Bill C-23

Provision of Voter Contact Calling Services

Agreements Relating to Voter Contact Calling Services

348.02 A person or group shall not enter into an agreement with a calling service provider for voter contact calling services unless

(a) the person or group is a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant or a registered third party, or an unregistered third party that is a corporation or group, and the agreement is entered into on behalf of the person or group by the person’s or group’s official representative;

(b) the person is a candidate and the agreement is entered into in their own name or on their behalf by their official representative or by a person that their official representative has so authorized in writing; or

(c) the person is an unregistered third party who is an individual and the agreement is entered into in their own name.

348.03 Before a person enters into an agreement with a calling service provider for voter contact calling services, either in their own name or on behalf of another person or a group, the person shall inform the calling service provider that the agreement is for voter contact calling services and shall provide the calling service provider with their name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification authorized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that contains their name.

348.04 (1) Before a calling service provider enters into an agreement with a person or group to provide voter contact calling services, the calling service provider shall obtain from the person who is to enter into the agreement, either in their own name or on behalf of the person or a group, their name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification authorized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that contains their name.

(2) The calling service provider shall prepare a record of the information obtained and keep that record and the copy of the piece of identification for one year after the end of the election period.

348.05 (1) A calling service provider that enters into an agreement to make calls for or on behalf of a person or group shall, before the first call is made under the agreement during an election period, ask the person or group whether the making of calls under the agreement would constitute voter contact calling services.

(2) If the making of calls under the agreement does constitute voter contact calling services, a person who is authorized under section 348.02 to enter into an agreement for voter contact calling services with respect to the person or group in question shall, before the first call is made, authorize the provision of voter contact calling services under the agreement and provide the calling service provider with their name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification au- thorized by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that contains their name.

(3) If the making of calls under the agreement does constitute voter contact calling services, the calling service provider shall, before the first call is made, obtain from the person who provides the authorization in accordance with subsection (2) that person’s name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification authorized by the Commission that contains that person’s name.

(4) The calling service provider shall prepare a record of the information obtained and keep that record and the copy of the piece of identification for one year after the end of the election period.

Filing Obligations — Registration Notices

348.06 (1) A calling service provider that, in accordance with an agreement, provides voter contact calling services shall file a registration notice with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

(2) For each election period to which the agreement applies, the registration notice shall be filed not later than 48 hours after the first call is made under the agreement and shall set out

(a) the calling service provider’s name;

(b) the name of the person or group with which the calling service provider has entered into the agreement; and

(c) the type of calls to be made under the agreement.

348.07 (1) A person who enters into an agreement with a calling service provider for voter contact calling services, either in their own name or on behalf of another person or a group, or a person who provides an authorization of the provision of voter contact calling services under an agreement in accordance with subsection 348.05(2), as the case may be, shall file a registration notice with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

(2) For each election period to which the agreement applies, the registration notice shall be filed not later than 48 hours after the first call is made under the agreement and shall set out

(a) the calling service provider’s name;

(b) the name of the person or group with which the calling service provider has entered into the agreement; and

(c) the type of calls to be made under the agreement.

(3) The person who files the registration notice shall, at the time of filing the registration notice, provide the Commission with their name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification authorized by the Commission that contains their name.

(4) Except for the purposes of section 348.12, a registration notice is deemed not to have been filed if the information and the copy of the piece of identification are not provided at the time the registration notice is filed.

348.08 (1) If, during an election period, a third party that is a corporation or group uses its internal services to make live voice calls for any purpose relating to the election, including a purpose referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of the definition “voter contact calling services” in section 348.01, the third party’s official representative shall file a registration notice with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

(2) The registration notice shall be filed not later than 48 hours after the first live voice call is made and shall set out

(a) the third party’s name;

(b) the name, address and telephone number of the official representative; and

(c) a statement that the third party is making live voice calls.

(3) The official representative shall, at the time of filing the registration notice, provide the Commission with their name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification authorized by the Commission that contains their name.

(4) Except for the purposes of section 348.12, a registration notice is deemed not to have been filed if the information and the copy of the piece of identification are not provided at the time the registration notice is filed.

348.09 (1) If, during an election period, a person or group uses their internal services to make calls by means of an automatic dialing-announcing device for any purpose relating to the election, including a purpose referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of the definition “voter contact calling services” in section 348.01, the official representative of the person or group — or the person themselves, if the person is an unregistered third party who is an individual — shall file a registration notice with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

(2) The registration notice shall be filed not later than 48 hours after the first call is made and shall set out

(a) the name of the person or group;

(b) the name, address and telephone number of the official representative or individual; and

(c) a statement that the person or group is making calls by means of an automatic dialing-announcing device.

(3) The official representative or individual shall, at the time of filing the registration notice, provide the Commission with their name, address and telephone number and a copy of a piece of identification authorized by the Commission that contains their name.

(4) Except for the purposes of section 348.12, a registration notice is deemed not to have been filed if the information and the copy of the piece of identification are not provided at the time the registration notice is filed.

