| Short Title: | Elections Modernization Act |
| Legislature: | Parliament of Canada |
| Long Title: | An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments |
| Citation: | S.C. 2018, c. 31 |
| Royal Assent: | December 13, 2018 |
| Bill: | Bill C-76 |
| Introduced By: | Minister Karina Gould |
| Enacted By: | House of Commons of Canada |
| 1St Reading: | April 30, 2018 |
| 2Nd Reading: | October 22, 2018 |
| 3Rd Reading: | October 30, 2018 |
| Bill2: | Bill C-76 |
| Enacted By2: | Senate of Canada |
| 1St Reading2: | October 31, 2018 |
| 2Nd Reading2: | November 7, 2018 |
| 3Rd Reading2: | December 6, 2018 |
| Status: | current |
The Elections Modernization Act (officially An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments) 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.[1] [2]
See main article: Fair Elections Act.
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[3] and, in testimony, the Chief Electoral Officer criticized the bill as "[undermining] its stated purpose."[4] Shortly thereafter, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau vowed to repeal the act,[5] as did Thomas Mulcair, then leader of the official opposition and of the New Democratic Party.[6]
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,[7] which they would later substitute with C-76, to replace the Act.[8]
The Act imposed new spending caps on political and third parties in the period directly preceding an election (in addition to the existing limitations in election periods), 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:
Finally, the act caps election periods to 50 days; limits the Chief Electoral Officer's delegation authority; eases administrative requirements to hiring of election officers, and towards information sharing within the government regarding non-citizens; allows the voter identification card received by electors prior to an election as valid id for voting; ends signature requirements for advance voting; reorganizes the office of Commissioner of Canada Elections, and gives them the authority to impose fines and file charges, and to subpoena with court approval; strengthens laws regarding foreign influence; and finally, it limits the calling of by-elections close to the general election, and makes rules for privacy against political parties/candidates.[9]
The Act directs Elections Canada to invest more to make participating in elections more accessible to people with disabilities.[10] There are several initiatives, but perhaps the most visible was direction in 18.1 (3) for the Chief Electoral Officer to acquire and evaluate improved voting technology for use by electors with a disability.[11]
The bulk of the act came into force on June 13, 2019, but Elections Canada sped up the coming-into-force of several provisions; first on January 19, again on April 1, and finally on May 11 .[12]