection 451(4).
The documents referred to in subsection (1) must be provided to the Chief Electoral Officer within four months after the selection date.
For the purpose of subsection (2), other than paragraph (2)(i), a contribution includes a loan.
If the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that the documents provided under subsection (3) are not sufficient, the Chief Electoral Officer may require the financial agent to provide by a specified date any additional documents that are necessary to comply with that subsection.
Together with the nomination campaign return, the financial agent of a nomination contestant shall provide to the Chief Electoral Officer documents evidencing expenses set out in the return, including bank statements, deposit slips, cancelled cheques and the contestant’s written statement concerning personal expenses referred to in subsection 478.31(1).
a statement of the contributions received but returned to the contributor or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this Act.
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred to the nomination contestant from himself or herself in his or her capacity as a candidate; and
a statement of the commercial value of goods or services provided and of funds transferred by the nomination contestant to a registered party, a registered association, or a candidate;
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 54]
the name and address of each contributor who made contributions of a total amount of more than $200 to the nomination contestant, that total amount, as well as the amount of each such contribution and the date on which it was received by the contestant;
[Repealed, 2006, c. 9, s. 54]
the number of contributors;
a statement of contributions received;
a statement of unpaid claims that are, or may be, the subject of an application under section 478.19 or 478.2;
a statement of disputed claims that are the subject of proceedings under section 478.21;
a statement of nomination campaign expenses;
The nomination campaign return shall include the following in respect of the nomination contestant:
a declaration, in the prescribed form, made by the nomination contestant that the return is complete and accurate.
a declaration, in the prescribed form, made by the financial agent that the return is complete and accurate; and
if the appointment of an auditor is required under subsection 478.25(1), the auditor’s report on the return made under section 478.28;
a nomination campaign return, substantially in the prescribed form, on the financing and nomination campaign expenses for the nomination campaign;
The financial agent of a nomination contestant who has accepted contributions of $1,000 or more in total or incurred nomination campaign expenses of $1,000 or more in total shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the following in respect of a nomination campaign:
If a nomination contestant’s auditor is replaced, the contestant must, without delay, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the new auditor’s name, address, telephone number and occupation and a signed declaration accepting the appointment.
Every nomination contestant, without delay after an auditor is appointed, must provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the auditor’s name, address, telephone number and occupation and a signed declaration by the auditor accepting the appointment.
financial agents of registered third parties.
nomination contestants and their financial agents; and
leadership contestants and their leadership campaign agents;
electoral district agents of registered associations;
candidates and official agents of candidates;
chief agents of registered parties or eligible parties and registered agents of registered parties;
election officers and members of the staff of returning officers;
The following persons are not eligible to be an auditor for a nomination contestant:
a partnership every partner of which is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants.
a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, an association or an institute of professional accountants; or
The following are eligible to be an auditor for a nomination contestant:
A nomination contestant who has accepted contributions of $10,000 or more in total or incurred nomination campaign expenses of $10,000 or more in total must appoint an auditor without delay.
A person referred to in subsection 478.25(3) who is a partner or an associate of an auditor of a nomination contestant or who is an employee of that auditor, or of the firm in which that auditor is a partner or associate, may not participate, other than in the manner referred to in subsection (3), in the preparation of the auditor’s report.
The auditor shall have access at any reasonable time to all documents of the nomination contestant, and may require the contestant and his or her financial agent to provide any information or explanation that, in the auditor’s opinion, is necessary to enable the auditor to prepare the report.
based on the examination, it appears that proper accounting records have not been kept by the financial agent.
the auditor has not received from the nomination contestant or his or her financial agent all the information and explanation that the auditor required; or
the return does not present fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based;
The auditor’s report shall include any statement that the auditor considers necessary if
An auditor of a nomination contestant appointed in accordance with subsection 478.25(1) shall, as soon as practicable after the selection date, report to the nomination contestant’s financial agent on the nomination campaign return for that campaign and shall, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, make any examination that will enable the auditor to give an opinion in the report as to whether the return presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based.
Subsection (1) does not apply to excuse a nomination contestant’s financial agent from complying with his or her obligations under this Act to prepare the return on the contestant’s nomination campaign expenses and make a declaration concerning it referred to in paragraph 478.23(1)(c).
Despite subsection 478.23(6), a nomination contestant who is outside Canada when the other documents referred to in subsection 478.23(1) are provided shall, within 14 days after returning to Canada, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the nomination contestant’s declaration concerning his or her nomination campaign return referred to in paragraph 478.23(1)(d).
a disputed claim under section 478.21.
an order to pay under section 478.2; or
an authorization to pay under section 478.19;
an extended period of recoverability under subsection 478.16(3) because of the death of a claimant;
The nomination contestant’s financial agent shall provide an updated version of a document referred to in subsection (1) within 30 days after making a payment that is dealt with in the updated version.
If the matters dealt with in the updated versions of the documents have been subject to an audit under section 478.28, an updated version of the auditor’s report need not be provided.
After the period referred to in subsection 478.23(6) or (7), as the case may be, the nomination contestant’s financial agent shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with an updated version of any document referred to in subsection 478.23(1) that relates to a claim involving
Subsection (1) does not apply to a nomination contestant who dies without having sent the written statement referred to in that subsection before the end of the three-month period referred to in it.
declares that he or she did not pay for any personal expenses.
sets out the amount of any personal expenses that he or she paid and details of those personal expenses, including documentation of their payment; or
A nomination contestant shall, within three months after the selection date, send to his or her financial agent a written statement in the prescribed form that
The Chief Electoral Officer may in writing request the nomination contestant or his or her financial agent to correct, within a specified period, a document referred to in subsection 478.23(1) or 478.3(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may correct a document referred to in subsection 478.23(1) or 478.3(1), if the correction does not materially affect its substance.
inadvertence or an honest mistake of fact.
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of a clerk or an officer of the financial agent, or a predecessor of one of them; or
the absence, death, illness or misconduct of the financial agent or a predecessor;
the illness of the applicant;
The Chief Electoral Officer may not authorize an extension or correction unless he or she is satisfied by the evidence submitted by the applicant that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of
under paragraph (1)(b), as soon as the applicant becomes aware of the need for correction.
under paragraph (1)(a), within the period provided in subsection 478.23(6) or 478.3(3), as the case may be; and
An application may be made
the correction, within a specified period, of a document referred to in subsection 478.23(1) or updated document referred to in subsection 478.3(1).
the extension of a period provided in subsection 478.23(6) or 478.3(3); or
The Chief Electoral Officer, on the written application of a nomination contestant or his or her financial agent, may authorize
An order under subsection (1) may require that the applicant satisfy any condition that the judge considers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
A judge may not grant an order unless he or she is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the application arose by reason of one of the factors referred to in subsection 478.33(3).
the expiration of the extended period or specified period authorized under paragraph 478.33(1)(a) or (b).
the rejection of an application, made in accordance with section 478.33, for the extension or correction, or
under paragraph (1)(b), within two weeks after, as the case may be,
under paragraph (1)(a), within the specified period referred to in subsection 478.32(2) or within the two weeks after the expiration of that period; or
An application may be made
authorizing an extension referred to in paragraph 478.33(1)(a) or correction referred to in paragraph 478.33(1)(b).
relieving the contestant or financial agent from complying with a request referred to in subsection 478.32(2); or
A nomination contestant or his or her financial agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order
be examined concerning any information that pertains to the refusal or failure.
do anything that the judge considers appropriate in order to remedy the refusal or failure; or
The judge shall, unless the financial agent or predecessor on his or her appearance shows cause why an order should not be issued, order in writing that the agent or predecessor
A judge dealing with an application under section 478.34 or 478.36 who is satisfied that a nomination contestant or a financial agent has not provided the documents referred to in subsection 478.23(1) in accordance with this Act because of a refusal by, or a failure of, the financial agent or a predecessor of the financial agent shall, by order served personally, require the financial agent or that predecessor to appear before the judge.
he or she exercised all due diligence to avoid its occurrence.
it occurred without his or her knowledge or acquiescence; or
For the purposes of this Act, the applicant is relieved from the obligation referred to in subsection (1) on the date of the order.
The judge may not grant the order unless he or she is satisfied that the applicant cannot provide the documents because of their destruction by a superior force, including a flood, fire or other disaster.
A nomination contestant or his or her financial agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order relieving the financial agent from the obligation to provide a document referred to in subsection 478.23(1) or 478.3(1). The contestant or financial agent shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
does not substantially set out the information required by subsection 478.23(2) or required to be updated under subsection 478.3(1).
the contestant or the financial agent, as the case may be, knows or ought reasonably to know contains a material statement that is false or misleading; or
The financial agent of a nomination contestant who has a surplus of nomination campaign funds but has not received a notice of estimated surplus under subsection (1) shall dispose of that estimated surplus within 60 days after the provision of the contestant’s nomination campaign return.
If the Chief Electoral Officer estimates that a nomination contestant has a surplus of nomination campaign funds, the Chief Electoral Officer shall issue a notice of the estimated amount of the surplus to the contestant’s financial agent.
the registered association that held the nomination contest or the registered party for whose endorsement the contest was held.
the official agent of the candidate endorsed by the registered party in the electoral district in which the nomination contest was held; or
Surplus nomination campaign funds must be transferred to
The financial agent of a nomination contestant shall dispose of a surplus of nomination campaign funds within 60 days after receiving the notice of estimated surplus.
As soon as practicable after the disposal of a nomination contestant’s surplus nomination campaign funds, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in any manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a notice referred to in subsection (1).
The financial agent of a nomination contestant shall, within seven days after disposing of the contestant’s surplus nomination campaign funds, notify the Chief Electoral Officer in the prescribed form of the amount and date of the disposal and to whom the surplus was transferred.
Every election officer has, while performing their duties under this section, all the protection that a peace officer has by law.
Where a returning officer, deputy returning officer, central poll supervisor or person appointed under paragraph 124(1)(b) believes on reasonable grounds that a person has contravened paragraph 166(1)(a) or (b), the officer, supervisor or appointed person may cause to be removed from, in the case of a returning officer, his or her office or, in the case of a deputy returning officer, central poll supervisor or appointed person, the polling station, any material that they believe on reasonable grounds was used in contravention of that paragraph.
The officer, supervisor or appointed person who arrests a person under subsection (3) shall without delay
If an order to leave an office or place is not obeyed without delay, the person who made it may use such force as is reasonably necessary to eject the person in respect of whom the order was made from the office or place.
Every person in respect of whom an order is made to leave an office or place must obey it without delay.
In performing his or her duty under subsection (1) or (2), an election officer may, if a person is committing, in the returning officer’s office or other place where the vote is taking place, an offence referred to in paragraph 5(a), section 7 or paragraph 167(1)(a) or an offence under this Act or any other Act of Parliament that threatens the maintenance of order, or if the officer believes on reasonable grounds that a person has committed such an offence in such a place, order the person to leave the office or place or arrest the person without warrant.
Every deputy returning officer, central poll supervisor and person appointed under paragraph 124(1)(b) is responsible for maintaining order during voting hours at any place where voting takes place in accordance with Part 9 or 10.
Every returning officer is responsible for maintaining order in his or her office during voting in accordance with Division 4 of Part 11.
deliver the person to a peace officer to be dealt with in accordance with the Criminal Code.
advise the person of the right to be represented by counsel and give the person an opportunity to obtain counsel; and
Every person is guilty of an offence who, at any time between the issue of a writ and the day after polling day at the election, acts, incites others to act or conspires to act in a disorderly manner with the intention of preventing the transaction of the business of a public meeting called for the purposes of the election.
Every person is guilty of an offence who, with the intention of delaying or obstructing the electoral process, contravenes this Act, otherwise than by committing an offence under subsection (2) or section 481 or 482 or contravening a provision referred to in any of sections 483 to 499.
Every elector is guilty of an offence who, during an election period, accepts or agrees to accept a bribe that is offered in the circumstances described in subsection (1).
Every person is guilty of an offence who, during an election period, directly or indirectly offers a bribe to influence an elector to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate.
by any pretence or contrivance, including by representing that the ballot or the manner of voting at an election is not secret, induces a person to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election.
by intimidation or duress, compels a person to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate at an election; or
section 7 (voting more than once).
paragraph 5(a) (voting when not qualified or entitled) or 5(b) (inducing a person not qualified or entitled to vote, to vote); or
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person is guilty of an offence who, being a returning officer, wilfully contravenes subsection 24(3) (failure to take necessary election proceedings).
Every former election officer who contravenes paragraph 43(c) (failure to return election documents and election materials) is guilty of an offence.
being a former election officer, wilfully contravenes paragraph 43(c) (failure to return election documents and election materials).
contravenes paragraph 43(a) (obstruction of election officer) or wilfully contravenes paragraph 43(b) (impersonation of revising agent); or
being a returning officer or assistant returning officer, wilfully contravenes section 31 (acting in another capacity);
being a returning officer, contravenes subsection 24(6) (engaging in politically partisan conduct);
knowingly contravenes subsection 23(2) (communication of information for unauthorized purpose);
contravenes subsection 22(6) (acting as election officer knowing requirements not met);
Every person who contravenes any of paragraphs 56(a) to (d) (forbidden acts re Register of Electors) is guilty of an offence.