Role of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

348.1 (1) The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is responsible for the administration and enforcement of this Division.

(2) The administration and enforcement of this Division are to be carried out under Part V of the Telecommunications Act.

348.11 The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is responsible for establishing and maintaining a registry, to be known as the Voter Contact Registry, in which all documents provided to it under sections 348.06 to 348.09 are to be kept.

348.12 As soon as feasible after the expiry of 30 days after polling day, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission shall, in the manner that it considers appropriate, publish the registration notices relating to the election that have been filed with it.

348.13 (1) The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission may, in writing and on any terms it specifies, delegate to any person any of the powers, duties and functions referred to in sections 348.11 and 348.12.

(2) The Commission may, in writing, revoke a delegation made under subsection (1).

348.14 The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission may authorize the types of pieces of identification and of copies of such pieces of identification for the purposes of sections 348.03 to 348.05 and 348.07 to 348.09.

348.15 The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission shall, on the request of the Commissioner, disclose to the Commissioner any document or information that it received under this Division that the Commissioner considers necessary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with and enforcement of this Act, other than this Division.

77. The Act is amended by adding the following before Part 17:

Division 2

Scripts and Recordings

348.16 Every calling service provider that, in accordance with an agreement, provides voter contact calling services shall keep, for three years after the end of the election period,

(a) a copy of each unique script used in live voice calls made under the agreement and a record of every date on which the script was used; and

(b) a recording of each unique message conveyed by an automatic dialing-announc- ing device that is used to make calls under the agreement and a record of every date on which it was so conveyed.

348.17 Every person or group that enters into an agreement with a calling service provider under which voter contact calling services are provided shall keep, for one year after the end of the election period,

(a) a copy of each unique script used in live voice calls made under the agreement and a record of every date on which the script was used; and

(b) a recording of each unique message conveyed by an automatic dialing-announc- ing device that is used to make calls under the agreement and a record of every date on which it was so conveyed.

348.18 If, during an election period, a person or group uses their internal services to make calls by means of an automatic dialing-announc- ing device for any purpose relating to the election, including a purpose referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of the definition “voter contact calling services” in section 348.01, the person or group shall keep a recording of each unique message conveyed by the device and a record of every date on which it was so conveyed, for one year after the end of the election period.

348.19 If, during an election period, a third party that is a corporation or group uses its internal services to make live voice calls for any purpose relating to the election, including a purpose referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (e) of the definition “voter contact calling services” in section 348.01, the third party shall, if a script is used, keep a copy of each unique script used and a record of every date on which the script was used, for one year after the end of the election period.

78. (1) Subsection 350(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

350. (1) Subject to section 351.1, a third party shall not incur election advertising expenses of a total amount of more than $150,000 in relation to a general election.

(2) Subsections 350(4) and (5) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(4) Subject to section 351.1, a third party shall not incur election advertising expenses of a total amount of more than $3,000 in a given electoral district in relation to a by-election.

(4.1) If a general election is held on a date other than one set out in subsection 56.1(2) or section 56.2, or if a by-election is held, a third party does not incur an election advertising expense if, on the issue of the writ or writs, it is not able to cancel the transmission of that advertising.

(5) The amounts referred to in subsections (1), (2) and (4) shall be multiplied by the inflation adjustment factor referred to in section 384 that is in effect on the issue of the writ or writs.

(6) If an election period is longer than 37 days, then the amounts referred to in subsections (1), (2) and (4) are increased by adding to them the product of

(a) one thirty-seventh of the amount referred to in subsection (1), (2) or (4), as the case may be, and

(b) the number of days in the election period minus 37.

78.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 351:

351.1 A third party shall not incur election advertising expenses of a total amount of $500 or more in relation to a general election or a by-election, or, if the election periods of two or more by-elections overlap with each other in whole or in part, in relation to those by-elections, unless

(a) if the third party is an individual, the individual

(i) is a Canadian citizen,

(ii) is a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or

(iii) resides in Canada;

(b) if the third party is a corporation, it carries on business in Canada; and

(c) if the third party is a group, a person who is responsible for the group

(i) is a Canadian citizen,

(ii) is a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or

(iii) resides in Canada.

351.2 For greater certainty, for the purposes of subsections 350(1) and (4) and section 351.1 if election advertising is transmitted during an election period, it shall be considered an election advertising expense, regardless of when it was incurred.

79. (1) Subsection 353(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

353. (1) Subject to section 351.1, a third party shall register immediately after having incurred election advertising expenses of a total amount of $500 and may not register before the issue of the writ.

