Elections Modernization Act
The Elections Modernization Act was enacted as Bill C-76 by the 42nd Parliament of Canada under the government of Justin Trudeau as a response to the Fair Elections Act. The bill received royal assent on December 13, 2018, in time for the 2019 Canadian Election.
History
On February 4, 2014, in response to 38 recommendations by Canada's Chief Electoral Officer, the government of Stephen Harper introduced the Fair Elections Act. The provisions of the bill were opposed by all opposition parties and, in testimony, the Chief Electoral Officer criticized the bill as " its stated purpose." Shortly thereafter, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau vowed to repeal the act, as did Thomas Mulcair, then leader of the official opposition and of the New Democratic Party.On October 19, 2015, Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party were elected to form government in the 42nd Parliament of Canada, and proposed Bill C-33, which they would later substitute with C-76, to replace the Act.
Features
The Act imposed new spending caps on political and third parties in the period directly preceding an election, and required reporting by such third parties on partisan activities, advertising, and election surveying, as well as disclosure on advertising in such pre-election period; it also requires third parties maintain a separate account for aforementioned.Furthermore, the act also reduced barriers to the political process by:
- creating a Register of Future Electors, where teenagers 14-17 can place their name for automatic registration when they attain voting age;
- broadening the application period for accommodations for people with disabilities, and creating financial incentives for political parties and candidates to accommodate them in election periods;
- easing rules for treating candidate childcare, litigation, and disability accommodation expenses;
- allowing military members to vote by multiple means;
- giving the Chief Electoral Officer the ability to engage in public education and information activities;
- repealing limitations on expatatriate voting for those who haven't resided in Canada for 5 years, or don't intend to return;
- extending hours on advance voting days.
The Act directs Elections Canada to invest more to make participating in elections more accessible to people with disabilities. There are several initiatives, but perhaps the most visible was direction in 18.1 for the Chief Electoral Officer to acquire and evaluate improved voting technology for use by electors with a disability.