Every person who contravenes paragraph 56(e) (unauthorized use of personal information recorded in Register of Electors) is guilty of an offence.
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person who contravenes section 81 (refusal to give access to building) is guilty of an offence.
Every candidate who contravenes subsection 83(1) (failure to appoint official agent) or 83(2) (failure to appoint auditor) or section 87 (failure to appoint a replacement official agent or auditor) is guilty of an offence.
contravenes section 92 (publication of false statement of withdrawal of candidate).
contravenes section 91 (making false statement re candidate); or
wilfully contravenes subsection 90(1) (ineligible person acting as official agent) or 90(2) (ineligible person acting as auditor);
contravenes section 89 (signing of nomination paper when ineligible);
Every person who contravenes paragraph 111(a), (d) or (e) (forbidden acts re list of electors) is guilty of an offence.
Every person who contravenes paragraph 111(b) or (c) (applying improperly to be included on list of electors) or 111(f) (unauthorized use of personal information contained in list of electors) is guilty of an offence.
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person who contravenes paragraph 126(b) (unauthorized printing of ballots) is guilty of an offence.
contravenes paragraph 126(a) (forgery of ballot), 126(c) (knowingly printing extra ballot papers), 126(d) (printing of ballot with intent to influence vote) or 126(e) (manufacture, etc., of ballot box with secret compartment).
being a printer who is authorized to print ballots, wilfully contravenes subsection 116(5) (failure to return ballots or unused ballot paper); or
paragraph 166(1)(b) (wearing of emblems, etc., in polling station).
section 165 (prohibited use of loudspeaker); or
being an employer, subsection 132(1) (failure to allow time to vote) or 133(1) (making deductions from employees’ wages for time given to vote);
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person is guilty of an offence who contravenes
contravenes paragraph 166(1)(a) (display of campaign literature in polling place).
being an elector, contravenes subsection 164(2) (failure to maintain secrecy); or
contravenes subsection 161(6) (vouching for more than one elector);
contravenes subsection 155(2) (assisting as a friend more than one elector);
being a deputy returning officer, contravenes paragraph 167(3)(b) (placing identifying mark on ballot).
being a deputy returning officer, contravenes paragraph 167(3)(a) (initialling ballot with intent to influence vote); or
contravenes any of paragraphs 167(1)(a) to (d) (prohibited acts re ballots) or 167(2)(a) to (d) (prohibited acts re ballots or ballot box with intent to influence vote);
contravenes paragraph 166(1)(c) (influencing vote in polling station);
being a candidate, an election officer or a representative of a candidate, contravenes subsection 164(1) (failure to maintain secrecy);
being a friend or relative of an elector, wilfully contravenes subsection 155(4) (disclosing for whom elector voted);
being an employer, contravenes section 134 (preventing employee from using voting time);
being a deputy returning officer, contravenes section 175 (improper handling of ballot box and ballots at advance poll), being a returning officer, contravenes subsection 176(2) or (3) or, being a deputy returning officer, contravenes subsection 176(3) (failure to cross names off list of electors) with the intention of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast.
being a poll clerk, wilfully contravenes subsection 174(2) (failure to record vote); or
being a deputy returning officer, wilfully contravenes subsection 174(1) (failure to permit person to vote);
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person who contravenes any of paragraphs 281(a) to (f) (prohibited acts re vote under special voting rules) is guilty of an offence.
Every returning officer who contravenes section 275 (failure to take required measures re ballots and special ballots) is guilty of an offence.
contravenes paragraph 282(a) or (b) (intimidation or inducement re vote under special voting rules).
contravenes paragraph 281(g) or (h) (prohibited acts re special voting rules); or
being a deputy returning officer or poll clerk, contravenes subsection 276(1), being a deputy returning officer, contravenes subsection 277(1), being a poll clerk, contravenes subsection 277(2), being a deputy returning officer, contravenes subsection 277(3), being a deputy returning officer or poll clerk, contravenes subsection 278(1) or (3) or, being a deputy returning officer, contravenes section 279, (failure to perform duties re counting of the vote) with the intention of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast;
being a special ballot officer, contravenes any of subsections 267(1) and (2), section 268 and subsections 269(1) and (2) (failure to perform duties re counting of the vote) with the intention of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast;
being a deputy returning officer, contravenes any of section 212, subsections 213(1) and (4) and 214(1), section 257 and subsection 258(3) (failure to perform duties with respect to receipt of vote) with the intention of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast;
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every returning officer who contravenes section 292 (failure to safeguard ballot box) is guilty of an offence.
knowingly contravenes subsection 289(3) (premature counting of votes cast at advance poll).
being a deputy returning officer, contravenes any of sections 283 to 288 (failure to perform duties re counting of the vote) with the intention of causing the reception of a vote that should not have been cast or the non-reception of a vote that should have been cast; or
section 314 (failure to transmit election documents).
subsection 313(1) (failure to declare candidate elected); or
contravenes section 327 (failure to indicate survey not based on recognized statistical methods).
contravenes subsection 326(1) or (2) (failure to provide election survey information) or, being a sponsor of an election survey, contravenes subsection 326(3) (failure to provide report on election survey results); or
being a candidate, a registered party or a person acting on behalf of a candidate or registered party, contravenes section 320 (failure to indicate authority for election advertising);
Every person is guilty of an offence who contravenes
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person who wilfully contravenes section 331 (inducement by foreigners) is guilty of an offence.
Every person is guilty of an offence who,
Every person is guilty of an offence who
contravenes section 325 (removal of election advertising).
being a landlord or a condominium corporation, wilfully contravenes section 322 (prohibition of election advertising posters on residential premises); or
being a broadcaster or a network operator, makes available to a registered party or eligible party within the period described in subsection 335(1) more broadcasting time than is required to be made available by it to that party by an allocation under sections 337 and 338 or entitlement under section 339, without making available to each other registered party or eligible party an amount of additional equivalent broadcasting time that is based on the percentage of broadcasting time made available to it by the original allocation or entitlement.
being a broadcaster or a network operator, fails to comply with an allocation of or entitlement to broadcasting time under this Act; or
wilfully contravenes section 348 (failure to charge lowest rate for broadcasting time or advertising space);
being a broadcaster, wilfully contravenes subsection 339(3) (failure to make additional broadcasting time available) or 339(4) (failure to adjust broadcasting time) or, being a network operator, wilfully contravenes subsection 345(1) (failure to make free broadcasting time available);
being a broadcaster, wilfully contravenes subsection 335(1) or, being a network operator, wilfully contravenes subsection 335(2) (failure to make broadcasting time available);
wilfully contravenes subsection 330(1) or (2) (foreign broadcasting);
wilfully contravenes section 329 (premature transmission of election results);
wilfully contravenes subsection 328(2) (transmission of election survey results during blackout period);
wilfully contravenes section 327 (failure to indicate survey not based on recognized statistical methods);
wilfully contravenes subsection 326(1) or (2) (failure to provide election survey information) or, being a sponsor of an election survey, wilfully contravenes subsection 326(3) (failure to provide report on election survey results);
subsection 328(1) (causing transmission of election survey results during blackout period).
subsection 321(1) (conducting election advertising using government means of transmission) or subsection 323(1) (conducting election advertising during blackout period); or
subsection 359(1) (failure to file election advertising report) or 359(9) (failure to provide bills or receipts on request).
subsection 357(3) (use of anonymous contributions) or section 358 (use of foreign contributions); or
section 354 (failure to appoint financial agent) or subsection 355(1) (failure to appoint auditor);
subsection 353(1) (failure to register);
section 352 (failure to identify self in advertisement);
any of subsections 350(1) to (3) (exceeding election advertising expense limits);
Every person is guilty of an offence who, being a third party, wilfully contravenes
Every person is guilty of an offence who, being a third party, contravenes
subsection 359(1) (failure to file election advertising report).
subsection 353(1) (failure to register); or
any of subsections 350(1) to (3) or section 351 (exceeding or circumventing election advertising expense limits);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.4(2) or section 478.41 (failure to dispose of surplus nomination campaign funds).
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes paragraph 478.38(b) (providing incomplete financial return); or
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.3(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);
being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.25(4) or (5) or section 478.26 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of auditor);
being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.25(1) (failure to appoint auditor);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.24 (failure to forward certain contributions);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 478.23(4);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.23(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide nomination campaign return or related documents);
being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes subsection 478.17(1) (failure to pay recoverable claim in timely manner);
being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes subsection 478.15(1) (exceeding nomination campaign expenses limit);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.12 (failure to satisfy bank account requirements);
being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.1(1) or (2) (failure to report changes in nomination contestant information);
being a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.06, 478.07 or 478.08 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of financial agent);
being a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.04 (failure to appoint financial agent);
being a registered party or registered association, contravenes subsection 478.02(1) (failure to notify of nomination contest);
being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.23(8) (failure to send declaration re: nomination campaign return to agent);
being an official agent, contravenes subsection 478(2) (failure to return unused income tax receipts);
being a registered agent or financial agent, contravenes section 476 (improper or unauthorized transfer of contributions);
being an official agent, contravenes subsection 472(2) or section 473 (failure to dispose of surplus electoral funds);
being an official agent, contravenes paragraph 463(1)(b) (providing incomplete electoral campaign return);
being an official agent, contravenes section 455 (failure to provide updated electoral campaign return or related documents);
being an official agent, contravenes section 452 (failure to pay value of contribution that cannot be returned);
being a candidate, contravenes subsection 451(5) (failure to send declaration re electoral campaign return to agent);
being an official agent, fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 451(2.2);
being an official agent, contravenes subsection 451(1), (2), (3) or (4) (failure to provide electoral campaign return or related documents);
being an official agent, contravenes subsection 445(1) (failure to pay recoverable claim in timely manner);
being an official agent, a candidate or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), contravenes subsection 439(2) (incurring more than maximum allowed for notice of nomination meetings) or subsection 443(1) (exceeding election expenses limit) or, being an official agent, candidate, person authorized under paragraph 446(c) or a third party, contravenes subsection 443(2) (colluding to circumvent election expense limit);
being an official agent, contravenes section 437 (failure to satisfy bank account requirements);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.45(2) or section 435.46 (failure to dispose of surplus leadership campaign funds);
being a leadership contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes paragraph 435.43(b) (providing incomplete financial return);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.35(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes section 435.32 (failure to forward certain contributions);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes any of subsections 435.31(1) to (3) (failure to provide return on contributions or related documents);
being a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.3(7) (failure to send declaration re: leadership campaign return to agent);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 435.3(4);
being the chief executive officer of a provincial division, contravenes subsection 435.02(5) (failure to report provincial division changes);
being a leadership contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes section 435.24 (failure to pay recoverable claim in timely manner);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes section 435.21 (failure to satisfy bank account requirements);
being a registered party, contravenes section 435.17 (failure to file statement of withdrawal of acceptance);
being a leadership contestant, contravenes section 435.16 (failure to file statement of withdrawal);
being a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.15(1) or (2) (failure to report changes to leadership contestant information);
being a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.08(2) or section 435.11, 435.12 or 435.13 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of leadership campaign agent, financial agent or auditor);
being a person, contravenes subsection 435.05(1) (failure to register for a leadership contest);
being a registered party, contravenes subsection 435.04(1) or (2) (failure to inform of leadership contest or related changes);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.3(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide leadership campaign return or related documents);
being a chief agent, contravenes paragraph 431(b) (providing incomplete election expenses return);
being a chief agent, contravenes section 429 (failure to provide election expenses return or related documents);
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]
being a chief agent, contravenes paragraph 427(b) (providing incomplete financial transactions return);
being a registered agent, contravenes section 425 (failure to forward excess contributions);
being a chief agent, contravenes section 424.1 (failure to provide quarterly return);
being a chief agent, contravenes section 424 (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
being a chief agent, contravenes subsection 423(1) (exceeding election expense limit) or, being a registered party or third party, contravenes subsection 423(2) (colluding to circumvent election expense limit);
being a person authorized to pay petty expenses, contravenes subsection 411(3) (failure to provide documentation of expenditures) or 411(4) (paying excessive petty expenses);
contravenes subsection 410(1) or (2) (failure to document payment);
being a person authorized under this Act to accept contributions, contravenes section 405.4 (failure to return or pay amount of contribution);
being an individual, contravenes section 405.3 (making indirect contributions);
being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.2(2) (concealing source of contribution);
being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.2(1) (circumventing contribution limit);
being a person who is authorized to accept contributions on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant, contravenes section 404.4 (failure to issue receipt);
being a registered party or an electoral district association of one, contravenes subsection 404.3(1) (making prohibited transfer);
being the chief agent of a registered party, the financial agent of a registered association, the official agent of a candidate or the financial agent of a leadership contestant or nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 404(2) (failure to return or pay amount of ineligible contribution);
being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 404(1) (making contribution while ineligible);
being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes section 403.051 (making erroneous declaration);
being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes paragraph 403.38(b) (providing incomplete financial transactions return);
being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes subsection 403.35(1), (2) or (4) (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
being the financial agent of a deregistered electoral district association, contravenes section 403.26 (failure to provide financial transactions return for fiscal period or related documents);
being a registered association, contravenes section 403.17 (failure to confirm validity of information concerning association);
being a registered association, contravenes subsection 403.16(1) (failure to report changes to registered association information);
being a registered association, contravenes section 403.12, 403.13 or 403.14 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of financial agent or auditor);
being a registered association, contravenes subsection 403.09(2) (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of electoral district agent);
being a registered association, contravenes section 403.05 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);
being an electoral district association of a registered party, contravenes section 403.04 (financial activity during an election period);
being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes section 403.36 (failure to forward certain contributions);
being an electoral district association, contravenes section 403.01 (failure to register);
being a chief agent of a merging registered party, contravenes section 403 (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]
being a chief agent of a deregistered political party, contravenes section 392 (failure to provide financial transactions return or election expenses return or related documents);
being a registered party, contravenes section 384 (failure to confirm validity of information on party);
being a registered party, contravenes subsection 382(1) or (4) (failure to report changes to registered party information);
being a registered party, contravenes subsection 375(3) or, being a registered party or an eligible party, contravenes subsection 374.1(4), section 378, subsection 379(1) or (2) or section 380 (failure to comply with requirements re officers, chief agent, registered agents or auditor);
being a registered party, contravenes section 372 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);
No proceedings may be commenced with respect to a failure to provide a return or other document to the Chief Electoral Officer before the expiration of the period within which an application may be made under this Act for an extension of the period within which that return or document is to be provided.