(2) Paragraphs 353(2)(a) and (b) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(a) if the third party is an individual, the individual’s name, address and telephone number, their signature and their certification that

(i) they are a Canadian citizen,

(ii) they are a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or

(iii) they reside in Canada;

(b) if the third party is a corporation, the name, address and telephone number of the corporation and of an officer who has signing authority for it, the officer’s signature and their certification that the corporation carries on business in Canada;

(b.1) if the third party is a group, the name, address and telephone number of the group and of a person who is responsible for the group, the person’s signature and their certification that

(i) they are a Canadian citizen,

(ii) they are a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or

(iii) they reside in Canada;

80. (1) Paragraphs 405(1)(a) to (c) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(a) $1,500 in total in any calendar year to a particular registered party;

(a.1) $1,500 in total in any calendar year to the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of a particular registered party;

(b) $1,500 in total to a candidate for a particular election who is not the candidate of a registered party; and

(c) $1,500 in total to the leadership contestants in a particular leadership contest.

(2) Subsection 405(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(2) A contribution may be made by way of a testamentary disposition if the contribution is made only in one calendar year and does not cause the contributor to exceed the relevant limit under subsection (1), taking into account any contributions that the contributor made before their death.

(2.1) A testamentary disposition that provides for a contribution that would cause the contributor to exceed the relevant limit under subsection (1) shall be read as if the contribution is for the highest amount that would not cause the contribution to exceed that limit, and a testamentary disposition that provides for a contribution to be made in more than one calendar year after the year in which this subsection comes into force shall be read as if the contribution is to be made only in the first of those calendar years.

(3) Subsection 405(4) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(4) Contributions that do not exceed $1,000 in total by a nomination contestant out of their own funds to their own campaign as a nomination contestant do not count towards the nomination contestant’s contributions for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a.1).

(4.1) Subject to subsection (4.2), no candidate in a particular election and no leadership contestant in a particular leadership contest shall make a contribution out of their own funds to their own campaign.

(4.2) The following contributions are permitted:

(a) contributions that do not exceed $5,000 in total by a candidate for a particular election out of their own funds to their own campaign; and

(b) contributions that do not exceed $25,000 in total by a leadership contestant in a particular leadership contest out of their own funds to their own campaign.

(4.3) Contributions made under subsection (4.2) do not have the effect of limiting the amounts that the candidate or leadership contestant, as the case may be, may contribute under subsection (1) to other candidates or to other leadership contestants, as the case may be.

81. Section 405.1 of the Act is repealed.

82. (1) Paragraph 405.2(1)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(a) circumvent, or attempt to circumvent, the prohibition under subsection 404(1) or 405(4.1) or a limit set out in subsection 405(1) or (4.2) or section 405.31; or

(2) Subsection 405.2(4) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(4) No person or entity shall enter into an agreement for the provision for payment of goods or services, directly or indirectly, to a registered party or a candidate that includes a term that any individual will make a contribution, directly or indirectly, to a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant.

83. Section 405.3 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 405.3(1) and is amended by adding the following:

(2) Despite subsection (1), a candidate or a leadership contestant may make a contribution under subsection 405(4.2) that comes from money provided by way of a loan to the candidate or leadership contestant made in writing by a financial institution as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act at a fair market rate of interest, as long as no security is given for the loan except property of the candidate or leadership contestant, as the case may be.

84. Section 435 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):

(1.1) If the election expenses, as set out in the election expenses return, exceed the maximum amount that is allowed under section 422, the amount that is provided for in subsection (1) is reduced as follows, without at any time being less than zero:

(a) by one dollar for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by less than 5%;

(b) by two dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 5% or more but by less than 10%;

(c) by three dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 10% or more but by less than 12.5%; and

(d) by four dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 12.5% or more.

85. (1) Section 465 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

(2.1) If a candidate’s election expenses, as set out in his or her electoral campaign return, exceed the maximum amount that is allowed under section 440, the amount that is provided for in subsection (2) is reduced as follows:

(a) by one dollar for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by less than 5%;

(b) by two dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 5% or more but by less than 10%;

(c) by three dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 10% or more but by less than 12.5%; and

(d) by four dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 12.5% or more.

(2) Section 465 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3):

(4) If the amount that is provided for in subsection (2) is a negative amount after being reduced under subsection (2.1), the candidate’s official agent shall without delay return to the Receiver General that amount — expressed as a positive number — up to the amount of the partial reimbursement received by the official agent under section 464.

86. Part 18 of the Act is replaced by the following:

PART 18

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

Division 1

General Financial Provisions

Contributions

363. (1) No person or entity other than an individual who is a Canadian citizen or is a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act shall make a contribution to a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant.

(2) If a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant receives a contribution from an ineligible contributor, the chief agent of the registered party, the financial agent of the registered association, the official agent of the candidate or the financial agent of the nomination contestant or leadership contestant, as the case may be, shall, within 30 days after becoming aware of the ineligibility, return the contribution unused to the contributor or, if that is not possible, pay the amount of it — or, in the case of a non-monetary contribution, an amount of money equal to its commercial value — to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward that amount to the Receiver General.

(3) For greater certainty, contributions to and expenses of a provincial division of a registered party are contributions to and expenses of the party. Similarly, transfers of funds to or by the division are transfers to or by the party.

(4) A provincial division of a registered party may appoint registered agents, subject to any terms and conditions that the appointment specifies. This Act applies to those agents as if they were registered agents appointed by the party under subsection 396(1).

