Canada Elections Act

Canada Elections Act, 2000
Parliament of Canada
  • An Act respecting the election of members to the House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts
    French: Loi concernant l’élection des députés à la Chambre des communes, modifiant certaines lois et abrogeant certaines autres lois
CitationS.C. 2000, c. 9
Enacted byParliament of Canada
Assented toMay 31, 2000
Legislative history
First readingHouse: October 14, 1999 / Senate: February 29, 2000
Second readingHouse: February 22, 2000 / Senate: March 28, 2000
Third readingHouse: February 28, 2000 / Senate: May 31, 2000
Committee reportHouse: February 22, 2000 / Senate: April 13, 2000
Status: Amended

The Canada Elections Act (French: Loi électorale du Canada) is an Act of the Parliament of Canada which regulates the election of members of parliament to the House of Commons of Canada. The Act has been amended many times over Canada's history.

The Canada Election Act limits spending on election advertising by interest groups, which was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in Harper v. Canada (Attorney General) (2004). It also sets out various provisions regarding the publication or broadcast of election advertising and election results.

In 1989, the government of Canada appointed the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing regarding restrictions in the Elections Act inconsistent with Section Three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[1]

In 1996, the Act was amended to establish a Register of Electors[2] and the International Register of Electors.[3]

In 2003, the Act was extended to cover the nomination contests of registered parties.[4] In 2007, it was amended to mandate fixed election dates.

  1. ^ "The Charter: A watershed". Chronicle: A spotlight on 1920-1927. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  2. ^ "PART 4: REGISTER OF ELECTORS — Maintenance and Communication of Register". Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9). Department of Justice (Canada). Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  3. ^ "Canada Elections Act - Special Voting Rules, Division 3 - Electors Resident Outside Canada". Department of Justice (Canada). Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Ian Stewart, Just One Vote: Jim Walding's nomination to constitutional defeat, (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press), 2009, p. 4.