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.4(2) or section 478.41 (failure to dispose of surplus nomination campaign funds).
being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes paragraph 478.38(a) or knowingly contravenes paragraph 478.38(b) (providing document containing false or misleading information or that is substantially incomplete); or
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.3(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes section 478.24 (failure to forward certain contributions);
being a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.23(8) (failure to send declaration re: nomination campaign return to agent);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 478.23(4);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.23(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide nomination campaign return or related documents);
being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 478.15(2) (circumventing nomination campaign expenses limit);
being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.15(1) (exceeding nomination campaign expenses limit);
being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.13(3), (4) or (5) (paying or incurring expenses for specified purposes or paying personal expenses while ineligible);
being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.13(2) (accepting prohibited contribution);
being a person, wilfully contravenes section 478.27 (acting as auditor when ineligible to do so);
being a person other than the financial agent of a nomination contestant, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.13(1) (acceptance of contribution while ineligible);
being a person, wilfully contravenes section 478.09 (acting as financial agent when ineligible to do so);
being a registered party or registered association, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.02(1) (failure to notify of nomination contest);
being a registered agent, financial agent or official agent, knowingly contravenes section 476 (unauthorized or improper transfer of contributions);
being an official agent, wilfully contravenes subsection 472(2) or section 473 (failure to dispose of surplus electoral funds);
being an official agent, contravenes paragraph 463(1)(a) or knowingly contravenes paragraph 463(1)(b) (providing electoral campaign return containing false or misleading statement or one that is incomplete);
being an official agent, wilfully contravenes section 455 (failure to provide updated electoral campaign return or related documents);
being an official agent, wilfully contravenes section 452 (failure to pay value of excess contribution);
being a candidate, wilfully contravenes subsection 451(5) (failure to send electoral campaign expense declaration);
being an official agent, wilfully fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 451(2.2);
being an official agent, wilfully contravenes subsection 451(1), (2), (3) or (4) (failure to provide electoral campaign return or related documents);
being an official agent, a candidate, a person authorized under paragraph 446(c) or a third party, contravenes subsection 443(2) (colluding to circumvent election expenses limit);
being an official agent, a candidate or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), wilfully contravenes subsection 443(1) (exceeding election expenses limit);
being a candidate, official agent or person authorized under paragraph 446(c), wilfully contravenes subsection 439(2) (spending more than maximum allowed for notice of nomination meetings);
being a person other than an official agent, contravenes subsection 438(2) or (3) (accepting or issuing receipts for contributions), being a person or entity, other than a candidate, official agent or person authorized under paragraph 446(c), contravenes subsection 438(4) or (5) (paying or incurring electoral campaign expenses) or, being a person other than a candidate or official agent, contravenes subsection 438(6) (paying candidate’s personal expenses);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.45(2) or section 435.46 (failure to dispose of surplus leadership campaign funds);
being a leadership contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes paragraph 435.43(a) or knowingly contravenes paragraph 435.43(b) (providing document containing false or misleading information or that is substantially incomplete);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.35(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes section 435.32 (failure to forward certain contributions);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes any of subsections 435.31(1) to (3) (failure to provide return on contributions or related documents);
being a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.3(7) (failure to send declaration re: leadership campaign return to agent);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 435.3(4);
being a person, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(5) (paying personal expenses of leadership contestant while ineligible);
being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(3) or (4) (paying or incurring expenses for specified purposes while ineligible);
being a leadership campaign agent, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(2) (accepting prohibited contribution);
being a person other than a leadership campaign agent, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(1) (acceptance of contribution while ineligible);
being a registered party, wilfully contravenes section 435.17 (failure to file statement of withdrawal of acceptance);
being a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes section 435.16 (failure to file statement of withdrawal);
being a person, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.14(1) or (2) (acting as financial agent or auditor when ineligible to do so);
being a person, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.05(1) (failure to register for a leadership contest);
being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.3(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide leadership campaign return or related documents);
being a registered party, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.04(1) or (2) (failure to inform of leadership contest or related changes);
contravenes paragraph 431(a) (providing election expenses return containing false or misleading statement);
wilfully contravenes section 429 (failure to provide election expenses return or related documents), or
being a chief agent,
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]
being a chief agent, contravenes paragraph 427(a) (providing financial transactions return containing false or misleading statement);
being a registered agent, wilfully contravenes section 425 (failure to forward excess contributions);
being a chief agent, wilfully contravenes section 424.1 (failure to provide quarterly return);
being a chief agent, wilfully contravenes section 424 (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
being a registered party or a third party, knowingly contravenes subsection 423(2) (colluding to circumvent election expense limit);
being a chief agent, wilfully contravenes subsection 423(1) (exceeding election expense limit);
being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.21(2) (collusion);
being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.21(1) (soliciting or accepting contribution);
being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 405.2(4) (entering prohibited agreement);
being the financial agent of a registered association, knowingly contravenes section 403.051 (making erroneous declaration);
being a person authorized under this Act to accept contributions, wilfully contravenes section 405.4 (failure to return or pay amount of contribution);
being an individual, wilfully contravenes section 405.31 (exceeding cash contribution limit);
being an individual, wilfully contravenes section 405.3 (making indirect contributions);
being a person entitled to accept contributions under this Act, contravenes subsection 405.2(3) (knowingly accepting excessive contribution);
being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 405.2(2) (concealing source of contribution);
being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 405.2(1) (circumventing contribution limit);
being an individual, wilfully contravenes subsection 405(1) (exceeding contribution limit);
being a person who is authorized to accept contributions on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes section 404.4 (failure to issue receipt);
being a registered party or an electoral district association of one, wilfully contravenes subsection 404.3(1) (making prohibited transfer);
being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes paragraph 403.38(a) (providing financial transactions return containing false or misleading information);
being the financial agent of a registered association, wilfully contravenes section 403.36 (failure to forward certain contributions);
being the financial agent of a registered association, wilfully contravenes subsection 403.35(1), (2) or (4) (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
being the financial agent of a deregistered electoral district association, wilfully contravenes section 403.26 (failure to provide financial transactions return for fiscal period or related documents);
being a person, wilfully contravenes subsection 403.15(1) or (2) (acting as financial agent or auditor when ineligible to do so);
being a registered association, wilfully contravenes subsection 403.09(2) (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of electoral district agent);
being a registered association, wilfully contravenes section 403.05 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);
being an electoral district association of a registered party, wilfully contravenes section 403.04 (financial activity during an election period);
being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 404(1) (making contribution while ineligible);
being an electoral district association, wilfully contravenes section 403.01 (failure to register);
being a chief agent of a merging registered party, wilfully contravenes section 403 (failure to provide financial transactions returns or related documents);
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]
being a chief agent of a deregistered political party, wilfully contravenes section 392 (failure to provide final transactions return or election expenses return or related documents);
being a member of a party, contravenes subsection 384.1(5) (making false declaration);
being a registered party or an eligible party, contravenes subsection 384.1(2) (providing false or misleading information);
being a leader of a party, contravenes subsection 384.1(1), (3) or (4) (providing or certifying false or misleading information or making false declaration);
being an officer of a party, contravenes section 381.1 (officer knowing party not a political party);
wilfully contravenes subsection 381(1), (1.1) or (2) (ineligible person acting as officer, chief agent, registered agent or auditor);
being a registered party, wilfully contravenes section 372 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person is guilty of an offence who
not being a chief agent, a registered agent or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), knowingly contravenes section 416 (paying or incurring registered party’s expenses).
not being the financial agent of a registered association, knowingly contravenes subsection 403.28(4) (accepting or making transfers while ineligible); or
not being an electoral district agent or a registered agent, knowingly contravenes subsection 403.28(3) or 416(3) (accepting contributions while ineligible);
being a person or entity other than an electoral district agent of a registered association, knowingly contravenes subsection 403.28(1) or (2) (paying or incurring registered association’s expenses while ineligible);
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person who contravenes subsection 548(1) (removal of posted election documents) is guilty of an offence.
being a candidate, knowingly contravenes section 550 (signing document that limits freedom of action in Parliament).
knowingly contravenes subsection 549(3) (taking false oath) or 549(4) (compelling or inducing false oath); or
Every third party that is guilty of an offence under paragraph 496(1)(a) or (2)(a) is, in addition to the punishment provided under subsection (1) or (5), liable to a fine of up to five times the amount by which the third party exceeded the election advertising expense limit in question.
Every person who is guilty of an offence under any of subsections 480(1) and (2), sections 481 to 483, subsections 484(3), 485(2), 486(3), 487(2), 488(2) and 489(3), section 490, subsections 491(3) and 492(2), section 494, subsections 495(5), 496(2) and 497(3), section 498 and subsection 499(2) is liable
Every person who is guilty of an offence under subsection 495(4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.
Every person who is guilty of an offence under any of subsections 484(2), 486(2), 495(3) and 497(2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.
Every person who is guilty of an offence under any of subsections 485(1), 487(1), 488(1), 489(2) and 491(2), section 493 and subsection 495(2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three months, or to both.
Every person who is guilty of an offence under any of subsections 484(1), 486(1), 489(1), 491(1), 492(1), 495(1), 496(1), 497(1) and 499(1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than three months, or to both.
on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, or to both.
on summary conviction, to a fine of not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both; or
take any other reasonable measure that the court considers appropriate to ensure compliance with this Act.
perform any obligation the non-performance of which gave rise to the offence; or
compensate any other person who has suffered damages as a result of the commission of the offence;
if the offence results, directly or indirectly, in a financial benefit under this Act, or a contribution for which a receipt referred to in subsection 127(3) of the Income Tax Act was issued, pay to the Receiver General an amount that is not more than the financial benefit or contribution, as the case may be;
perform community service, subject to any reasonable conditions that may be specified in the order;
Subsections (4) to (6) apply to the liquidation of a registered association’s assets under subsection (2) and any reference in those subsections to “party” and “chief agent” shall be read as a reference to “registered association” and “financial agent”, respectively.
The chief agent or specified person is liable for the remittance of the amount referred to in subsection (5).
Within three months after providing the documents referred to in subsection (4), the chief agent or specified person shall remit an amount equal to any net balance of the assets over liabilities, calculated on the basis of the statement mentioned in paragraph (4)(a), to the Chief Electoral Officer who shall forward that amount to the Receiver General.