364. (1) Any money that is used for a nomination contestant’s, a candidate’s or a leadership contestant’s campaign out of their own funds is a contribution for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A provision of goods or services is permitted and is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act if it is

(a) from a registered party to an electoral district association of the party or a candidate endorsed by the party;

(b) from a registered association to the registered party with which it is affiliated, another registered association of the party or a candidate endorsed by the party;

(c) from a registered party or registered association to a nomination contestant or a leadership contestant in compliance with subsection 365(1);

(d) from a candidate endorsed by a registered party to the party or a registered association of the party;

(e) from a candidate to themselves in their capacity as a nomination contestant in respect of the same election; or

(f) in the case where a writ is deemed to be withdrawn under subsection 31(3) of the Parliament of Canada Act, from a candidate in an election that is cancelled to themselves in their capacity as a candidate in respect of the general election resulting from the dissolution of Parliament.

(3) A transfer of funds is permitted and is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act if it is

(a) from a registered party to an electoral district association of the party;

(b) from a registered association to the registered party with which it is affiliated or another registered association of the party;

(c) from a candidate endorsed by a registered party to the party or a registered association of the party;

(d) from a candidate to themselves in their capacity as a nomination contestant in respect of the same election; or

(e) in the case where a writ is deemed to be withdrawn under subsection 31(3) of the Parliament of Canada Act, from a candidate in an election that is cancelled to themselves in their capacity as a candidate in respect of the general election resulting from the dissolution of Parliament.

(4) A transfer of funds, other than trust funds, is permitted and is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act if it is

(a) from a registered party to a candidate endorsed by the party; or

(b) from a registered association to a candidate endorsed by the registered party with which the association is affiliated.

(5) A transfer of funds is permitted and is not a contribution for the purposes of this Act if it is

(a) from a nomination contestant of a registered party to the party, the registered association of the party that held the nomination contest or the official agent of the candidate endorsed by the party in the electoral district in which the nomination contest was held;

(b) from a leadership contestant of a registered party to the party or a registered association of the party; or

(c) from a registered party to a leadership contestant out of funds from a directed contribution referred to in subsection 365(3).

(6) The provision by an employer of a paid leave of absence to an employee for the purpose of allowing the employee to be a nomination contestant or candidate is not a contribution.

(7) The payment by an individual during a year of fees of not more than $25 per year for a period of not more than five years for membership in a registered party is not a contribution.

(8) For greater certainty, the payment by or on behalf of an individual of fees to attend an annual or biennial convention or leadership convention of a particular registered party is a contribution to that party.

365. (1) No registered party and no electoral district association of a registered party shall provide goods or services or transfer funds to a nomination contestant or a leadership contestant, unless the goods or services are offered equally to all contestants.

(2) In this section, “directed contribution” means an amount that is all or part of a contribution made to a registered party and that the contributor requests in writing be transferred to a particular leadership contestant.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a directed contribution that is transferred by the registered party to the leadership contestant mentioned in the request if the party provides, with the amount transferred, a statement in the prescribed form setting out the name and address of the contributor, the amount and date of the contribution, the amount of the directed contribution, the amount that the party is transferring and the date of the transfer.

(4) The amount of a directed contribution that is to be transferred to a leadership contestant is deemed to be a contribution made by the contributor to the contestant.

366. (1) Any person who is authorized to accept contributions on behalf of a register-ed party, a registered association, a nomina-tion contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant shall issue a receipt — of which the person shall keep a copy — for each contribution of more than $20 that they accept.

(2) If anonymous contributions of $20 or less per person are collected in response to a general solicitation at a meeting or fundraising event related to the affairs of a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant, the person authorized to accept those contributions shall record the following:

(a) a description of the function at which the contributions were collected;

(b) the date of the function;

(c) the approximate number of people at the function; and

(d) the total amount of the anonymous contributions received.

367. (1) Subject to subsection 373(4), no individual shall make contributions that exceed

(a) $1,200 in total in any calendar year to a particular registered party;

(b) $1,200 in total in any calendar year to the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of a particular registered party;

(c) $1,200 in total to a candidate for a particular election who is not the candidate of a registered party; and

(d) $1,200 in total in any calendar year to the leadership contestants in a particular leadership contest.

(2) A contribution may be made by way of a testamentary disposition if the contribution is made only in one calendar year and does not cause the contributor to exceed the relevant limit under subsection (1), taking into account any contributions that the contributor made before their death.

(3) A testamentary disposition that provides for a contribution that would cause the contributor to exceed the relevant limit under subsection (1) shall be read as if the contribution is for the highest amount that would not cause the contributor to exceed that limit, and a testamentary disposition that provides for a contribution to be made in more than one calendar year after the year in which this subsection comes into force shall be read as if the contribution is to be made only in the first of those calendar years.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), a contribution to a person who presents themselves as seeking the endorsement of a partic- ular registered party is to be treated as a contribution referred to in paragraph (1)(b) to a candidate of that party and a contribution to a person who presents themselves as seeking to be a candidate not endorsed by any registered party is to be treated as a contribution referred to in paragraph (1)(c).

