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Section III – Supplementary Information

Financial Information

List of Tables

Please note that these tables are available electronically and can be accessed on the Treasury Board Secretariat’s website at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rpp/st-ts-eng.asp.

Details of Transfer Payment Programs

Internal Audits

Other Items of Interest

Strategic Plan 2008–2013

You can consult the Strategic Plan 2008-2013 by following this path: www.elections.ca > About Elections Canada > Strategic Plan 2008-2013.

New Legislation and Judicial Decisions

New Legislation

Recently enacted legislation with an impact on our business
Bill C-2, Federal Accountability Act (S.C. 2006, c. 9) This bill received royal assent in December 2006. It has had a number of impacts on the operations of Elections Canada. As of January 1, 2007, contribution limits have been reduced from $5,000 to $1,000, and only individuals are now authorized to make contributions to political entities governed by the Canada Elections Act. Candidates are also now required to file a new report regarding certain gifts. The Chief Electoral Officer is now responsible for the appointment and removal of returning officers and since April 1, 2007, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer is subject to the Access to Information Act. Finally, the responsibility for prosecuting offences under the Canada Elections Act has been transferred to the newly established office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Public Service Employment Act (S.C. 2007, c. 21) This bill received royal assent in June 2007. It requires electors to prove their identity and address before voting. It also amends the Canada Elections Act to, among other things, make operational changes that will improve the accuracy of the National Register of Electors, facilitate voting and enhance communications with the electorate. It amends the Public Service Employment Act to permit the appointment of casual workers by the Chief Electoral Officer on the occasion of an election for up to 165 working days in a calendar year.
Bill C-18, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (verification of residence) (S.C. 2007, c. 37) This bill received royal assent in December 2007. It allows an elector or person vouching for an elector who provides a piece of identification that does not prove his or her residence to use that piece of identification for proving residence provided that the address on the piece of identification is consistent with information related to the elector or vouching person found in the list of electors.

Judicial Decisions and Proceedings

Ongoing proceedings
Sa Tan v. Her Majesty the Queen In the Federal Court of Canada, the applicant filed a challenge to the constitutionality of the provisions of the Canada Elections Act that require a person who seeks nomination as a candidate to provide a $1,000 deposit, appoint a qualified auditor and obtain the signatures of a specified number of electors. These requirements are set out in subsection 66(1) and paragraph 67(4)(a) of the Act. The application was filed and served in August 2007; no hearing date has yet been scheduled.
Rose Henry et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) On January 30, 2008, an action was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by individuals and groups challenging the constitutionality of the new identification and vouching requirements in the Canada Elections Act. The applicants assert that the requirements will prevent electors from exercising their right to vote, as guaranteed by section 3 of the Charter. The amended statement of claim was filed at the end of November and an amended statement of defence will be filed shortly. Disclosure of documents and interrogatories are currently being prepared and should be completed by mid-February 2009.
L.G. (Gerry) Callaghan et al. v. the Chief Electoral Officer Two candidates in the 39th general election are seeking judicial review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s alleged failure to fulfill his duty under section 465 of the Canada Elections Act. Under this provision, if the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that a candidate and his or her official agent have complied with their financial reporting obligations, he is required to provide a certificate to the Receiver General for the reimbursement of a portion of the candidate’s election expenses and personal expenses. The Chief Electoral Officer issued certificates for the reimbursement of most of the expenses incurred by the two candidates but was not satisfied that other expenses had been incurred. Those expenses were excluded from the calculation of the reimbursement.
In a few other cases, Elections Canada is being sued by individuals who allege its negligence as a result of separate incidents that occurred in the 39th general election on January 23, 2006, in or near polling stations. These cases are proceeding through the courts.

 

Contacts for Further Information

Address:

Elections Canada
257 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M6

Telephone:

1-800-463-6868
toll-free in Canada and the United States

001-800-514-6868
toll-free in Mexico

613-993-2975
from anywhere in the world

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing:
TTY 1-800-361-8935
toll-free in Canada and the United States

Fax:

613-954-8584
1-888-524-1444
toll-free in Canada and the United States

Web site:

www.elections.ca

Media Information

Telephone:

1-877-877-9515
613-993-2224
TTY 1-800-361-8935

Fax:

613-954-8584

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