The chief agent or specified person shall, within six months after being directed to liquidate the party’s assets under subsection (2), provide to the Chief Electoral Officer
For the purposes of subsection (2), the provisions are:
If a registered party, its chief agent or registered agent or one of its officers has been convicted of an offence referred to in subsection (3), the court may, having regard to the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding its commission, and in addition to any other punishment that may be imposed under this Act, by order,
When a person has been convicted of an offence under this Act, the court may, having regard to the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding its commission, and in addition to any other punishment that may be imposed under this Act, by order direct the person to
if it directs liquidation under paragraph (b), direct the financial agent of each registered association — or another person specified by the court — to liquidate the registered association’s assets.
if it directs deregistration under paragraph (a), direct the chief agent — or another person specified by the court — to liquidate the party’s assets; and
direct the Chief Electoral Officer to deregister the party;
paragraph 497(3)(v) (providing electoral campaign return containing false or misleading statement or one that is incomplete).
subparagraph 497(3)(m)(ii) (providing election expenses return containing false or misleading statement); and
paragraph 497(3)(k) (providing financial transactions return containing false or misleading statement);
paragraph 497(3)(i) (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
paragraph 497(3)(f.163) (collusion);
paragraph 497(3)(f.162) (making representation re contribution);
paragraph 497(3)(f.161) (entering into prohibited agreement);
paragraph 497(3)(f.07) (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);
paragraph 497(3)(b.3) (providing false or misleading information);
paragraph 497(3)(b.2) (providing or certifying false or misleading information or making false declaration);
a declaration in the prescribed form by the chief agent or specified person concerning that statement.
a report by the party’s auditor to the chief agent or specified person containing the auditor’s opinion as to whether the statement presents, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the fair market value of those assets and liabilities; and
a statement — prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles — of the fair market value of the party’s assets and liabilities on the day of the order;
being a candidate, contravenes section 550 (signing of document that limits freedom of action in Parliament).
being a candidate, contravenes subsection 549(3) (taking false oath) or 549(4) (compelling or inducing false oath); or
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, commits an offence under subsection 480(1) (obstructing electoral process) or 480(2) (inciting, conspiring to act in disorderly manner);
being an official agent, a candidate or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), wilfully contravenes section 443 (exceeding election expenses limit);
being a candidate or an official agent, contravenes subsection 330(2) (foreign broadcasting);
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes section 92 (publication of false statement of withdrawal of candidate);
Any person who is convicted of having committed an offence that is an illegal practice or a corrupt practice under this Act shall, in addition to any other punishment for that offence prescribed by this Act, in the case of an illegal practice, during the next five years or, in the case of a corrupt practice, during the next seven years, after the date of their being so convicted, not be entitled to
Every person is guilty of an offence that is a corrupt practice who
Every person is guilty of an offence that is an illegal practice who
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, commits an offence under subsection 481(1) (offering bribe).
contravenes paragraph 167(1)(a) (apply for a ballot under false name); or
contravenes paragraph 111(a), (d) or (e) (forbidden acts re list of electors);
contravenes section 89 (signing of nomination paper when ineligible);
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes paragraph 56(c) or (d) (forbidden acts re Register of Electors);
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes paragraph 56(b) (making false statement to have person deleted from Register of Electors);
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, wilfully contravenes paragraph 43(b) (impersonation of revising agent);
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes paragraph 43(a) (obstruction of election officer);
being a candidate or an official agent of a candidate, contravenes section 7 (voting more than once);
hold any office in the nomination of the Crown or of the Governor in Council.
be elected to or sit in the House of Commons; or
If subsection (1) or (2) applies, election advertising expenses incurred before the deregistration or before the day referred to in subsection (2), as the case may be, shall be applied against the spending limit set out in section 350 and, if the limit has been exceeded, the party shall not incur any additional election advertising expenses.
An eligible party that, during the election period of a general election, does not become a registered party does not commit an offence referred to in paragraph 496(1)(a) or (2)(a) if its election advertising expenses, as of the day that it is informed under subsection 370(4) that it has not been registered, are more than the spending limit set out in section 350.
A political party that is deregistered during an election period does not commit an offence under paragraph 496(1)(a) or (2)(a) if the party, during the portion of the election period before the deregistration, has spent more than the spending limit set out in section 350.
any act or thing done or omitted to be done by an officer, a chief agent or other registered agent of the party, or by an officer, the financial agent or other electoral district agent of the association within the scope of their authority to act, is deemed to be an act or thing done or omitted to be done by the party or association, as the case may be.
the party or association is deemed to be a person; and
A third party that is a group or corporation and that commits an offence under paragraph 496(2)(b) is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000 instead of the punishment set out in subsection 500(5).
A third party that is a group or corporation and that commits an offence under paragraph 496(1)(c) is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $10,000 instead of the punishment set out in subsection 500(1).
For the purpose of a prosecution brought against a third party under section 496, the third party is deemed to be a person and any act or omission of the person who signed an application made under subsection 353(2) in respect of the third party or, in the absence of an application, the person who would have signed it, or their financial agent, within the scope of that person’s or financial agent’s authority, is deemed to be an act or omission of the third party.
If a third party that is a group commits an offence under section 496, the person who is responsible for the group or its financial agent commits the offence if the person or financial agent authorized, consented to or participated in the act or omission that constitutes the offence.
For the purposes of section 487 of the Criminal Code, any person charged by the Commissioner with duties relating to the administration or enforcement of this Act is deemed to be a public officer.
If the Director decides to initiate a prosecution, the Director shall request the Commissioner to cause an information in writing and under oath or solemn declaration to be laid before a justice, as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code.
If the Commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that an offence under this Act has been committed, the Commissioner may refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions who shall decide whether to initiate a prosecution.
Every document purporting to be the Director’s consent under subsection (1) is deemed to be that consent unless it is called into question by the Director or by someone acting for the Director or for Her Majesty.
Subsection (1) does not apply to an offence in relation to which an election officer has taken measures under subsection 479(3).
No prosecution for an offence under this Act may be instituted by a person other than the Director of Public Prosecutions without the Director’s prior written consent.
A document purporting to have been issued by the Commissioner, certifying the day on which the Commissioner became aware of the facts giving rise to a prosecution, is admissible in evidence without proof of the signature or of the official character of the person appearing to have signed the document and, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, is proof of the matter asserted in it.
Despite subsection (1), if a prosecution cannot be instituted because the offender has left the jurisdiction of the court, the prosecution may be instituted within one year after the offender’s return.
A prosecution for an offence under this Act may be instituted at any time but not later than five years after the day on which the Commissioner became aware of the facts giving rise to the prosecution but, in any case, not later than 10 years after the day on which the offence was committed.
In case of an information by a private prosecutor for an offence against this Act, if judgment is given for the defendant, the defendant is entitled to recover from the prosecutor the costs incurred by the defendant by reason of the proceedings, which costs shall be taxed by the proper officer of the court in which the judgment is given.
A court shall not make an order under subsection (1) unless the prosecutor, before or on the laying of the information, enters into a recognizance with two sufficient sureties, in the amount of $500, and to the satisfaction of the court, to conduct the prosecution with effect and to pay the defendant’s costs in case of acquittal.
Any court of criminal jurisdiction before which a private prosecution is instituted for an offence against this Act may order payment by the defendant to the prosecutor of such costs and expenses as appear to the court to have been reasonably incurred in and about the conduct of the prosecution.
No injunction may be issued under subsection (2) unless at least 48 hours notice is given to each person named in the application or the urgency of the situation is such that service of notice would not be in the public interest.
If the court, on application by the Commissioner under subsection (1), is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed, is about to commit or is likely to commit an act or omission that is contrary to this Act, and that the nature and seriousness of the act or omission, the need to ensure fairness of the electoral process and the public interest justify the issuing of an injunction, the court may issue an injunction ordering any person named in the application to do one or both of the following:
If the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed, is about to commit or is likely to commit an act or omission that is contrary to this Act, the Commissioner may, during an election period, after taking into account the nature and seriousness of the act or omission, the need to ensure fairness of the electoral process and the public interest, apply to a competent court described in subsection 525(1) for an injunction described in subsection (2).
do any act that it appears to the court is required by this Act.
refrain from committing any act that it appears to the court is contrary to this Act; and
The Commissioner shall provide the contracting party with a copy of a compliance agreement, without delay after it is entered into or renegotiated under subsection (9). If the matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner shall also provide a copy of the compliance agreement to the Director.
The Commissioner and the contracting party may renegotiate the terms of the compliance agreement at the request of the Commissioner or contracting party at any time before it is fully executed.
When a compliance agreement is entered into, any prosecution of the contracting party for an act or omission that led to it is suspended and, unless there is non-compliance with it, the Director of Public Prosecutions may not institute such a prosecution.
If a matter has already been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, whether or not a prosecution has been initiated, the Director may — if, after consultation with the Commissioner, the Director considers that a compliance agreement would better serve the public interest — remit the matter back to the Commissioner so that it may be so dealt with.
If a matter has not yet been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions when a compliance agreement is entered into, no such referral may be made for an act or omission that led to the agreement unless there is non-compliance with it.
The fact that a compliance agreement was entered into, and any statement referred to in subsection (4), is not admissible in evidence against the contracting party in any civil or criminal proceedings.
A compliance agreement may include a statement by the contracting party in which he or she admits responsibility for the act or omission that constitutes the offence.
Before entering into a compliance agreement, the Commissioner shall
A compliance agreement may contain any terms and conditions that the Commissioner considers necessary to ensure compliance with this Act.
Subject to subsection (7), if the Commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that a person has committed, is about to commit or is likely to commit an act or omission that could constitute an offence under this Act, the Commissioner may enter into a compliance agreement, aimed at ensuring compliance with this Act, with that person (in this section and sections 518 to 521 called the “contracting party”).
obtain the consent of the prospective contracting party to the publication of the agreement under section 521.
advise the prospective contracting party of the right to be represented by counsel and give him or her an opportunity to obtain counsel; and
Service of the notice terminates any prosecution of the contracting party that is based on the act or omission in question and prevents the Commissioner from referring the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director from instituting such a prosecution.
If the Commissioner is of the opinion that the compliance agreement has been complied with, the Commissioner shall cause a notice to that effect to be served on the contracting party. If the matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner shall also provide a copy of the notice to the Director.
If a chief agent, a financial agent or a person specified by the court is, under subsection (3), directed to liquidate, they shall carry out the liquidation in accordance with subsections 501(4) to (7).
If, in the court’s opinion, the public interest and the need to ensure fairness of the electoral process warrant it, the court may, on application, exempt the party and its registered associations from the application of subsection 127(3.3) of the Income Tax Act. If an exemption is granted, the court may impose any conditions on the activities of the party, registered association or candidate that it considers appropriate.
In making its decision, the court shall consider all of the factors relevant to determining the party’s purposes, including, as applicable, the following:
The onus of satisfying the court that one of its fundamental purposes is the purpose described in subsection (1) is on the party.
If the court is satisfied that the party does not have as one of its fundamental purposes the purpose described in subsection (1), the court shall, by order, direct the Chief Electoral Officer to deregister the party and it may
If, after giving the party a reasonable opportunity to show what its fundamental purposes are, the Commissioner still has reasonable grounds to suspect that the party does not have as one of its fundamental purposes the purpose described in subsection (1), the Commissioner may apply to a court described in subsection 525(1) for an order described in subsection (3).
If the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to suspect that a registered party does not have as one of its fundamental purposes participating in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election, the Commissioner shall, in writing, notify the party that it is required to show that that is one of its fundamental purposes.
if it directs liquidation under paragraph (a), direct the financial agent of each registered association — or another person specified by the court — to liquidate the registered association’s assets.
direct the chief agent — or another person specified by the court — to liquidate the party’s assets; and
whether the party is a non-profit entity.
interactions of the party with other entities that are not recognized political parties under the laws of any province that may indicate that it is under the control, direct or indirect, of another entity or that the party is using its status as a registered party primarily for the purpose of providing financial assistance to another entity; and
the funds received by the party and its registered associations and candidates, their sources and how they are used by the party, including as election expenses;
the nature and extent of the activities of the party and its registered associations and candidates, including the nature and extent of their involvement in electoral campaigns and any of their public statements in support of another political party or a candidate of another political party;
the party’s political program, annual report to members, fundraising plan, advertising material and policy statements;
the party’s constitution, articles of incorporation, letters patent or by-laws or any other information that may indicate those purposes;
The making of an application to contest an election does not affect any right or obligation of a candidate in that election.
The validity of the election of a candidate may not be contested otherwise than in accordance with this Part.
there were irregularities, fraud or corrupt or illegal practices that affected the result of the election.
under section 65 the elected candidate was not eligible to be a candidate; or
An application may not be made on the grounds for which a recount may be requested under subsection 301(2).
Any elector who was eligible to vote in an electoral district, and any candidate in an electoral district, may, by application to a competent court, contest the election in that electoral district on the grounds that
the Federal Court.
a court listed in subsection (2) that has jurisdiction in all or part of the electoral district in question; and
An application shall be dealt with without delay and in a summary way. The court may, however, allow oral evidence to be given at the hearing of the application in specific circumstances.
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), the courts are
The following courts are competent courts for the purposes of this Part:
in Nunavut, the Nunavut Court of Justice.
in the Provinces of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, the Trial Division of the Supreme Court; and
in the Provinces of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, the Court of Queen’s Bench;
in the Provinces of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the Supreme Court;
in the Province of Quebec, the Superior Court;
in the Province of Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice;
The court may, if it considers it just, increase the amount of the security.
An application must be accompanied by security for costs in the amount of $1,000, and must be served on the Attorney General of Canada, the Chief Electoral Officer, the returning officer of the electoral district in question and all the candidates in that electoral district.
the day on which the applicant first knew or should have known of the occurrence of the alleged irregularity, fraud, corrupt practice or illegal practice.
the day on which the result of the contested election is published in the Canada Gazette, and
Except when an appeal is filed under subsection 532(1), the Speaker of the House of Commons shall communicate the decision to the House of Commons without delay.
The clerk of the court shall
After hearing the application, the court may dismiss it if the grounds referred to in paragraph 524(1)(a) or (b), as the case may be, are not established and, where they are established, shall declare the election null and void or may annul the election, respectively.