(5) Contributions that do not exceed $1,000 in total by a nomination contestant out of their own funds to their own campaign as a nomination contestant do not count towards the nomination contestant’s contributions for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b).

(6) Subject to subsection (7), no candidate in a particular election and no leadership contestant in a particular leadership contest shall make a contribution out of their own funds to their own campaign.

(7) The following contributions are permitted:

(a) contributions that do not exceed $5,000 in total by a candidate for a particular election out of their own funds to their own campaign; and

(b) contributions that do not exceed $25,000 in total by a leadership contestant in a particular leadership contest out of their own funds to their own campaign.

(8) Contributions made under subsection (7) do not have the effect of reducing the amounts that the candidate or leadership contestant, as the case may be, may contribute under subsection (1) to other candidates or to other leadership contestants, as the case may be.

368. (1) No person or entity shall

(a) circumvent, or attempt to circumvent, the prohibition under subsection 363(1) or 367(6) or a limit set out in subsection 367(1) or (7) or section 371; or

(b) act in collusion with another person or entity for that purpose.

(2) No person or entity shall

(a) conceal, or attempt to conceal, the identity of the source of a contribution governed by this Act; or

(b) act in collusion with another person or entity for that purpose.

(3) No person who is permitted to accept contributions under this Act shall knowingly accept a contribution that exceeds a limit under this Act.

(4) No person or entity shall enter into an agreement for the provision for payment of goods or services, directly or indirectly, to a registered party or a candidate that includes a term that any individual will make a contribution, directly or indirectly, to a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant.

369. (1) No person or entity shall solicit or accept a contribution on behalf of a registered party, a registered association or a candidate if the person or entity makes a representation to the contributor or potential contributor that part or all of the contribution would be transferred to a person or entity other than the registered party or a candidate, a leadership contestant or an electoral district association.

(2) No person or entity shall act in collusion with another person or entity for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition under subsection (1).

370. (1) No individual shall make a contribution to a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant that comes from money, property or the services of any person or entity that was provided to that individual for that purpose.

(2) Despite subsection (1), a candidate or a leadership contestant may make a contribution under subsection 367(7) that comes from money provided by way of a loan to the candidate or leadership contestant made in writing by a financial institution as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act at a fair market rate of interest, as long as no security is given for the loan except property of the candidate or leadership contestant, as the case may be.

371. No individual shall, in respect of each contribution made under this Division, contribute cash in an amount that exceeds $20.

372. If a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant receives a contribution made in contravention of subsection 367(1) or 368(4) or section 370 or 371, the chief agent of the registered party, the financial agent of the registered association, the official agent of the candidate or the financial agent of the nomination contestant or leadership contestant, as the case may be, shall, within 30 days after becoming aware of the contravention, return the contribution unused to the contributor or, if that is not possible, pay the amount of it — or, in the case of a non-monetary contribution, an amount of money equal to its commercial value — to the Chief Electoral Officer, who shall forward that amount to the Receiver General.

Loans, Guarantees and Suretyships

373. (1) Except as permitted under this section, no person or entity shall

(a) make a loan to a registered party or a registered association;

(b) make a loan to a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant in relation to the contestant’s or candidate’s campaign; or

(c) guarantee a loan referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).

(2) Except if the loan is permitted under this section, no registered agent of a registered party and no financial agent of a registered association shall borrow money on behalf of the party or association, and no official agent of a candidate and no financial agent of a nomination contestant or of a leadership contestant shall borrow money for the purposes of the candidate’s or contestant’s campaign.

(3) A financial institution as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act may in writing make a loan referred to in subsection (1) at a fair market rate of interest.

(4) An individual who is a Canadian citizen or is a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act may in writing make a loan referred to in subsection (1) or guarantee such a loan. However, the total of the following amounts shall not at any time exceed the individual’s relevant contribution limit set out in paragraphs 367(1)(a) to (d), subsection 367(5) and paragraphs 367(7)(a) and (b):

(a) the amounts of the individual’s contributions,

(b) the amounts of the individual’s loans made in the relevant contribution period, not including any amount that has been repaid in the calendar year in which the loan was made, and

(c) the amounts guaranteed by the individual in the relevant contribution period, not including any amount for which the individ- ual has ceased to be liable in the calendar year in which the guarantee was given.

(5) A loan may be made in writing

(a) by a registered party to a registered association of the party or a candidate endorsed by the party; or

(b) by a registered association to the registered party with which it is affiliated, another registered association of the party or a candidate endorsed by the party.

(6) A registered party or registered association may in writing guarantee a loan made in writing to a party, association or candidate to which it itself is permitted to make a loan under subsection (5).

374. No individual shall make a loan to a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant that is made possible by money, property or the services of any person or entity that was provided to that individual for that purpose.

