Chief Electoral Officer of Canada

Chief Electoral Officer of Canada
since December 2016[1]
Elections Canada
AppointerParliament of Canada
Term length10 years
(as of 2014)
Constituting instrumentCanada Elections Act
Formation1920
First holderOliver Mowat Biggar
DeputyDeputy chief electoral officers
Broadcasting arbitrator

The chief electoral officer of Canada (French: Directeur général des élections du Canada) is the person responsible for the administration of elections, referendums and other aspects of the electoral system in Canada. The position was established in 1920 under the Dominion Elections Act to be the chief executive of the independent agency now known as Elections Canada.[2]

The chief electoral officer is assisted in carrying out their mandate by the assistant chief electoral officer and the broadcasting arbitrator who ensures that the provisions of the Canada Elections Act and the Canada Referendum Act are carried out, and the Commissioner of Canada Elections who enforces the act.

Stéphane Perrault was appointed chief electoral officer for Elections Canada on June 8, 2018, after having served as acting chief electoral officer from December 2016 to June 2018.[3] Perrault is scheduled to hold this position for a 10-year term.[4]

  1. ^ Canada, Elections. "Biography of Stéphane Perrault". www.elections.ca.
  2. ^ "The Role and Structure of Elections Canada". Elections Canada. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  3. ^ Canada, Elections. "Biography of Stéphane Perrault". Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  4. ^ "Prime Minister nominates new Chief Electoral Officer" (Press release). PMO. May 8, 2018.