The court may at any time dismiss an application if it considers it to be vexatious, frivolous or not made in good faith.
inform the Speaker of the House of Commons as to whether or not an appeal has been filed under subsection 532(1).
send copies of the decision to the persons mentioned in subsection 526(1), to any intervenor and to the Speaker of the House of Commons; and
The Speaker of the House of Commons shall communicate the decision to the House of Commons without delay.
The registrar of the Supreme Court shall send copies of the decision to the persons mentioned in subsection 526(1), to any intervenor and to the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Supreme Court shall hear the appeal without delay and in a summary manner.
An appeal from a decision made under subsection 531(2) lies to the Supreme Court of Canada on any question of law or fact, and must be filed within eight days after the decision was given.
any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers relevant.
by polling division, the number of votes cast for each candidate, the number of rejected ballots and the number of names on the final list of electors; and
any measures that have been taken under subsection 17(1) or (3) or sections 509 to 513 since the issue of the writs that he or she considers should be brought to the attention of the House of Commons.
any matter or event that has arisen or occurred in connection with the administration of the Chief Electoral Officer’s office since the last report and that he or she considers should be brought to the attention of the House of Commons; and
If there are one or more by-elections in a year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, within 90 days after the end of the year, make a report to the Speaker of the House of Commons that sets out
In the case of a general election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, within 90 days after the date provided for in paragraph 57(2)(c), make a report to the Speaker of the House of Commons that sets out
any measures that have been taken under subsection 17(1) or (3), subsection 178(2) or sections 509 to 513 in relation to each of the by-elections and that he or she considers should be brought to the attention of the House of Commons.
any matter or event that has arisen or occurred in connection with the administration of the Chief Electoral Officer’s office since the last report under this section and that he or she considers should be brought to the attention of the House of Commons; and
The Chief Electoral Officer may, before making a report under section 534 or 535, consult the Director of Public Prosecutions on any question relating to measures taken under section 511 or 512.
After the submission to the House of Commons of a report under section 535 in relation to the first general election following the coming into force of this section, any committee of that House to which the report is referred shall, in addition to considering the report, consider the effects of the provisions of this Act concerning political financing that came into force on the same day as this section.
If the Chief Electoral Officer considers it appropriate, the Chief Electoral Officer may include in a report referred to in section 534 or 535 any document or a part or a summary of one that relates to a complaint or suggestion received under subsection (1).
Every candidate, official agent of a candidate or leader or chief agent of a registered party or eligible party may send to the Chief Electoral Officer a statement in writing that contains any complaint with respect to the conduct of the election or of an election officer or any suggestion as to changes or improvements in the law that the person wishes to make.
A returning officer may, with the approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, constitute polling divisions that consist of two or more institutions where seniors or persons with a physical disability reside.
The returning officer shall revise the polling divisions in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer, taking into account the polling divisions established by municipal and provincial authorities and the accessibility by electors to the polling stations established in them.
The Chief Electoral Officer may instruct a returning officer to revise the boundaries of any polling division in the returning officer’s electoral district, and may fix the date by which the revision shall be completed.
Subject to subsection (3), the polling divisions of an electoral district in a general election remain the same as at the immediately preceding general election.
Each polling division shall contain at least 250 electors unless the Chief Electoral Officer agrees otherwise.
coincides with or includes the whole or a part of an electoral district that was set out in Schedule 3 as it read on July 15, 1971; or
is described in a representation order declared under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act to be in force, and
deleting from it the name of any electoral district referred to in subparagraph (a)(ii) that is not described in a representation order referred to in subparagraph (a)(i).
adding to it, where the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that the exigencies of restricted communication or transportation facilities require the addition for the better operation of this Act, the name of any electoral district that
No amendment to the list of electoral districts set out in Schedule 3 may be made later than seven days after a representation order and no such amendment becomes effective until notice of it has been published in the Canada Gazette.
Subject to subsection (2), the Chief Electoral Officer may amend the list of electoral districts set out in Schedule 3 by
An order for the inspection or production of election documents or documents that relate to the updating of the Register of Electors may be made subject to any conditions with respect to persons, time, place and mode of inspection or production that the judge considers appropriate.
A judge may make an order under subsection (3) on being satisfied by evidence on oath that the inspection or production of a document referred to in that subsection is required for the purpose of instituting or maintaining a prosecution for an offence in relation to an election or for the purpose of an application under subsection 524(1).
In any proceedings under this Act, a print that is made from a photographic film or from a document in electronic form made by the Chief Electoral Officer for the purpose of keeping a permanent record of a document, and certified by the Chief Electoral Officer or by a person acting in the name of or under the direction of the Chief Electoral Officer, is admissible in evidence for all purposes for which the recorded document would be admitted as evidence, without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed the certificate.
Documents purporting to be certified by the Chief Electoral Officer are admissible in evidence without further proof.
When a judge of a superior court has ordered the production of election documents, the Chief Electoral Officer need not, unless the judge orders otherwise, appear personally to produce them but shall certify the documents and send them by courier to the clerk or registrar of the court, who shall, when the documents have served the purposes of the judge, return them by courier to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Subsection (3) does not prohibit the Chief Electoral Officer, any authorized member of his or her staff or the Commissioner from inspecting the documents referred to in that subsection, and any of those documents may be produced by the Commissioner for the purpose of an inquiry made under section 510 or provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions who may produce them for the purpose of a prosecution — or possible prosecution — by the Director for an offence under this Act.
No election documents, or documents that relate to the establishment or updating of the Register of Electors, that are retained in the custody of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection (1) or (2) shall, during the period of their retention, be inspected or produced except under an order of a judge of a superior court, which, if made, the Chief Electoral Officer shall obey.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, for at least two years after receiving them, retain in his or her possession, on film or in electronic form, all documents that relate to the updating of the Register of Electors.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall retain in his or her possession the election documents sent to him or her by a returning officer, with the return of the writ, for at least one year if the election is not contested during that time and, if the election is contested, for one year after the end of the contestation.
Any copies of documents referred to in subsection (1) purporting to be certified by the Chief Electoral Officer are admissible in evidence without further proof.
Any person may take extracts from documents referred to in subsection (1) and is entitled to obtain copies of them on payment of a fee of up to $0.25 per page.
All documents referred to in section 403.35, 424, 429, 435.3, 435.35, 451, 455, 478.23 or 478.3, all other reports or statements, other than election documents received from election officers, all instructions issued by the Chief Electoral Officer under this Act, all decisions or rulings by him or her on points arising under this Act and all correspondence with election officers or others in relation to an election are public records and may be inspected by any person on request during business hours.
A copy of a tariff made under subsection (1) and of any amendment made to one shall be laid before the House of Commons on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the making of the tariff or amendment.
The Governor in Council may specify that a tariff made under subsection (1) has effect as of a day that is before the one on which it is made.
On the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Governor in Council may make a tariff fixing or providing for the determination of fees, costs, allowances and expenses to be paid and allowed to returning officers and other persons employed at or in relation to elections under this Act.
A returning officer shall prepare, in the prescribed form, all accounts to be submitted by the returning officer to the Chief Electoral Officer and is responsible for their correctness.
An accountable advance may be made to an election officer to defray office and other incidental expenses in any amount that may be approved under the tariff made under subsection 542(1).
The Chief Electoral Officer may, in accordance with regulations made by the Governor in Council, in any case in which the fees and allowances provided for by a tariff made under subsection 542(1) are not sufficient remuneration for the services required to be performed at an election, or for any necessary service performed, authorize the payment of such additional sum for the services as he or she considers just and reasonable.
If it appears to the Governor in Council that the fees and allowances provided for by a tariff made under subsection 542(1) are not sufficient remuneration for the services required to be performed at an election, or that a claim for any necessary service performed or for materials supplied for or at an election is not covered by the tariff, the Governor in Council may authorize the payment of any sum or additional sum for the services or materials supplied that the Governor in Council considers just and reasonable.
Despite subsection (1), the rights, if any, of claimants to compel payment or further payment by process of law remain unimpaired.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in accordance with the tariff made under subsection 542(1), tax all accounts that relate to the conduct of an election and transmit them without delay to the Receiver General.
Notices and other documents required by this Act to be posted may be posted despite any law of Canada or of a province or any municipal ordinance or by-law.
When any election officer is by this Act authorized or required to give a public notice and no special mode of notification is indicated, the notice may be in the form and given in the manner established by the Chief Electoral Officer.
A notice that may be easily read — to the effect that it is an offence with severe penalties to remove, cover up or alter the document — shall appear on, or be posted near, a Notice of Election or other document referred to in subsection (1).
No person shall, without authority, remove, cover up or alter any Notice of Election or other document that is authorized or required by this Act to be posted.
No person shall compel, induce or attempt to compel or induce any other person to take falsely an oath that is provided for by this Act.
No person shall take falsely an oath that is provided for by this Act.
All oaths or affidavits taken under this Act shall be administered free of charge.
When an oath or affidavit is authorized or directed to be taken under this Act, it shall be administered by the person who by this Act is expressly required to administer it and, if there is no such person, then by the Chief Electoral Officer or a person designated by him or her in writing, a judge, the returning officer, an assistant returning officer, a deputy returning officer, a poll clerk, a notary public, a provincial court judge, a justice of the peace or a commissioner for taking affidavits in the province.
on the certificate of the Chief Electoral Officer, any expenses incurred by, on behalf of or in relation to the Commissioner under sections 509 to 513 and 516 to 521.
any expenses incurred by the Chief Electoral Officer for preparing and printing election material and for the purchase of election supplies; and
any fees, costs, allowances or expenses referred to in subsection 542(1);
any expenses incurred by the Chief Electoral Officer to acquire information referred to in paragraph 46(1)(b);
the remuneration paid to a person employed under section 20, any additional remuneration paid to staff referred to in subsection 19(1) for overtime work to enable the Chief Electoral Officer to exercise his or her powers and discharge his or her duties under this Act and any administration expenses that are incurred for that purpose;
any amount payable under section 15;
It is the duty of the Chief Electoral Officer immediately after the passing of an amendment to this Act to consolidate the amendment, so far as necessary, in the copies of the Act printed for distribution to returning officers, to correct and reprint all forms and instructions affected by it and to publish a notice in the Canada Gazette as soon as copies of the Act and the forms and instructions have been so corrected and reprinted.
No amendment to this Act applies in an election for which the writ is issued within six months after the passing of the amendment unless, before the issue of the writ, the Chief Electoral Officer has published a notice in the Canada Gazette that the necessary preparations for the bringing into operation of the amendment have been made and that the amendment may come into force accordingly.
List of Electoral Districts
Provisions not in the current consolidation
933 provisions mirrored on this date are not in the current consolidation; they could not be placed in document order.
This Act may be cited as the Canada Elections Act.
Every person who is a Canadian citizen and is 18 years of age or older on polling day is qualified as an elector.
The following persons are not entitled to vote at an election:
No person may
Subject to this Act, every person who is qualified as an elector is entitled to have his or her name included in the list of electors for the polling division in which he or she is ordinarily resident and to vote at the polling station for that polling division.
No elector who has voted at an election may request a second ballot at that election.
If the rules set out in section 8 are not sufficient to determine the place of ordinary residence, it shall be determined by the appropriate election officer by reference to all the facts of the case.
Each candidate at a general election who, on the day before the dissolution of Parliament immediately before the election, was a member, and any elector living with the candidate on that day who would move, or has moved, with the candidate to continue to live with the candidate, is entitled to have his or her name entered on the list of electors for, and to vote at the polling station that is established for, the polling division in which is located
Any of the following persons may vote in accordance with Part 11:
The Chief Electoral Officer shall
Any additional officers, clerks and employees that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary for his or her exercise of powers, and discharge of duties, under this Act related to the preparation for, and the conduct of, an election may be employed, in the manner authorized by law, on a casual or temporary basis.
The Chief Electoral Officer may authorize the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer or any other officer on his or her staff to perform any of the Chief Electoral Officer’s functions under this Act.
The name, address and occupation of each person appointed as a returning officer and the name of the electoral district for which he or she is appointed shall be communicated as soon as practicable to the Chief Electoral Officer. Between the 1st and 20th days of January in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a list in the Canada Gazette of the name, address and occupation of the returning officer for each electoral district in Canada.
No returning officer or assistant returning officer appointed under subsection 26(1) shall act in any other capacity under this Act.
After the issue of the writ, a returning officer shall appoint the following election officers in the prescribed form:
A returning officer shall proceed to appoint deputy returning officers and poll clerks from other sources if the candidates have not, by the 17th day before polling day, made their recommendations or have not recommended a sufficient number of suitable persons.
The registered parties that have the right to provide the returning officer with lists of names of suitable persons to be appointed as election officers for the purposes of a by-election under subsection 29(1.1) of the Parliament of Canada Act because of an equality of votes are the same registered parties as those who had that right for the purposes of the election that resulted in the equality of votes.