Expenses

375. An electoral campaign expense of a candidate is an expense reasonably incurred as an incidence of the election, including

(a) an election expense;

(b) a personal expense; and

(c) any fees of the candidate’s auditor, and any costs incurred for a recount of votes cast in the candidate’s electoral district, that have not been reimbursed by the Receiver General.

376. (1) An election expense is any of the following:

(a) any cost incurred, or non-monetary contribution received, by a registered party or a candidate, to the extent that the property or service that the cost was incurred for or that was received as a non-monetary contribution is used to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader or a candidate during an election period; and

(b) any acceptance by a registered party or a candidate of a provision of goods or services that is permitted under subsection 364(2), to the extent that the goods or services are used to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its leader or a candidate during an election period.

(2) Expenses for a fundraising activity and expenses to directly promote the nomination of a person as a candidate or the selection of a person as leader of a registered party, other than expenses referred to in paragraphs (3)(a) and (b) that are related to such fundraising and promotional activities, are not election expenses under subsection (1).

(3) An election expense referred to in subsection (1) includes a cost incurred for, a non-monetary contribution in relation to, or a provision of goods and services in relation to,

(a) the production of advertising or promotional material;

(b) the distribution, broadcast or publication of such material in any media or by any other means during the election period, including by the use of a capital asset;

(c) the payment of remuneration and expenses to or on behalf of a person for their services as an official agent or registered agent or in any other capacity;

(d) securing a meeting space or the supply of light refreshments at meetings;

(e) any product or service provided by a government, a Crown corporation or any other public agency; and

(f) the conduct of election surveys or other surveys or research during an election period.

(4) In subsection (1), “cost incurred” means an expense that is incurred by a registered party or a candidate, whether it is paid or unpaid.

377. If a fundraising activity is held for the primary purpose of soliciting a monetary contribution for a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant by way of selling a ticket, the amount of the monetary contribution received is the difference between the price of the ticket and the fair market value of what the ticket entitles the bearer to obtain.

378. (1) A candidate’s personal expenses include

(a) travel and living expenses;

(b) childcare expenses;

(c) expenses relating to the provision of care for a person with a physical or mental incapacity for whom the candidate normally provides such care; and

(d) in the case of a candidate who has a disability, additional expenses that are related to the disability.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer may establish categories of personal expenses and fix maximum amounts that may be incurred for expenses in each category.

379. Any expenses of a candidate that are incurred to remunerate the candidate’s representatives referred to in subsection 136(1) or 237.1(2) are deemed to be personal expenses of the candidate.

380. (1) If an expense of $50 or more was incurred under this Act by or on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a nomination contestant, a candidate or a leadership contestant and paid by an agent or other person authorized under this Act to pay such an expense, the agent or other person shall keep a copy of the invoice prepared by the person who provided the good or service to which the expense relates setting out the nature of the expense together with proof that it was paid.

(2) If an expense of less than $50 was incurred and paid as described in subsection (1), the person who made the payment shall keep a record of the nature of the expense together with proof that it was paid.

381. (1) A person may pay a petty expense incurred for office supplies, postage, courier services and other incidental expenses under the written authorization of

(a) a registered agent of a registered party, as an expense incurred on behalf of the registered party;

(b) an electoral district agent of a registered association, as an expense incurred on behalf of the association;

(c) the financial agent of a nomination contestant, as a nomination campaign expense;

(d) the official agent of a candidate, as an electoral campaign expense for the candidate; or

(e) a leadership campaign agent of a leadership contestant, as a leadership campaign expense.

(2) The written authorization referred to in subsection (1) shall specify a maximum amount for the total of petty expenses that the person is authorized to pay.

(3) A person who is authorized to pay a petty expense shall provide the agent who authorized it with a statement of payments that the person made and the documentation referred to in section 380 within three months after

(a) in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a registered party, the day on which it is incurred;

(b) in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a registered association, the day on which it is incurred;

(c) in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a nomination contestant, the day on which it is incurred;

(d) in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a candidate, polling day; and

(e) in the case of a petty expense incurred on behalf of a leadership contestant, the day on which it is incurred.

(4) No person who is authorized to pay petty expenses shall pay, in total, more than the maximum amount of petty expenses that they are authorized to pay.

382. (1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish the original election expenses returns of registered parties and electoral campaign returns of candidates and any corrected or revised versions of those returns

(a) in the case of an original return, within one year after the issue of a writ for an election;

(b) in the case of a corrected or revised version of a return, as soon as feasible after he or she receives it; and

(c) in the case of a document referred to in subsection 477.59(10), (11), (12) or (15), or a corrected or revised version of such a document, as soon as feasible after he or she receives it.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall publish the following, as soon as feasible after receiving them, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate:

(a) the financial transactions returns of registered parties and registered associations, and any corrected or revised versions of those returns;

(b) the nomination campaign returns of nomination contestants, any document referred to in subsection 476.75(10), (11), (12) or (15), and any corrected or revised versions of those returns or documents; and

(c) the leadership campaign returns of leadership contestants, any document referred to in subsection 478.8(10), (11), (12) or (15), any corrected or revised versions of those returns or documents, the returns in respect of contributions required under section 478.81, and any statements containing information with respect to contributions referred to in paragraph 478.3(2)(d).

