This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to provide that, in certain circumstances, electors are to be supplied with ballots in an Indigenous language.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Obligation re Indigenous languages

116.‍1 (1) In an electoral district that is, or includes, Indigenous land or in which a language of at least 1% of the electors is an Indigenous language, the Chief Electoral Officer may require that all the ballots for that electoral district be prepared and printed in both official languages as well as in the Indigenous language or languages of the electors, using the appropriate writing systems for each language, including syllabics if applicable.

Definition of Indigenous land

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), Indigenous land means

• (a) a reserve and any other land that is set apart for the use and benefit of a band under the Indian Act; and

• (b) land that is subject to a comprehensive or specific claim agreement, or a self-government agreement, between the Government of Canada and an Indigenous people of Canada.‍

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Special ballots — Indigenous languages

186.‍01 On request by an elector who makes an application for registration and special ballot that the special ballot be printed in an Indigenous language, the Chief Electoral Officer shall instruct that the special ballot that is supplied to them be printed in that Indigenous language, using the appropriate writing systems used for that language, including syllabics.