For the purposes of subsections 33(1) and (2), 34(1), 35(1) and 39(3) and (4) and section 41, in determining whether the candidate of a registered party finished first or second in the last election in a case where the registered party is the result of a merger with two or more parties that were registered parties at that election, there shall be attributed to the candidate of the merged party the number of votes of the candidate of the merging party with the largest number of votes at that election.
No person shall
During the election period, each returning officer shall update the Register of Electors from the information that he or she obtains under this Act, other than information in relation to an elector with respect to whom an application has been granted under subsection 233(1.1).
An elector may give the Chief Electoral Officer changes to the information in the Register of Electors relating to the elector, and the Chief Electoral Officer shall make the necessary corrections to the Register of Electors.
The Chief Electoral Officer may at any time
If an elector so requests the Chief Electoral Officer in writing, information in the Register of Electors relating to that elector shall be used only for federal electoral or referendum purposes.
At the written request of an elector, the Chief Electoral Officer shall send the elector all the information in the Chief Electoral Officer’s possession relating to him or her.
No person shall
The Chief Electoral Officer shall issue a writ in Form 1 of Schedule 1 to the returning officer for the electoral district in which the election is to be held without delay after the proclamation is issued or the order is made by the Governor in Council.
Within four days after the issue of the writ, each returning officer shall sign and issue a Notice of Election in Form 2 of Schedule 1 that indicates
The following persons are not eligible to be a candidate:
The closing day for nominations shall be Monday, the 21st day before polling day.
A candidate may, before 5:00 p.m. on the closing day for nominations, provide in writing to the returning officer any change that he or she wishes to be made to his or her name, address or occupation as set out in the nomination paper.
Any votes given for a person other than a candidate are void.
The postponement of an election under section 77 and the fixing of a new closing day for nominations does not invalidate the nomination of the other candidates.
If an election is postponed under section 77, all ballots that are cast before the postponement are void and shall be destroyed.
Every employer of employees to whom Part III of the Canada Labour Code applies shall, on application, grant any such employee leave of absence, with or without pay, to seek nomination as a candidate and to be a candidate for the period during the election period that may be requested.
For the purposes of sections 83 to 88 and 90, a candidate is deemed to have been a candidate from the time he or she accepts a contribution or incurs an electoral campaign expense referred to in section 406.
The following persons are not eligible to be an official agent:
A candidate who appoints an official agent or an auditor shall obtain from the official agent or auditor a signed statement consenting to act in that capacity.
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or revocation of the appointment of an official agent or of an auditor, the candidate shall, without delay, appoint another official agent or auditor.
A candidate may have only one official agent and one auditor at a time.
No person shall sign a nomination paper consenting to be a candidate knowing that he or she is not eligible to be a candidate.
No person shall, with the intention of affecting the results of an election, knowingly make or publish any false statement of fact in relation to the personal character or conduct of a candidate or prospective candidate.
No person shall knowingly publish a false statement of the withdrawal of a candidate.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as possible after the issue of a writ, fix the commencement date for the revision of the preliminary lists of electors. The revision period shall terminate at 6:00 p.m. on the 6th day before polling day.
The returning officer may, with the approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, rent one or more offices for the revision of the preliminary lists of electors. The office or offices shall have level access.
The returning officer and assistant returning officer for an electoral district shall revise the preliminary lists of electors for that electoral district by
Each returning officer shall, as early as possible during the revision period but not later than the 5th day before polling day, send a notice of confirmation of registration that contains the information described in subsections 95(2) and (3) to every elector whose name has been added to a preliminary list of electors during the revision period, except electors referred to in subsection 95(1).
Each returning officer shall, on the 3rd day before polling day, prepare the official list of electors for each polling division for use on polling day.
No person shall
The Chief Electoral Officer, at any time before the issue of the writ or immediately after the issue of it, shall deliver to the returning officer sufficient quantities of election materials and the necessary instructions for the election officers to perform their duties.
Ballot boxes, ballots, envelopes and marking instruments procured for an election are the property of Her Majesty.
No person shall
An elector may vote
The Chief Electoral Officer may, if he or she considers it necessary, set the voting hours for the electoral district so that the opening and closing of its polls coincide with the opening and closing of the polls in other electoral districts in the same time zone.
When more than one local time is observed in an electoral district, the returning officer shall, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, determine one local time to be observed for every operation prescribed by this Act, and shall publish the hours in the Notice of Election referred to in section 62.
If only one by-election is held or if more than one by-election is held on the same day and all of them are in the same time zone, the hours of voting are from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
No employer shall, by intimidation, undue influence or by any other means, interfere with the granting to an elector in their employ of the three consecutive hours for voting, as provided for in section 132.
Candidates or their representatives who are in attendance at least 15 minutes before a polling station opens are entitled to have the ballots intended to be used at the polling station carefully counted in their presence and to inspect the ballots and all other documents relating to the vote.
When the polling station opens, the deputy returning officer shall, in full view of the candidates or their representatives who are present, open the ballot box and ascertain that it is empty, and shall
Immediately after the ballot box is sealed, the deputy returning officer shall call on the electors to vote.
If a name and address in the list of electors correspond so closely with the name and address of a person who demands a ballot as to suggest that it is intended to refer to that person, the person is, on taking the prescribed oath and complying in all other respects with the provisions of this Act, entitled to receive a ballot and to vote.
If a person asks for a ballot at a polling station after someone else has voted under that person’s name, the person is entitled to receive a ballot and to vote, after having taken the prescribed oath and satisfied the deputy returning officer as to their identity and entitlement to vote at the polling station.
If the name of an elector has been crossed off in error from an official list of electors under subsection 176(2) or (3), the elector shall be allowed to vote after taking the oath referred to in subsection 144(2), after the deputy returning officer or the poll clerk has verified with the returning officer that their name was crossed off in error.
An elector whose name does not appear on the official list of electors in his or her polling station shall not be allowed to vote unless the elector
A deputy returning officer may appoint and swear a language or sign language interpreter to assist the officer in communicating to an elector any information that is necessary to enable him or her to vote.
The returning officer or assistant returning officer by whom a transfer certificate is issued shall
Each poll clerk shall
The vote is secret.
No person shall use a loudspeaking device within hearing distance of a polling station on polling day for the purpose of promoting or opposing a political party that is listed on the ballot under the name of a candidate or the election of a candidate.
When a registration certificate is completed and signed in accordance with subsection 169(3), the list of electors is deemed to have been modified in accordance with the certificate.
Each returning officer shall, not later than Saturday, the 16th day before polling day,
The definitions in this section apply in this Part.
For the purpose of applying this Part to, or adapting any provision of this Part in respect of, a particular circumstance, the Chief Electoral Officer may issue any instructions that he or she considers necessary in order to execute its intent.
For the purpose of this Part, a voting territory with headquarters in Ottawa is hereby established. The Chief Electoral Officer may establish any additional voting territories or administrative centres in or outside Canada that he or she considers appropriate.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint, in the prescribed form, a special voting rules administrator.
The special voting rules administrator shall
Special ballots supplied by the Chief Electoral Officer to electors under this Part shall be in accordance with Form 4 of Schedule 1.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall establish a list of candidates nominated in each electoral district and, in accordance with section 117, set out the political affiliation of each of them.
Without delay after a list of candidates is established under section 187, the Chief Electoral Officer shall deliver a sufficient number of copies of it to the liaison officers.
The special voting rules administrator shall distribute to commanding officers and, as the special voting rules administrator considers appropriate, to any other person or to any place
The definitions in this section apply in this Division.
Any of the following persons is a Canadian Forces elector if he or she is qualified as an elector under section 3 and is not disentitled from voting at an election under section 4:
An elector is only entitled to vote under this Division for a candidate in the electoral district that includes the place of ordinary residence that the elector has named in his or her statement of ordinary residence.
An elector who has not voted under this Division may vote at the polling station established for the polling division of the elector’s place of ordinary residence named in section 192 but only if he or she ordinarily resides in the electoral district referred to in that section as of polling day.
A statement of ordinary residence completed by a member of the reserve force of the Canadian Forces under section 195 shall be filed with the unit in which the member is on full-time training or service or active service, as the case may be.
Statements of ordinary residence shall be retained for a period of one year after a person ceases to be entitled to vote under this Division and may be destroyed at the end of that period.
Without delay after the issue of the writs, the Chief Electoral Officer shall inform the Minister of National Defence and the coordinating officer of their issue and of the location of voting territories and administrative centres.
On being informed of the issue of the writs, the Minister of National Defence shall designate one or more electors to act as liaison officers for the vote.
On being informed of the issue of the writs, the coordinating officer shall
The commanding officers of units that are in the same locality may establish one polling station for all electors in their units, if the commanding officers consider that it would be expedient for the purposes of this Division.
During each of three or more days before the voting period and on each day on which the vote is held, each commanding officer shall publish in his or her unit’s orders and put in a conspicuous place a notice that states
On receiving election materials and the list of candidates, each commanding officer shall
During the voting period, a deputy returning officer for a unit shall, at each polling station,
A Canadian citizen may represent a registered party at a polling station if he or she provides the deputy returning officer with an authorization in the prescribed form signed by a candidate for the party.
Before delivering a special ballot to an elector, a deputy returning officer shall require the elector to complete a statement of ordinary residence, if none has been placed in the elector’s unit service documents, and to make and sign the declaration on the outer envelope.
A deputy returning officer who is qualified to vote may vote in accordance with this Division.
An elector who provides satisfactory evidence of their absence from their unit during the voting times fixed for the polling stations in his or her unit because of duty, leave or furlough may apply to a deputy returning officer of another unit to vote at that officer’s polling station.
The definitions in this section apply in this Division.
An elector may vote under this Division if his or her application for registration and special ballot is received in Ottawa by 6:00 p.m. on the 6th day before polling day and his or her name is entered on the register.
The address chosen as the place of ordinary residence in Canada in the application for registration and special ballot cannot be changed after the elector’s name is entered in the register.
The Chief Electoral Officer may require an elector whose name appears in the register to provide, within the time fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer, any information that is necessary to update the register.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall delete from the register the name of an elector who
An elector shall send the sealed outer envelope to the Chief Electoral Officer
The special ballot must arrive at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Ottawa not later than 6:00 p.m. on polling day in order to be counted.
For the purpose of this Division, an elector has the sole responsibility to ensure that
For the purpose of this Division, elector means an elector, other than a Canadian Forces elector or an incarcerated elector, who resides in Canada and who wishes to vote in accordance with this Division.
An elector may vote under this Division if his or her application for registration and special ballot is received after the issue of the writs and before 6:00 p.m. on the 6th day before polling day
Once an elector’s application for registration and special ballot has been accepted, the elector may only vote under this Division.
If an elector applies for registration and special ballot in his or her electoral district, the returning officer shall, if necessary, add the elector’s name to the appropriate list of electors and shall indicate on the list that the elector has received a ballot in accordance with this Division.
On acceptance of an elector’s application for registration and special ballot, the elector shall be given a special ballot, or, if section 241 applies, a ballot that is not a special ballot, an inner envelope and an outer envelope.
An elector who has received a special ballot may vote in accordance with subsections 227(2) and (3).
For the purpose of this Division, an elector has the sole responsibility to ensure that
An elector who applies to vote in person at the office of the returning officer for his or her electoral district after ballots for the electoral district have been printed shall be given a ballot that is not a special ballot and shall immediately vote in the manner described in paragraphs 151(1)(a) and (b) and 227(2)(b) to (d) and return the outer envelope to the election officer.
For the purpose of this Division, elector means an incarcerated elector.
The ministers responsible for corrections in the provinces shall each designate a person as a coordinating officer to work, during and between elections with the Chief Electoral Officer to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Division.
When a coordinating officer is informed that a liaison officer has been designated, the coordinating officer shall give the liaison officer all necessary information on taking the votes of electors.
Applications for registration and special ballot are deemed to be the list of electors who vote under this Division.
On the day on which the electors cast their ballots, the deputy returning officer shall, at each polling station,
With the prior authorization of correctional authorities, a Canadian citizen may represent a registered party during the taking of the votes at a correctional institution, if he or she provides the deputy returning officer with an authorization, in the prescribed form, signed by a candidate for that party.
Without delay after the votes have been cast at a correctional institution, the deputy returning officer shall deliver to the liaison officer for the institution
Every liaison officer shall ensure that the election material referred to in section 260 is received by the special voting rules administrator in Ottawa no later than 6:00 p.m. on polling day.
The applications for registration and special ballot shall be integrated into the final list of electors referred to in section 109.
This Division applies to the counting of all special ballots cast in accordance with this Part, except those referred to in Division 7.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall prescribe security instructions for the safekeeping of special ballots, inner envelopes, outer envelopes and all other election documents, and instructions for the receiving, sorting and counting of special ballots.
The counting of votes shall commence on a date to be fixed by the Chief Electoral Officer or, if no date is fixed, on Wednesday, the 5th day before polling day.
Each pair of special ballot officers shall count the votes for only one electoral district or part of an electoral district at a time.
Without delay after the counting of the votes for every electoral district has been completed, the special voting rules administrator shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer of
As soon as practicable after the counting of the votes for every electoral district has been completed, the special voting rules administrator shall send to the Chief Electoral Officer, in separate envelopes,
A candidate or his or her representative may be present for the verification of the outer envelopes and the counting of ballots received at the office of the returning officer.