(3) As soon as feasible after receiving an electoral campaign return, any document referred to in subsection 477.59(10), (11), (12) or (15) or any corrected or revised version of those returns or documents for each candidate in an electoral district, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in the manner that he or she considers appropriate, publish a summary report that includes the maximum election expenses allowed for the electoral district and, for each candidate,

(a) the total election expenses;

(b) the total personal expenses;

(c) the number of contributors and the total amount of contributions received;

(d) the name of the official agent;

(e) the name of the auditor; and

(f) if applicable, an indication that the auditor’s report on a return was qualified.

(4) As soon as feasible after receiving a financial transactions return under subparagraph 420(a)(i) from a deregistered political party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish it in the manner that he or she considers appropriate.

383. (1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as feasible after receiving the documents referred to in subsection 477.59(1) for an electoral district, deliver a copy of them to the returning officer for the electoral district.

(2) A returning officer who receives documents under subsection (1) shall, on request, make them available for six months for public inspection at any reasonable time. Copies may be obtained for a fee of up to $0.25 per page.

(3) A returning officer who receives documents under subsection (1) shall retain them for three years, or any shorter period that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate, after the end of the six-month period mentioned in subsection (2).

Inflation Adjustment Factor

384. Before April 1 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be published in the Canada Gazette an inflation adjustment factor that is in effect for a period of one year beginning on that date. It shall be a fraction with

(a) a numerator that is the annual average Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act, for the calendar year immediately before that date, calculated on the basis of 1992 being equal to 100; and

(b) a denominator that is 108.6, which is the annual average Consumer Price Index, as published by Statistics Canada under the authority of the Statistics Act, for 1998, calculated on the basis of 1992 being equal to 100.

Division 2

Political Parties

Subdivision a

Registration of Political Parties

Application for Registration

385. (1) The leader of a political party may apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for the political party to become a registered party.

(2) The application for registration shall include

(a) the political party’s full name;

(b) the party’s short-form name, or its abbreviation, if any, that is to be shown in election documents;

(c) the party’s logo, if any;

(d) the name and address of the party’s leader and a copy of the party’s resolution to appoint the leader, certified by the leader and another officer of the party;

(e) the address of the party’s office where records are maintained and to which communications may be addressed;

(f) the names and addresses of the party’s officers and their signed consent to act in that capacity;

(g) the name and address of the party’s auditor and their signed consent to act in that capacity;

(h) the name and address of the party’s chief agent and their signed consent to act in that capacity;

(i) the names and addresses of 250 electors and their declarations in the prescribed form that they are members of the party and support the party’s application for registration; and

(j) the leader’s declaration in the prescribed form that, having considered all of the factors — including those described in subsection 521.1(5) — relevant to determining the party’s purposes, one of the party’s fundamental purposes is to participate in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election.

(3) To confirm that the purpose referred to in paragraph (2)(j) is one of the party’s fundamental purposes, the Chief Electoral Officer may ask the party’s leader to provide any relevant information, including information about the factors described in subsection 521.1(5).

386. A leader who has made an application under subsection 385(1) may withdraw it at any time before registration by sending a signed request to that effect to the Chief Electoral Officer.

387. A political party whose leader has made an application under subsection 385(1) becomes eligible for registration if

(a) its name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo does not

(i) so resemble the name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo of a registered party or an eligible party that it would, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, likely be confused with it, or

(ii) include the word “independent” or a word that so resembles “independent” that it would, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, likely be confused with it;

(b) the party has at least three officers in addition to its leader and has appointed a chief agent and an auditor; and

(c) the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the party has provided the information required under subsection 385(2) and that the information is accurate.

388. In the period of 30 days after the deregistration of a political party,

(a) no application for another political party to become a registered party shall be accepted — and no report under section 405 is effective — if the application or report would permit another political party to use a name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo that would, in the Chief Electoral Officer’s opinion, likely be confused with that of the deregistered party; and

(b) if a new application is made for the registration of the deregistered party under the name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo that it had at the time of its deregistration, the Chief Electoral Officer shall not refuse the application on the ground that it does not comply with subparagraph 387(a)(i).

389. (1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as feasible after the day on which the application is received, inform the leader of a political party who has applied for the party to become registered whether or not the party is eligible for registration under section 387. If the party is not eligible, the Chief Electoral Officer shall also indicate which of that section’s requirements have not been met.

(2) A political party whose leader has been informed under subsection (1) that it is eligible loses its eligibility if

(a) it contravenes any of section 391, subsection 395(1), sections 399 to 402, subsections 405(1), (3) and (4) and 406(1) and section 407;

(b) one of its officers is not eligible under subsection 395(2) and the party has not complied with subsections 395(3) and (4);

(c) its chief agent is not eligible under section 397 and the party has not complied with section 400; or

(d) its auditor is not eligible under section 398 and the party has not complied with section 400.

