Elections Canada has announced the formation of the 10 Electoral Boundaries Commissions that will readjust Canada's federal electoral boundaries for the 2015 federal general election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/21February2012.html Not content to let his Quebec colleagues be the only ones to clamour for special treatment, NDP Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle introduced Bill C-396 into the House of Commons on February 15th. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18February2012.html Elections Canada has published the preliminary election expense limits for the federal by-election in Toronto-Danforth on 19 March 2012. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17February2012.html The CBC website reports that Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal fisheries critic Jim Bennett has filed a complaint against Loyola Sullivan, the former Ambassador for Fisheries Conservation, with the federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16February2012.html Bill C-306 was defeated at second reading on February 8th. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12February2012.html Elections Canada has issued the writ of election for a by-election in the electoral district of Toronto-Danforth. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/6February2012.html The federal registered parties' fourth quarter financial returns for 2011 are now available on the Elections Canada website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/31January2012.html The Montreal Gazette reports on a series of policy proposals that were adopted by the Parti Québécois at a recent council meeting. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30January2012.html Gerry Nicholls has an opinion piece in yesterday's Globe and Mail setting out his opposition to the regulation of third party election advertising. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26January2012.html The Alberta Government announced today that elections will be held for three Senate nominees in conjunction with this Spring's provincial general election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20January2012.html According to the Toronto Star, an NDP activist has filed a complaint with Elections Ontario, alleging that Wind Concerns Ontario incurred more than $500 in expenses on political advertising during the 2011 provincial election, but failed to register as required by section 37.5 of the Election Finances Act (Ontario). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17January2012.html According the CBC the Conservatives will repeal section 329 of the Elections Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13January2012.html The Nova Scotia Government has announced the creation of an electoral boundaries commission. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12January2012ns.html MP Lise St-Denis, who represents the riding of Saint-Maurice-Champlain, has left the NDP to join the Liberals. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12January2012.html Elections Canada announced that five political parties have received their quarterly allowance as per section 435.01 of the Elections Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3January2012.html As reported by the CBC here. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/22December2011.html The Chief Electoral Officer has published a reminder of the new political contribution limits that will be in effect in 2012. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/22December2011ef.html Bill C-20 passed third reading in the Senate and received Royal Assent yesterday, meaning that the House of Commons will expand to 338 seats for the next federal general election in 2015. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17December2011hoc.html There is an article on the Globe and Mail website today by Jane Taber about Stephane Dion's opposition to Bill C-21. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17December2011.html Bill 100 (which makes amendments to municipal elections, Bill 116 (which removes the requirement for the CEO to disclose the exact age of voters to political parties) and Bill 128 (which prohibits public sector organizations from hiring consultant lobbyists) all received royal assent yesterday in Nova Scotia. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16December2011.html The Liberal Party has sent a letter to Elections Canada requesting an investigation into whether the fake by-election calls used by the Conservative Party in the Mount Royal electoral district contravene section 92 of the Elections Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16December2011ec.html As reported by the CBC here and here, the House of Commons Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics is currently reviewing the Lobbying Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/14December2011.html Elections NWT has announced that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has tabled the Report on the Official Voting Results from the 2011 territorial general election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13December2011nwt.html Bill S-6 was introduced into the Senate by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Marjory LeBreton and received first reading on 6 December. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13December2011.html The Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada (the "Commissioner") issued a report (the "Report") today that found GPG Green Power Corp. and its two principals, Patrick Glémaud and former MP Rahim Jaffer in contravention of the Lobbyist Code of Conduct (Canada) (the "Code"). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12December2011.html Bill 128, the Public Sector Lobbyists Act, was introduced into the Nova Scotia legislature on 5 December by John MacDonell, the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/6December2011.html Bill C-368, a private members' bill, was introduced into the House of Commons on 30 November by Don Davies, the NDP Member for Vancouver Kingsway. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5December2011.html In the past two weeks it has been reported how constituents in the Mount Royal electoral district were receiving calls telling them that there was a by-election coming up, and asking if they supported the Conservatives. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/1December2011.html Courtesy of Rick Hasen's Election Law Blog, here is more evidence of the the risks involved when judges are elected. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/29November2011.html Elections Canada commissioned a National Youth Survey following the May 2011 federal general election to better understand the reasons why youth may or may not participate in the electoral process. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26November2011.html Elections BC issued a Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on Recommendations for Legislative Change earlier this week. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/25November2011.html Bill C-355, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting hours), was introduced in the House of Commons by Don Davies and received first reading yesterday. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/24November2011v.html The 2011 New Brunswick Speech from the Throne was delivered by Lieutenant-Governor Graydon Nicholas yesterday. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/24November2011.html The Ottawa Citizen had an editorial on Bill C-20 this Saturday. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/23November2011.html As municipal elections in British Columbia are run by individual municipalities as opposed to by Elections BC, it can be challenging to get information on the results and details of the elections across the province. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20November2011.html The Liberal Party has countered the Conservative plan for 30 new seats in the House of Commons with a plan that will redistribute the existing 308 seats. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19November2011.html The idea was reported on by the Vancouver Sun. 16 and 17 year olds would be pre-registered with Elections BC when they are in high school, instead of having to wait until they are 18 and then having the onus on themselves to register. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19November2011bc.html The issue of mandatory voting comes up every now and then as a solution to low voter turnout, but this Toronto Star story about the difficulties faced by enumerators in Alberta makes me wonder whether voter registration should be mandatory. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18November2011.html CBC News is reporting today that the Conservative Government will introduce legislation next week to implement fixed election dates in Alberta. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18November2011ab.html Bill 100, which amends the Municipal Elections Act (Nova Scotia), was introduced into the Nova Scotia legislature and passed first reading yesterday. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17November2011.html On the National Post website yesterday Brian Hutchinson has written an article about political contributions made by U.S. charities to Vision Vancouver, and asks "Have any laws been broken?" http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16November2011van.html Elections BC has released its report on the HST Referendum. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16November2011.html Fair Vote Canada has announced that it will provide up to $10,000 to support a court challenge that is arguing that the first-past-the-post electoral system is unconstitutional. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16November2011fv.html According to this Toronto Star article, the Liberals will oppose adding 30 seats to the House of Commons, on the grounds of the added cost of more politicians. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/15November2011.html Martin Cohn proposes two ideas to fix what he perceives is a democratic deficit in Ontario in an article published today on the Toronto Star website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/14November2011.html Bill C-21 was introduced in the House of Commons by the Minister of State for Democratic Reform and received first reading on 2 November. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3November2011loans.html As reported by the Globe and Mail, five lobbyists were found in breach of the Lobbyist Code of Conduct (Canada) by the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3November2011.html The federal registered parties' third quarter financial returns for 2011 are now available on the Elections Canada website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/2November2011.html Yesterday the Nunavut Legislature rejected the recommendations of the Integrity Commissioner contained in a report into the actions of Fred Schell, the MLA for Baffin South. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/1November2011.html The appointment of judges to the Supreme Court of Canada invariably leads to renewed debate over how judges should be selected. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/31October2011.html The Nunavut Legislature has passed Bill 22, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30October2011.html Bill C-20 was introduced in the House of Commons today by the Minister of State for Democratic Reform and received first reading. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/28October2011.html Nunavut Integrity Commissioner Norman Pickell issued a report last week, finding that Fred Schell, MLA for South Baffin, contravened sections 10, 2(b) and 4(a) of the Integrity Act (Nunavut) the "Act"). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/27October2011.html Elections New Zealand has announced that the 2011 General Election is now underway and that nominations for candidates will be open tomorrow. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26October2011nz.html Yellowknife South MLA Bob McLeod was elected Premier of the Northwest Territories today. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26October2011.html The Globe and Mail reports that NDP MP Pat Martin has alleged that seven Conservative MPs are in a conflict of interest regarding Bill C-18, which would remove the Canadian Wheat Board’s control over Western Canadian grain sales, and should recuse themselves from voting on the bill. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/25October2011.html Representation by Population continues to be a hot topic, making the top story of the Globe and Mail's website this morning. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/24October2011.html The British Columbia Court of Appeal issued its ruling last week in the dispute between several public sector unions and the British Columbia government over limits on third party election advertising in the pre-campaign period. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/24October2011gm.html On 30 September I wrote about how the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner had declined to conduct an inquiry of the NDP Caucus in connection with the practice of accepting sponsorship money from unions in exchange for advertising services at a national party convention. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/23October2011.html Elections Quebec has announced that the Electoral Boundaries Commission has issued its final decision on Quebec's new electoral map. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/23October2011pq.html Here is an opinion piece by Tonda MacCharles in the Toronto Star on the Supreme Court of Canada's appointment process. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/21October2011scc.html As the anticipation of a government bill that will add to and redistribute the seats in the House of Commons (the "HOC") grows, speculation about what that redistribution will look like is taking off. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20October2011.html The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that it will hear the appeal of the Conservative Party of Canada regarding the use of the "in-and-out" election financing scheme in the 2006 General Election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20October2011scc.html The Government of Prince Edward Island announced today that Liberal Party candidate Charlie McGeoghegan has been confirmed elected after a judicial recount. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19October2011pei.html The CBC reported earlier this month on how certain Yukon voters were unable to cast a ballot in the territorial election as they did not meet the voter registration requirements set out in the Elections Act (Yukon). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19October2011.html Yesterday Prime Minister Steven Harper announced that Justice Andromache Karakatsanis and Justice Michael J. Moldaver are the Federal Government’s nominees for the Supreme Court of Canada. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18October2011.html Elections New Zealand is using a novel communications strategy to get voters to register for its upcoming general election and referendum. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18October2011nz.html In August I wrote about how the NDP's scheme to fundraise on behalf of the Broadbent Institute by funneling donations made in memoriam of Jack Layton through the Party in order to offer tax credits was unethical and may not be compliant with the Income Tax Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17October2011.html The Elections NWT Facebook feed has confirmed that Alfred Moses was confirmed elected after a judicial recount today. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13October2011.html The Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party won another majority in yesterday's election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12October2011.html The Yukon Party won its third straight majority in yesterday's territorial election in the Yukon. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12October2011yk.html Elections NWT has confirmed that there will be a judicial recount of the ballots cast in the electoral district of Inuvik Boot Lake. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/11October2011nwt.html The Hill Times online edition has an article on the desire for changes to the Lobbying Act (Canada) and the Lobbyist Code of Conduct (Canada) within the lobbyist community. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/11October2011.html Elections Saskatchewan announced today that writs have been issued for the November 7, 2011 General Election in Saskatchewan. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/10October2011.html The editorial board of the National Post bids good riddance to the per-vote subsidy in this editorial. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/10October2011np.html The Yukon Territorial General Election is this Tuesday. I have examined the platforms of the Yukon Party, the Yukon Liberal Party and the Yukon NDP with a focus on their policies for democratic reform, and provide a summary of them here. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/9October2011.html Peter O'Neil gives his thoughts and asks some important questions about Senate Reform on the Vancouver Sun website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/8October2011.html The National Post has a story exploring whether the results of the recent provincial elections will lead to a renewed interest in electoral reform. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/7October2011es.html Peter O'Neil explores this question in the Vancouver Sun. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/7October2011sen.html The Ontario Liberal Party won the most seats in yesterday's general election in Ontario but fell just short of a majority. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/7October2011.html Yesterday's Globe and Mail contained a piece by Andrew Steele on voter suppression. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/6October2011gm.html The Conservatives have taken the first step to implementing one of their election finance promises from the 2011 campaign: eliminating the per-vote subsidy to political parties. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/6October2011.html Elections Canada has announced that five political parties have received their quarterly allowance as per section 435.01 of the Elections Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5October2011.html Elections Canada has announced that five political parties have received their quarterly allowance as per section 435.01 of the Elections Act (Canada). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5October2011.html The Manitoba NDP won a majority government in yesterday's general election in Manitoba. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5October2011man.html The Liberals won a majority government in yesterday's general election in Prince Edward Island. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/4October2011pei.html The results of the 17th Northwest Territories General Election are in. 16 of the 19 seats in the Territorial Legislature were up for grabs, as three of the electoral districts were already won by acclamation: Robert C. McLeod in Inuvik Twin Lakes, Tom Beaulieu in Tu Nedhe and Bob McLeod in Yellowknife South. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/4October2011nwt.html The report of a judicial inquiry into conflict of interest allegations against Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion was released today. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3October2011on.html Bill C-306, a private members' bill, was introduced into the House of Commons on 30 September by Mathieu Ravignat, the NDP Member from Pontiac. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3October2011.html As reported by the National Post, a group of candidates who unsuccessfully contested Mississauga’s Ward 5 by-election have submitted a formal complaint to the city’s electoral finance committee, alleging Councillor Bonnie Crombie violated the Municipal Elections Act. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/2October2011.html Alison Redford has won the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party leadership contest on the second round of counting and will become Alberta's next premier. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/2October2011ab.html Debate on Bill C-7, the Senate Reform Act, began yesterday as it was introduced for second reading and referral to committee by the Minister of State (Democratic Reform). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/1October2011.html The CBC and Sun News are reporting today on a controversy involving a senior campaign official with the Ontario Liberal Party who claimed to have exchanged cartons of cigarettes in exchange for votes during a recent training session. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30September2011on.html In addition to her comments on the Defence Minister's vacation to a House of Commons committee yesterday, the Federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner also commented on a Conservative Party MP's request for an inquiry over sponsorships at a recent NDP Convention. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30September2011.html The Globe and Mail reports today that Federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson told an all-party Commons Committee that there "could be some contraventions" in response to a question regarding the Defence Minister's vacation at a fishing camp owned by the chairman of a Crown corporation. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/29September2011.html With the Manitoba Provincial General Election a week away, I took a look at what the platforms of the four major parties stand on democratic reform. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/27September2011.html The Globe and Mail reported Thursday that the federal Commissioner of Lobbying and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner have confirmed that they are investigating Bruce Carson, a former aide in the Prime Minister's Office. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26September2011.html In international election law news, the BBC reports that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has announced that women will now be allowed to vote and run for office in municipal elections. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/25September2011.html On Thursday the Globe and Mail reported that the Ontario Liberal Party was being criticized for accepting donations from municipally-owned utitilites and Municipalities. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/24September2011.html Elections BC has published its report on the 11 May 2011 Vancouver-Point Grey by-election as required by section 13(1)(b) of the Election Act (British Columbia). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/23September2011.html CBC posted a story yesterday about an electoral systems project called Three Ontario Votes. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/22September2011tov.html As reported by the Washington Post. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/22September2011ads.html Jeff Jedras gives his opinions about representation in the House of Commons and tries to pin down where the major parties stand on it in today's National Post. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/22September2011.html The Chief Electoral Officer of Québec announced today that Québec's Electoral Boundaries Commission has tabled a revised proposal for establishing electoral boundaries in Québec with the National Assembly. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20September2011.html Neil Reynolds has an opinion piece in today's Globe and Mail on the history of the democratic principle of representation by population in Canada. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19September2011gm.html Fasken Martineau's Guy Giorno discusses the City of Ottawa's efforts to set up a municipal lobbyist registry in this post. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19September2011.html According to the CBC the Manitoba Liberals have accused the Manitoba NDP of violating the government advertising provision of the Election Finances Act (Manitoba) (the "Act"). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16September2011man.html The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has released the results of a survey it conducted as part of a comprehensive review of internet voting systems used in elections worldwide between 2000 and 2011. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16September2011.html We are already in the middle of Canada's Democracy Week so I better write a post about it now before it is too late. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/14September2011.html With a bill adding seats to the House of Commons for British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario due to be introduced by the Conservatives, and with leadership campaigns underway for the NDP and the Liberal Party, we are bound to have some debate on how many seats there should be in the House of Commons and how they should be divided among the provinces and territories. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13September2011rep.html By-elections were held yesterday in the Nunavut constituencies of Iqaluit West, Pangnirtung and Tununiq. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13September2011.html Analyzing the democratic reform platforms for the Ontario general election doesn't take much time as three of the four major parties don't have one. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/11September2011nwt.html Elections NWT has posted the list of candidates running in the 3 October General Election here. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/10September2011nwt.html Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski announced yesterday that the Yukon General Election will be held on 11 October 2011. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/10September2011.html Fundher.ca was created by Amy Marlene Robichaud and Kaitlynn Dodge. It is a resource hub and donation portal for female candidates running in the Ontario provincial general election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/9September2011.html I have noticed with satisfaction that some election authorities have taken the opportunity presented by upcoming elections to improve their websites and embrace modern communications methods. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/8September2011.html Alice Funke, the force behind the Pundit's Guide to Canadian Federal Elections, has written recently about the election finance rules that apply for leadership contests and her belief that they need reform. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/7September2011.html The CBC and the National Post have reported on a Conservative Party complaint to Elections Canada regarding alleged union and corporate donations made to the NDP during its recent convention in Vancouver. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5September2011ndp.html Today, the Chief Electoral Officer of the Northwest Territories issued the writs of election for the territorial general election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5September2011.html B.C. Premier Christy Clark has decided to stick with B.C.'s fixed election date law, ending speculation about whether she would call an election earlier. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/1September2011.html The leadership contestant financing report for the 2011 BC Conservative Party leadership contest is now available on the Elections BC website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/31August2011.html Following the death of NDP Leader Jack Layton, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada received a warrant from the Speaker today pursuant to section 28(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act (Canada)(the "Act") indicating that the seat for Toronto-Danforth is vacant. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30August2011.html The Vancouver Sun reports that Coquitlam, North Vancouver City and Fort St. John have asked the Union of B.C. Municipalities to push the province for legislative changes to allow Internet voting. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/29August2011.html Elections BC released the results of the HST referendum today, with 54.73% of valid votes cast in favour of extinguishing the HST and bringing back the PST. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26August2011.html Jack Layton was a remarkable character. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/25August2011.html The CBC reports on new technology to be used in the upcoming Ontario provincial general election that will help disabled voters cast ballots without the aid of a family member or helper. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/25August2011voting.html Fair Vote reports that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed a claim that San Francisco's alternative vote (or instant runoff vote) is unconstitutional. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/24August2011.html I can't decide which Ontario NDP policy I find more outrageous, its "Buy Ontario" policy or its plan to stifle political expression to an extent never seen before in Canada. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20August2011.html Elections Canada has released its report following the 41st general election held on 2 May 2011, as required by section 534(1) of the Elections Act (Canada) (the "Act"). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19August2011.html The financial reports filed for the Vancouver-Point Grey provincial by-election are now available on Elections BC's Financial Reports and Political Contributions System. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/14August2011.html The Wisconsin State Senate has been embroiled in a series of recall elections this summer, following the political upheaval from last years raucous budget debate that ended collective bargaining for public employees. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/9August2011.html The federal registered parties' second quarter financial returns for 2011 are now available on the Elections Canada website. This time period includes the 2011 election campaign and the total contributions and the number of contributors increased across the board from Q1 as a result. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5August2011.html The leadership contestant financing reports for the 2011 BC NDP are now available on the Elections BC website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/20July2011.html In an article on the CBC website, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan stated that he "ought to look at, and probably will" look at the legality of ads that accuse Ontario's Liberal government of wasting billions of dollars on an unnecessary and unwanted new bridge linking Windsor and Detroit. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19July2011.html Yesterday the federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (the "Commissioner") issued a report finding that Helena Guergis had violated sections 8 and 9 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Canada) (the "Code"). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/15July2011.html The Alberta Government has announced that the third party election advertising provisions of Bill 205, which received royal assent on 26 November 2009, will go into force this 15 September. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/14July2011.html In preparation for the 3 October 2011 provincial general election, Elections PEI has produced a guide on how to become a candidate. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13July2011.html Elections Canada commissioned Statistics Canada to add three voluntary questions to its May 2011 Labour Force Study. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/10July2011.html The 2010 Annual Reports of registered political parties and now available on Elections Canada's website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/7July2011.html Elections BC announced today that the timeline of the HST Referendum has been extended. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30June2011.html Bill C-7, the Senate Reform Act, was introduced into the House of Commons by the Minister of State (Democratic Reform) and passed first reading on 21 June. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/21June2011.html Elections Quebec has published the 2010 annual reports of the provincial political parties, and has highlighted some of the information from the reports in a news release and a document containing statistics from the reports. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/19June2011.html Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, has issued a news release calling for more centralized coordination of elections and referendums in the United Kingdom. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18June2011.html The Federal Conflict of Interest Commissioner published the Annual Reports in respect of the Conflict of Interest Act (Canada) and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Canada) on 16 June. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17June2011.html Elections BC has published its report (the "Report") on the four recall campaigns conducted by Fight HST since November 2010. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/16June2011.html Bill M 205, the Senate Nominee Election Act (the "Bill"), was introduced into the British Columbia legislature by BC Liberal Party MLA John Les and passed first reading on June 2nd. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/15June2011.html The Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission has issued a report recommending that the electoral map of Nunavut be redrawn with three additional constituencies, raising the number of MLAs from 19 to 22. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12June2011.html The CBC reports that NDP candidate Jim Maloway is contesting the results of the May 2 federal election in his riding of Elmwood-Transcona. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/10June2011.html The 1st session of the 41st Parliament opened today with the Speech from the Throne. This speech, given by the Governor General, outlines the Government's agenda for the Parliament. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3June2011.html Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter has announced that there will be a by-election in the electoral district of Cape Breton North on 21 June 2011. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/2June2011.html Darrell Pasloski has won the Yukon Party's leadership contest and will become the Yukon Territory's next premier. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/31May2011yukon.html Elections BC has posted the financing reports for the BC Liberal Party leadership contestants on its Financial Reports and Political Contributions System. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/31May2011.html Bill 196 was introduced into the Ontario legislature by the Honourable Christopher Bentley, the Attorney General of Ontario, on 17 May 2011. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30May2011ontario.html In comments following her swearing-in as an MLA today, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark indicated her support for abolishing the Senate. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/30May2011.html The City of Vancouver will not use online voting for the upcoming municipal elections after the B.C. Government turned down the city's request for an exception to the voting laws set out in the Vancouver Charter (British Columbia) (the "Charter"). http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/29May2011.html NDP Leader Jack Layton has broken Rule Number 1 for federalist politicians about a referendum on Quebec sovereignty: don' talk about a referendum on Quebec sovereignty. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26May2011referendum.html The New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Government has introduced legislation that establishes a framework for future referendums to be held in the province. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/26May2011.html The Electoral Commission of the United Kingdom has published details on the donations and loans received by political parties in the United Kingdom between 1 January and 31 March 2011. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/25May2011.html By Resolution No. 645, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly asked the Chief Electoral Officer of Nova Scotia (the "CEO") conduct a comprehensive review of the Elections Act and relevant sections of other Statutes and regulations of Nova Scotia and prepare a report to the House of Assembly including a modernized Elections Act and an Electoral Finance Act for the House to consider. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/23May2011.html Elections Canada announced today that Conservative Party Candidate Ted Opitzhas been declared elected following a judicial recount. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/23May2011recount.html The Canadian Institute will be hosting a Government Relations and Lobbying conference on 7-8 June at the Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel in Toronto. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/22May2011.html Councillor Maria Augimeri and the City of Toronto will both appeal the decision of Justice Hoy of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that due to irregularities in the City of Toronto's municipal elections on 25 October 2010, the election of Ms. Augimeri as city councillor was invalid. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/21May2011.html The Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, made three appointments to the Senate today: Larry Smith, Josee Verner and Fabian Manning. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/18May2011.html Elections Canada has announced the results of judicial recounts in Winnipeg North and Nipissing–Timiskaming. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/17May2011.html The Globe and Mail's website has an article today on the fact that there is no law that directs what recall proponents and their targets must do with any surplus funds left over from their recall campaigns. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/15May2011.html Elections Canada announced today that NDP Candidate François Lapointe has been declared elected following a judicial recount. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/14May2011.html Elections Canada has announced that a judicial recount will be conducted in Winnipeg North at the request of an elector. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/13May2011.html B.C. Premier Christy Clark earned a seat in the B.C. Legislature yesterday by winning a by-election in Vancouver-Point Grey. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/12May2011.html Voters in the United Kingdom said no yesterday in a referendum that asked if they supported changing their electoral system for the House of Commons from the first-past-the-post system to the alternative vote. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/6May2011av.html The financing reports for Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton, the recall petition proponent and the recall advertising sponsors for the Maple-Ridge Mission recall petition are now available on the Elections BC website through its Financial Reports and Contributions System. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/6May2011.html Elections Canada has announced that recounts will be held to determine who will be the MP in three ridings: Nipissing-Timiskaming, Etobicoke Centre and Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière du Loup. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5May2011recount.html The federal registered parties' first quarter financial returns for 2011 are now available on the Elections Canada website. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/5May2011.html As reported by Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun yesterday, Vancouver City Council voted 10-1 to approve a pilot project that will allow voters to cast ballots online in advance polls for the 19 November municipal election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/4May2011voting.html The financing reports for Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Dr. Terry Lake, the recall petition proponent and the recall advertising sponsors for the Kamloops-North Thompson recall petition are now available on the Elections BC website through its Financial Reports and Contributions System. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/4May2011.html The Conservative Party won a majority government in yesterday's general election. http://www.democracylawblog.ca/articles/3May2011.html