No person shall, inside or outside Canada,
No person shall, outside Canada,
If the deputy returning officer determines that he or she has failed to initial a ballot, the deputy returning officer shall, in the presence of the poll clerk and witnesses, initial and count the ballot if he or she is satisfied that
A returning officer shall, on request, provide each candidate one copy of each statement of the vote in the candidate’s electoral district.
A returning officer, on the receipt of each ballot box, shall
Candidates and their representatives may attend the validation of the results, but if none of them is present, the returning officer shall ensure the presence of at least two electors until the validation is completed.
Without delay after the validation of the results, the returning officer shall prepare a certificate in the prescribed form that sets out the number of votes cast for each candidate, and shall deliver the original of the certificate to the Chief Electoral Officer and a copy of it to each candidate or his or her representative. In the case described in section 296, the certificate shall indicate the number of votes that have been ascertained to have been cast for each candidate.
After the close of an election, each returning officer shall dispose of the ballot boxes as instructed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
If a judge receives more than one application for a recount for more than one electoral district, the recounts shall be conducted in the order in which the judge receives the applications.
The judge shall, as far as practicable, proceed continuously with a recount, except for necessary breaks and, unless the judge orders otherwise, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Except in a case referred to in section 300, a judge may at any time terminate a recount on request in writing by the person who applied for the recount.
At the conclusion of a recount, the judge shall
The Chief Electoral Officer, on receiving each return of the writ, shall, in the order in which the return is received,
If the return of the writ indicates an equality of votes between the candidates with the largest number of votes, the Chief Electoral Officer shall without delay
The definitions in this section apply in this Part.
A candidate or registered party, or a person acting on their behalf, who causes election advertising to be conducted shall mention in or on the message that its transmission was authorized by the official agent of the candidate or by the registered agent of the party, as the case may be.
Subsection 323(1) does not apply in respect of
The first person who transmits the results of an election survey that is not based on recognized statistical methods to the public during an election period and any person who transmits them within 24 hours after they are first transmitted to the public must indicate that the survey was not based on recognized statistical methods.
No person shall transmit the result or purported result of the vote in an electoral district to the public in another electoral district before the close of all of the polling stations in that other electoral district.
No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is
In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of the Broadcasting Arbitrator during the election period of a general election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint a new Broadcasting Arbitrator without delay.
If two or more registered parties merge after an allocation of the broadcasting time to be made available under section 335, the Broadcasting Arbitrator shall without delay convene the representatives of the registered parties, including the merged parties, for the purpose of reallocating the broadcasting time allocated to all registered parties.
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall, not later than two days after the issue of the writs for a general election, prepare and send to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission a set of guidelines respecting
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission shall, not later than four days after the issue of the writs for a general election, prepare a set of guidelines respecting the applicability of the Broadcasting Act and the regulations made under that Act to the conduct of broadcasters and network operators in relation to a general election and send them, together with the set of guidelines sent by the Broadcasting Arbitrator under section 346, to all broadcasters and network operators.
No person shall charge a registered party, any other political party or a candidate or a person acting on behalf of any of them,
The definitions in this section apply in this Part.
A third party shall not circumvent, or attempt to circumvent, a limit set out in section 350 in any manner, including by splitting itself into two or more third parties for the purpose of circumventing the limit or acting in collusion with another third party so that their combined election advertising expenses exceed the limit.
A third party shall identify itself in any election advertising placed by it and indicate that it has authorized the advertising.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain, for the period that he or she considers appropriate, a registry of third parties in which is recorded, in relation to each third party, the information referred to in subsections 353(2) and 355(4) and (5).
No third party shall use a contribution for election advertising purposes if the contribution is from
The Chief Electoral Officer may make a correction in a report referred to in subsection 359(1) if the error does not materially affect the substance of the report.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner he or she considers appropriate,
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 6]
The fiscal period of a registered party is the calendar year.
For the purposes of this Part, a candidate is deemed to have been a candidate from the time he or she accepts a contribution or incurs an electoral campaign expense referred to in section 406.
A leader who has made an application under subsection 366(1) may withdraw it at any time before registration by sending a signed request to that effect to the Chief Electoral Officer.
A political party whose leader has made an application under subsection 366(1) becomes eligible for registration if
An eligible party shall, within 30 days after being informed, under subsection 369(1), of its eligibility, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a written report, certified by its leader or chief agent, containing the name and address of any person appointed as its registered agent and any terms and conditions to which the appointment is subject. The Chief Electoral Officer shall, on the registration of the eligible party, register that information in the registry of parties.
Within six months after becoming a registered party, the registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
Without delay after becoming registered, a political party shall, if necessary, vary its fiscal period so that it ends at the end of the calendar year. The then current fiscal period may not be less than 6 months or more than 18 months.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry of parties that contains the information referred to in paragraphs 366(2)(a) to (h) and in subsections 375(3) and 390(3).
A registered party and an eligible party shall obtain from its officers, chief agent and auditor, on appointment, their signed consent to act.
A registered party or eligible party shall have only one chief agent and one auditor at a time.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, effective on the expiration in a general election of the period for the confirmation of nominations under subsection 71(1), deregister a registered party that, at that time, has not endorsed a candidate in that general election.
The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered party if the party fails to provide
The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered party if its chief agent fails to provide the Chief Electoral Officer
On application, other than during the election period of a general election, by a registered party to become deregistered, signed by the leader and any two officers of the party, the Chief Electoral Officer may deregister the party.
A political party that is deregistered continues to have the obligations of a registered party for the application of section 392.
The chief agent of a deregistered political party shall, within six months after the day of its deregistration, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 21]
Within six months after a merger
An electoral campaign expense of a candidate is an expense reasonably incurred as an incidence of the election, including
If a fund-raising activity is held for the primary purpose of soliciting a monetary contribution for a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant by way of selling a ticket, the amount of the monetary contribution received is the difference between the price of the ticket and the fair market value of what the ticket entitles the bearer to obtain.
Before April 1 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette an inflation adjustment factor that shall be in effect for a period of one year beginning on that date. It shall be a fraction with
The chief agent of a registered party is responsible for administering its financial transactions and for reporting on them, in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
A claim that has been sent in accordance with section 417 must be paid within six months after payment of it is due.
On the application of a person who has a claim to be paid for an expense of a registered party or of a registered agent of the registered party, a judge who is competent to conduct a recount, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, may by order authorize the registered agent to pay the amount claimed if
A registered agent of a registered party shall, without delay, pay an amount of money equal to the value of a contribution received by the registered party, to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward it to the Receiver General, if the name of the contributor of a contribution of more than $20, or the name or the address of the contributor having made contributions of a total amount of more than $200, is not known.
No chief agent of a registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a financial transactions return that
[Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 37]
No chief agent of a registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a return on the registered party’s general election expenses that
The official agent of a candidate is responsible for administering the candidate’s financial transactions for his or her electoral campaign and for reporting on those transactions in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
The election expenses limit that is allowed for a candidate’s election expenses in an electoral district is the product of the base amount for an electoral district determined under section 441 and the inflation adjustment factor referred to in section 414 as of the day of the issue of the writ.
A contract involving an expense in relation to a candidate’s electoral campaign is not enforceable against the candidate unless entered into by
On the application of a person with a claim to be paid for a candidate’s electoral campaign expense or on the application of the candidate’s official agent or the candidate, as the case may be, a judge who is competent to conduct a recount may, on being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for so doing, by order authorize the payment, through the candidate’s official agent, of the amount claimed if
An official agent of a candidate shall, without delay, pay an amount of money equal to the value of a contribution that the candidate received to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward it to the Receiver General, if the name of the contributor of a contribution of more than $20, or the name or the address of the contributor having made contributions of a total amount of more than $200, is not known.
A candidate may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order that relieves the candidate from any liability or consequence under this or any other Act in relation to an act or omission of the candidate’s official agent, if the candidate establishes that
On receipt of the documents referred to in subsection 451(1) and, if it applies, subsection 455(1), including the auditor’s report, and a copy of the auditor’s invoice for that report in an amount of $250 or more, the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that sets out the amount of the expenses incurred for the audit, up to a maximum of the lesser of 3% of the candidate’s election expenses and $1,500.
On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall pay the amount set out in it to the auditor out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
If a candidate who was endorsed by a registered party dies in the period beginning at 2:00 p.m. on the 5th day before the closing day for nominations and ending on polling day,
No registered agent of a registered party, financial agent of a registered association or financial agent of a nomination contestant shall transfer funds to a candidate after polling day except to pay claims related to the candidate’s electoral campaign.
A candidate and his or her official agent shall use the prescribed forms for official receipts to contributors for the purpose of subsection 127(3) of the Income Tax Act.
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person is guilty of an offence who contravenes
Every person is guilty of an offence who
Every person who wilfully contravenes subsection 296(4) (failure to appear before returning officer) is guilty of an offence.
Every returning officer is guilty of an offence who wilfully contravenes
Every person who wilfully contravenes subsection 479(4) (refusal to obey order to leave polling place) is guilty of an offence.
In the case of judicial proceedings or a compliance agreement involving an eligible party, a registered party, a deregistered political party or an electoral district association,
A deregistered political party whose chief agent commits an offence under paragraph 497(1)(e) or (3)(c) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.
A registered party whose chief agent commits an offence under any of paragraphs 497(1)(l), (m), (n), (o), (q) and (q.01) and (3)(g), (i), (j) and (m) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.
In a prosecution for an offence under this Act, the written statement of the returning officer is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, sufficient evidence of the holding of the election and of any person named in the certificate having been a candidate.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint a Commissioner of Canada Elections, whose duty is to ensure that this Act is complied with and enforced.
If the Chief Electoral Officer believes on reasonable grounds that an election officer may have committed an offence against this Act or that any person may have committed an offence under any of paragraphs 486(3)(a) and (d), section 488, paragraph 489(3)(g), section 493 and subsection 499(1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall direct the Commissioner to make any inquiry that appears to be called for in the circumstances and the Commissioner shall proceed with the inquiry.
The Commissioner, where he or she considers it to be in the public interest, may take any measures, including incurring any expenses, in relation to an inquiry, injunction or compliance agreement under this Act.
If the Commissioner is of the opinion that a contracting party has not complied with a compliance agreement, the Commissioner shall cause a notice of default to be served on the contracting party, informing him or her that, as the case may be, the Commissioner may refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for any action the Director considers appropriate or, if a prosecution was suspended by virtue of subsection 517(8), it may be resumed. If the matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner shall also provide a copy of the notice to the Director.
The court shall dismiss proceedings against a contracting party if it is satisfied on a balance of probabilities that he or she has totally complied with the compliance agreement or, in the case of partial compliance and taking into account the contracting party’s performance with respect to the agreement, is of the opinion that the proceedings would be unfair.
The Commissioner shall publish, in the manner and form that he or she considers appropriate, a notice that sets out the contracting party’s name, the act or omission in question and a summary of the compliance agreement.
The election of a person is nul and void if, under section 65, the person was not eligible to be a candidate.
An application based on a ground set out in paragraph 524(1)(b) must be filed within 30 days after the later of
An application may not be withdrawn without leave of the court.
Any person referred to in subsection 526(1) may, within 15 days after being served with the application, file with the court a notice of appearance if he or she wishes to take part in the proceedings.
In a proceeding in relation to an application, the written statement of the returning officer is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, sufficient evidence of the holding of the election and of any person named in the certificate having been a candidate.
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the case of a general election, without delay, and, in the case of a by-election, within 90 days after the return of the writ, publish, in the manner and form that he or she considers appropriate, a report that sets out
The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as possible after a general election, make a report to the Speaker of the House of Commons that sets out any amendments that, in his or her opinion, are desirable for the better administration of this Act.
The Speaker of the House of Commons shall submit a report received by him or her from the Chief Electoral Officer under section 534 or 535 to the House of Commons without delay.
All claims that relate to the conduct of an election shall be paid by separate cheques issued from the office of the Receiver General at Ottawa and sent directly to each person who is entitled to payment.
No candidate shall sign a written document presented by way of demand or claim made on him or her by any person or association of persons, between the issue of the writ and polling day, if the document requires the candidate to follow a course of action that will prevent him or her from exercising freedom of action in Parliament, if elected, or to resign as a member if called on to do so by any person or association of persons.
If a writ is deemed to have been superseded and withdrawn under subsection 31(3) of the Parliament of Canada Act, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a notice in the Canada Gazette of the withdrawal of the writ and the cancellation of the election.
Each form established for the purposes of paragraph 424(1)(a) or 429(1)(a) shall be laid before the House of Commons on any of the first 15 days that it is sitting after the form is made by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The following shall be paid out of unappropriated moneys forming part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund:
For contributions made before September 1, 2000, the official agent shall include in the electoral campaign return in respect of a candidate the information referred to in paragraphs 451(2)(h) and (i), other than the addresses of the contributors.
