Raison d'être, Mandate and Role – 2021–22 Departmental Plan

Raison d'être

Ensuring that Canadians can exercise their democratic rights to vote and be a candidate.

Mandate and Role

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 co-operation 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
• 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
• 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