Legislation Enacted Within the Past Fiscal Year (FY 2016–17)
No electoral legislation has been enacted in fiscal year 2016–17.
Legislation Before Parliament
At the time of writing this report, there are two government bills and nine private members' bills before Parliament that may have an impact on Elections Canada's affairs.
Government Bills
Bill
Proposed Amendments
Bill C-33–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
To remove limitations on public education and information activities conducted by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)
To establish a Register of Future Electors in which Canadian citizens 14 to 17 years of age may consent to be included
To authorize the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to provide the CEO with information about permanent residents and foreign nationals for the purpose of updating the Register of Electors
To remove the prohibition on the CEO authorizing the use of the voter information card as identification
To replace, in the context of voter identification, the option of attestation for residence with an option of vouching for identity and residence
To remove two limitations on voting by non-resident electors: the requirement that they have been residing outside Canada for less than five consecutive years, and the requirement that they intend to return to Canada to resume residence in the future
To relocate the Commissioner of Canada Elections to within the Office of the CEO, and provide that the Commissioner is to be appointed by the CEO, after consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions, for a non-renewable term of 10 years
Bill C-50–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (political financing)
To enact an advertising and reporting regime for fundraising events attended by Ministers, party leaders or leadership contestants
To harmonize the rules applicable to contest expenses of nomination contestants and leadership contestants with the rules applicable to election expenses of candidates
Private members' bills
Bill
Proposed Amendments
Bill C-212–An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (members who cross the floor)
To trigger a by-election when an MP changes political parties (if elected as a member of another party) or joins a party (if elected as an independent)
Bill C-213–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
To lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years of age
Bill C-279–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (length of election period)
To specify the maximum duration of an election period
Bill C-295–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (residence of electors)
To allow all Canadian citizens to vote in a federal election, regardless of their place of residence
Bill C-297–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting hours)
To change the voting hours across Canada
Bill C-298–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting hours – Pacific time zone)
To change the voting hours in the Pacific time zone
Bill C-327–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act (political financing)
To amend the contribution limits and the computation of the fund paid to registered political parties
Bill C-340–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act (political financing)
To amend the contribution limits and the computation of the fund paid to registered political parties
Bill S-239–An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (eliminating foreign funding)
To broaden and clarify the prohibition on inducements of electors by non-residents
To make it an offence for a third party to accept a foreign contribution for any purposes related to an election