[Amendments]
[Repeals]
ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL PROCEDURES
Admitting Voters
Advance Polling
Advance Polls
Agreements on Giving Information
Amendments
Amendments to Schedule 3
Application for Registration
Assistant Chief Electoral Officer and Staff
Broadcasting outside Canada
By-Elections
CANADIAN FORCES ELECTORS
Candidates
Change of Information Concerning Parties
Chief Electoral Officer
Chief Electoral Officer and Staff
Coming into Force
Commissioner of Canada Elections
COMMUNICATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE VOTE
Communications
Compliance Agreements
Conduct of an Election
Consequential Amendments
Contested Elections
Contributions
Coordinating Officer
Corrections and Extended Reporting Periods
Corrections and Extended Reporting Periods
Corrections and Extended Reporting Periods
Corrections and Extended Reporting Periods
Corrections and Extended Reporting Periods
COUNTING OF VOTES AT THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER
COUNTING OF VOTES IN THE OFFICE OF THE RETURNING OFFICER
Counting Votes
Custody of Election Documents and Documents Relating to the Register of Electors
Deemed Contributions
Definitions
Delivery of Ballot Boxes to Returning Officer
Deputy Returning Officers and Poll Clerks
Deregistration
Deregistration of Registered Associations
Deregistration of Registered Parties
Duties of Commanding Officers
Duties of Poll Clerk
Election Advertising
Election Expenses Limit
Election Expenses Reporting
Election Materials
Election Officers
Election Officers Appointed by Returning Officer
Election Opinion Surveys
Electoral Rights
ELECTORS RESIDING IN CANADA
ELECTORS TEMPORARILY RESIDENT OUTSIDE CANADA
Enforcement
Equality of Votes
Establishment of Advance Polling Stations
Expenses
Failure of Judge to Conduct Recount
Fees and Expenses of Election Officers
Final Lists of Electors
Financial Administration
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF CANDIDATES
Financial Administration of Leadership Contestants
Financial Administration of Nomination Contestants
Financial Administration of Registered Associations
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF REGISTERED PARTIES
Financial Reporting
Financial Reporting
Forms
General
GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
General Provisions
General Provisions
General
General
General
General
Holding of an Election
Hours
Illegal Practices and Corrupt Practices
INCARCERATED ELECTORS
Inflation Adjustment Factor
Injunctions
Interpretation
Interpretation and Application
Interpretation
Interpretation
Judicial Recount
List of Deputy Returning Officers
Maintenance and Communication of Register
Maximum Election Expenses
Merger of Polling Divisions
Merger of Registered Parties
Merger of Registered Parties
Miscellaneous Provisions
New Electoral Districts
Nomination Contest Report
Nomination Contest Report and Financial Administration of Nomination Contestants
Nomination of Candidates
Non-interference by Foreigners
Notice
Notice of Confirmation of Registration
Notice of Election by Returning Officer
Notice of Nomination Meeting
Oaths and Affidavits
Objection Procedure
Obligations of Candidates
Offence under Part 13 (Validation of Results by the Returning Officer)
Offences
Offences under Part 1 (Electoral Rights)
Offences under Part 3 (Election Officers)
Offences under Part 4 (Register of Electors)
Offences under Part 6 (Candidates)
Offences under Part 7 (Revision of List of Electors)
Offences under Part 8 (Preparation for the Vote)
Offences under Part 9 (Voting)
Offences under Part 10 (Advance Polling)
Offences under Part 11 (Special Voting Rules)
Offences under Part 12 (Counting Votes)
Offences under Part 15 (Return of the Writ)
Offences under Part 16 (Communications)
Offences under Part 17 (Third Party Election Advertising)
Offences under Part 18 (Finance)
Offences under Part 21 (General)
Offences under this Part (Enforcement)
Officers, Registered Agents, Auditors and Members
Payment of Audit Expenses
Payments out of Consolidated Revenue Fund
Peace and Good Order at Elections
Political Broadcasts
Polling Day
Polling Day Registration
Polling Divisions
Polling Stations
Polling Stations and Central Polling Places
Powers, Duties and Functions of Financial Agent
Powers, Duties and Functions of Financial Agent
Powers, Duties and Functions of Official Agent
Preliminary Lists of Electors
Premature Transmission
Preparation for the Vote
Proceedings at the Poll
Processing of Expense Claims
Processing of Expense Claims
Prohibition
Prohibitions
Prohibitions
Prohibitions
Prohibitions
Prohibitions
PROHIBITIONS
Punishment
Qualifications
Quarterly Allowances
Recount Procedure
Recovery of Claims
Recovery of Claims
Recovery of Claims
Register of Electors
Registration
Registration and Financial Administration of Leadership Contestants
Registration of Electoral District Associations
Registration of Electoral District Associations and Financial Administration of Registered Associations
REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Registration Officers
Registration
Reimbursement of Election Expenses
Reimbursement of Election Expenses and Personal Expenses
Repeals
Reports of Chief Electoral Officer
Return by Acclamation
Return of the Writ
Return on Financing and Expenses in a Leadership Campaign
Return on Financing and Expenses in a Nomination Campaign
Return on Financing and Expenses in an Electoral Campaign
Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers
Revised Lists of Electors and Official Lists of Electors
Revising Agents
Revision of Lists of Electors
Revision Process
Rights of Candidates
Secrecy
Short Title
Signed Pledges by Candidates Prohibited
Special Voting Procedures
Special Voting Rules
Statement of Ordinary Residence
Steps to Prepare for Vote
Supply and Use of Forms
Supply of Election Materials to Deputy Returning Officer
Surplus of Electoral Funds
Surplus of Leadership Campaign Funds
Surplus of Nomination Campaign Funds
Third Party Election Advertising
Time to Employees for Voting
Transfer Certificates
Transitional Provisions
Transitional Provisions, Consequential Amendments, Repeals and Coming into Force
Updating the Register
Use of Lists of Electors
Validation of Results by the Returning Officer
Voting
Voting Entitlement and Electoral Districts
Voting Opportunities
Voting Procedure
Voting Procedure
Voting
Writs of Election
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
If this Act comes into force after June 30 in a year, a registered party that is registered on that coming into force shall, within six months after the end of the then current fiscal year, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a statement of its assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, as of December 31 of the then current fiscal year, and the documents referred to in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) in relation to that statement.[Note: Act in force September 1, 2000, see Canada Gazette Part I, Extra Volume 134, No. 6.]
If this Act comes into force before July 1 in a year, a registered party that is registered on that coming into force shall, within six months after that coming into force, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with
a statement of its assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, as of December 31 of the previous fiscal year;
a report as to whether in the registered party’s auditor’s opinion the statement presents fairly the information on which it is based in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and
a declaration in the prescribed form by the chief agent of the registered party concerning the statement.[Note: Act in force September 1, 2000, see Canada Gazette Part I, Extra Volume 134, No. 6.]
If this Act comes into force after June 30 in a year,
sections 43 to 46 of the Canada Elections Act, as they read immediately before the coming into force of this Act, apply in respect of the provision of documents by a registered party in relation to its financial transactions for the then current fiscal period; and
section 424 of this Act applies in respect of the provision of documents by a registered party in relation to its financial transactions for all subsequent fiscal periods.[Note: Act in force September 1, 2000, see Canada Gazette Part I, Extra Volume 134, No. 6.]
If this Act comes into force after June 30 in a year, sections 43 to 46 of the Canada Elections Act, as they read immediately before the coming into force of this Act, apply in respect of the provision of documents by merging parties in relation to their financial transactions for the portion of their then current fiscal periods before the merger takes effect and for any earlier fiscal periods for which those documents have not been provided.[Note: Act in force September 1, 2000, see Canada Gazette Part I, Extra Volume 134, No. 6.]
This Act comes into force six months after the day on which it is assented to unless, before that time, the Chief Electoral Officer has published a notice in the Canada Gazette that the necessary preparations for the bringing into operation of this Act have been made and that this Act may come into force accordingly.[Note: Act in force September 1, 2000, see Canada Gazette Part I, Extra Volume 134, No. 6.]
Provincial Acts Other Sources of Information
The Broadcasting Arbitrator shall in addition give half the weight given to each of the factors referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) to the number of candidates endorsed by each of the registered parties at the previous general election, expressed as a percentage of all candidates endorsed by all registered parties at that election.
The notice shall advise an eligible party referred to in paragraph (b) that it has 30 days after the receipt of the notice to request that broadcasting time be made available to it, for purchase, under section 339.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the application.
The resulting amounts shall be rounded to the nearest hundred dollars.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the application.
This Act applies to information provided under this subsection as if it were information referred to in paragraphs 366(2)(a) to (h).
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the application.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the application.
The candidate or his or her official agent shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
The applicant shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the application.
The contestant or his or her financial agent shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer that the application has been made.
Writ of Election
Deputy of the Governor General
ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
To
of
GREETING:
WHEREAS, by and with the advice of OUR PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA, We have ordered a PARLIAMENT TO BE HELD AT OTTAWA, on the day of next. (Omit the foregoing preamble in case of a by-election.)
WE COMMAND YOU that, notice of the time and place of election being duly given,
YOU DO CAUSE election to be made according to law of a member to serve in the House of Commons of Canada for the said electoral district in the Province aforesaid (in case of a by-election: in the place of );
AND YOU DO CAUSE the closing day for the nomination of candidates to be ;
And if a poll becomes necessary, that the poll be held on ;
AND YOU DO CAUSE the name of that member when so elected, whether present or absent, to be certified to Our Chief Electoral Officer, as by law directed (in case of a by-election, omit the following) as soon as possible and not later than the day of (year).
Witness:, Deputy of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved , Chancellor and Principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF CANADA.
At Our City of Ottawa, on and in the year of Our Reign.
BY COMMAND,
Chief Electoral Officer
Notice of Election form
Form of Ballot Paper Front
Front view of form of ballot paper with sample names and white circles next to each name all on a black background
Form of Ballot Paper Back
Back view of form of ballot paper
Form of Special Ballot Paper Front of ballot paper
Front and back views of form of special ballot paper
Alberta
Canada Post Corporation’s National Change of Address Database
Election Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. E-1
Info-direct TM for Alberta
Traffic Safety Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. T-6
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. V-4
British Columbia
Election Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106
Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 318
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 479
Manitoba
The City of Winnipeg Act, S.M. 1989-90, c. 10
The Elections Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. E30
The Highway Traffic Act, S.M. 1985-86, c. 3
The Local Authorities Election Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. L180
The Vital Statistics Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. V60
New Brunswick
Elections Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. E-3
Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-17
Vital Statistics Act, S.N.B. 1979, c. V-3
Newfoundland
Elections Act, 1991, S.N. 1992, c. E-3.1
Highway Traffic Act, R.S.N. 1990, c. H-3
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.N. 1990, c. V-6
Northwest Territories
Elections Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. E-2
Motor Vehicles Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. M-16
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. V-3
Nova Scotia
Elections Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 140
Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 494
Nunavut
Elections Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. E-2, as duplicated for Nunavut by section 29 of the Nunavut Act, S.C. 1993, c. 28
Motor Vehicles Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. M-16, as duplicated for Nunavut by section 29 of the Nunavut Act, S.C. 1993, c. 28
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. V-3, as duplicated for Nunavut by section 29 of the Nunavut Act, S.C. 1993, c. 28
Ontario
Election Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.6
Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8
Municipal Elections Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, c. 32
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. V.4
Prince Edward Island
Election Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. E-1.1
Highway Traffic Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. H-5
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. V-4
Québec
Civil Code of Québec, S.Q. 1991, c. 64
Election Act, R.S.Q., c. E-3.3
Highway Safety Code, R.S.Q., c. C-24.2
Saskatchewan
The Election Act, 1996, S.S. 1996, c. E-6.01
The Highway Traffic Act, S.S. 1986, c. H-3.1
The Vehicle Administration Act, S.S. 1986, c. V-2.1
The Vital Statistics Act, S.S. 1995, c. V-7.1
Yukon
Elections Act, S.Y. 1999, c. 13
Motor Vehicles Act, R.S.Y. 1986, c. 118
Vital Statistics Act, R.S.Y. 1986, c. 175
Province of Ontario
Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing
Kenora
Nickel Belt
Thunder Bay—Rainy River
Thunder Bay—Superior North
Timmins—James Bay
Province of Quebec
Abitibi—Témiscamingue
Manicouagan
Nunavik—Eeyou
Province of Manitoba
Churchill
Dauphin—Swan River
Province of British Columbia
Cariboo—Prince George
Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon
Kamloops—Thompson
Prince George—Peace River
Skeena—Bulkley Valley
Vancouver Island North
West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast
Province of Saskatchewan
Battlefords—Lloydminster
Churchill River
Prince Albert
Saskatoon—Humboldt
Saskatoon—Wanuskewin
Yorkton—Melville
Province of Alberta
Athabasca
Lethbridge
Peace River
Westlock—St. Paul
Wetaskiwin
Wild Rose
Yellowhead
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Avalon
Bonavista—Exploits
Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte
Labrador
Random—Burin—St. George’s
Yukon
Yukon
Northwest Territories
Western Arctic
Nunavut
Nunavut