2015–16 Departmental Performance Report

Section I: Organizational Overview

Organizational Profile

Chief Electoral Officer: Marc Mayrand

Agency: Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Year established: 1920

Main legislative authorities:

• Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9^{Footnote 1}
• Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. E-3^{Footnote 2}
• Referendum Act, S.C. 1992, c. 30^{Footnote 3}

Other:

New Legislation

An analysis of proposed amendments to electoral legislation^{Footnote 4} impacting Elections Canada's business can be found on the agency's website.

Judicial Decisions and Proceedings

An analysis of judicial decisions and proceedings^{Footnote 5} that may affect electoral legislation can be found on Elections Canada's website.

Organizational Context

Raison d'être

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, commonly known as Elections Canada, is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament. Its mandate is to:

• be prepared to conduct a federal general election, by-election or referendum
• administer the political financing provisions of the Canada Elections Act
• monitor compliance with electoral legislation
• conduct public information campaigns on voter registration, voting and becoming a candidate
• conduct education programs for students on the electoral process
• provide support to the independent commissions in charge of adjusting the boundaries of federal electoral districts following each decennial census
• carry out studies on alternative voting methods and, with the approval of parliamentarians, test alternative voting processes for future use during electoral events
• provide assistance and cooperation in electoral matters to electoral agencies in other countries or to international organizations

Responsibilities

In fulfilling its mandate, Elections Canada also has the responsibility to:

• appoint, train and support returning officers and retain the services of field liaison officers across Canada
• maintain the National Register of Electors, which is used to prepare preliminary lists of electors at the start of electoral events
• publish reports on the conduct of elections and official voting results
• maintain electoral geography information, which provides the basis for maps and other geographic products
• register political entities, including political parties, electoral district associations, candidates, nomination contestants, leadership contestants, third parties that engage in election advertising and referendum committees
• administer the reimbursements and subsidies paid to eligible candidates, registered political parties and auditors
• disclose information on registered parties and electoral district associations, registered parties' nomination and leadership contestants, candidates, third parties and referendum committees, including their financial returns
• refer to the Commissioner of Canada Elections information concerning possible offences under the Canada Elections Act (or other relevant Acts)
• consult the Advisory Committee of Political Parties for advice and recommendations
• issue written opinions, guidelines and interpretation notes on the application of the Canada Elections Act to political entities
• appoint the Broadcasting Arbitrator, who is responsible for allocating free and paid broadcasting time among political parties and for arbitrating disputes that may arise between parties and broadcasters
• recommend to Parliament amendments for the better administration of the Canada Elections Act by submitting a recommendations report after a general election, as well as by providing expert advice and other special reports

Strategic Outcome(s) and Program Alignment Architecture

Elections Canada has a single strategic outcome, supported by the following Program Alignment Architecture (PAA):

1. Strategic Outcome: An Accessible Electoral Framework that Canadians Trust and Use

• 1.1 Program: Electoral Operations
  • 1.1.1 Sub-program: Electoral Preparedness
  • 1.1.2 Sub-program: Electoral Event Delivery
  • 1.1.3 Sub-Program: Electoral Boundaries Redistribution
• 1.2 Program: Regulation of Electoral Activities
  • 1.2.1 Sub-program: Administration of Political Financing
  • 1.2.2 Sub-program: Compliance
• 1.3 Program: Electoral Engagement
  • 1.3.1 Sub-program: Civic Education and Outreach
  • 1.3.2 Sub-program: Electoral Development
• Internal Services

Operating Environment and Risk Analysis

Key Risks

Risk	Risk Response Strategy	Link to the Organization's Program(s)
General election called before October 19, 2015	While Elections Canada achieved election readiness by March 1, 2015 in anticipation of a spring election, it did not foresee an election call in the middle of the summer. Some delays were encountered in opening local offices but this did not impact the successful delivery of the election.	Electoral Operations Regulation of Electoral Activities Electoral Engagement Internal Services
Insufficient time to fully implement changes in Bill C-50 within the proposed 60 days for its coming into force	The agency was prepared to make every effort to implement Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act, which was introduced on December 10, 2014. However, the bill died on the order paper with the dissolution of Parliament.	Electoral Operations Regulation of Electoral Activities Electoral Engagement Internal Services
Electoral event delivery impacted by a compromise of information and communications technology systems or services	The agency implemented the following preventive measures to mitigate risks: extensive in-house testing and simulation vulnerability and threat risk assessment contingency planning and disaster recovery planning a new governance to respond to incidents During the election, the agency conducted a 24/7 incident monitoring and response process. A few very minor incidents were reported and addressed almost instantly; none of them impacted the successful delivery of the election.	Electoral Operations Regulation of Electoral Activities Electoral Engagement Internal Services
Non-compliance by poll workers with rules and procedures prescribed by the Canada Elections Act	Elections Canada invested in a new program to recruit and train election officers, considerably increased the number of poll officials hired and made processes more user friendly. It proceeded with a Treasury Board submission to increase election workers' wages to offer fair compensation and help attract qualified individuals. The audit of poll worker performanceFootnote 6 found that election officers properly performed their duties and functions.	Electoral Operations Regulation of Electoral Activities Electoral Engagement Internal Services

Organizational Priorities

Priority 1: Maintain readiness and successfully deliver the 42nd general election in 2015

Description: Delivering elections is at the core of Elections Canada's mandate. The 42^nd general election is scheduled to take place on October 19, 2015. Elections Canada achieved election readiness by March 1, 2015. The agency has largely implemented amendments to the Canada Elections Act and completed the vast majority of its three-year plan of administrative changes aimed at improving services to electors. Deploying resources for conducting and wrapping up the general election will be the agency's sole priority in 2015–2016.

Priority Type: New

Key Supporting Initiatives

Planned Initiatives	Start Date	End Date	Status	Link to the Organization's Program(s)
Maintain election readiness	April 2015	August 2015	Previously committed to	Electoral Operations Regulation of Electoral Activities Electoral Engagement Internal Services

Key Supporting Initiatives

Planned Initiatives	Start Date	End Date	Status	Link to the Organization's Program(s)
Deliver the 42nd general election	August 2015	March 2016	Previously committed to	Electoral Operations Regulation of Electoral Activities Electoral Engagement Internal Services

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