390. (1) An eligible party becomes a registered party if it has at least one candidate whose nomination has been confirmed for an election and its application to become registered was made at least 60 days before the issue of the writ or writs and has not been withdrawn.

(2) An eligible party whose application was made after the 60 days referred to in subsection (1) becomes a registered party for the next general election — or any by-election that precedes it — if it satisfies the requirements of that subsection for that election.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as feasible after the end of the 48-hour period following the close of nominations,

(a) inform the leader of an eligible party that meets the requirements of subsection (1) that the party has been registered; and

(b) in the case of a general election, inform the leader of an eligible party that does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) that the party has not been registered.

(4) An eligible party, other than one referred to in subsection (2), loses its eligibility on being informed under paragraph (3)(b) that it has not been registered.

(5) For the purposes of sections 363, 367, 376, 430, 437 and 444, an eligible party that becomes a registered party under subsection (1) is deemed to have been registered from the day of the issue of the writ or writs.

391. An eligible party shall, within 30 days after being informed under subsection 389(1) that it is eligible, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a written report, certified by its leader or chief agent, containing the name and address of any person appointed as its registered agent and any terms and conditions to which the appointment is subject. The Chief Electoral Officer shall, on the registration of the eligible party, register that information in the registry of political parties.

392. Within six months after becoming a registered party, the registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with

(a) a statement, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of its assets and liabilities, including any surplus or deficit, as of the day before the effective date of the registration;

(b) a report on that statement made by the registered party’s auditor to its chief agent that contains the auditor’s opinion as to whether that statement presents fairly and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the information on which it is based; and

(c) a declaration in the prescribed form by the registered party’s chief agent that the statement is complete and accurate.

393. (1) The fiscal period of a registered party is the calendar year.

(2) Without delay after becoming registered, a political party shall, if necessary, adjust its fiscal period so that it ends at the end of the calendar year. The adjusted fiscal period shall not be less than six months or more than 18 months.

394. The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry of political parties that contains the information referred to in paragraphs 385(2)(a) to (h) and subsections 396(2) and 418(2).

Officers, Registered Agents, Auditors and Members

395. (1) Subject to subsection (3), a registered party and an eligible party shall have at least three officers in addition to the leader of the party.

(2) Only a person who is an elector and whose ordinary residence is in Canada is eligible to be an officer of a registered party or an eligible party.

(3) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or ineligibility of an officer of a registered party or eligible party, or the revocation of the appointment of one, the party shall, if the remaining number of officers is less than four, appoint a replacement within 30 days.

(4) Within 30 days after the day on which the replacement is appointed, the registered party or eligible party shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer of the appointment by providing a report under subsection 405(1).

396. (1) A registered party may appoint persons to act as its registered agents, subject to any terms and conditions that the appointment specifies.

(2) Within 30 days after the day on which a registered agent is appointed, the registered party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a written report, certified by its leader or chief agent, that includes the registered agent’s name and address and any terms and conditions to which the appointment is subject. The Chief Electoral Officer shall register that information in the registry of political parties.

397. (1) A corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province is eligible to be

(a) a chief agent or a registered agent of a registered party; or

(b) a chief agent or an agent of an eligible party.

(2) The following persons are ineligible to be a chief agent, a registered agent or an agent:

(a) an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;

(b) a candidate;

(c) an auditor appointed as required by this Act;

(d) subject to subsection (1), a person who is not an elector;

(e) an undischarged bankrupt; and

(f) a person who does not have full capacity to enter into contracts in the province in which the person ordinarily resides.

398. (1) Only the following are eligible to be an auditor for a registered party or an eligible party:

(a) a person who is a member in good standing of a corporation, association or institute of professional accountants; or

(b) a partnership of which every partner is a member in good standing of a corporation, association or institute of professional accountants.

(2) The following persons are ineligible to be an auditor:

(a) an election officer or a member of the staff of a returning officer;

(b) a candidate or their official agent;

(c) an officer of a registered party or an eligible party;

(d) a chief agent of a registered party or an eligible party;

(e) a registered agent of a registered party;

(f) an electoral district agent of a registered association;

(g) a nomination contestant or their financial agent;

(h) a leadership contestant or their leadership campaign agent; and

(i) a financial agent of a registered third party.

399. A registered party and an eligible party shall obtain from its officers, chief agent and auditor, on appointment, their signed consent to act in that capacity.

400. (1) In the event of the death, incapacity, resignation or ineligibility of its chief agent or auditor, or the revocation of the appointment of one, a registered party or eligible party shall without delay appoint a replacement.

(2) Within 30 days after the day on which the replacement is appointed, the registered party or eligible party shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer of the appointment by providing a report under subsection 405(1).

401. A registered party or eligible party shall have no more than one chief agent and one auditor at a time.

402. A registered party and an eligible party shall have at least 250 members who are electors.

403. (1) No person who is ineligible to be an officer of a registered party or an eligible party shall act in that capacity.

(2) No person who is ineligible to be a chief agent or registered agent of a registered party or an eligible party shall act in that capacity.

(3) No person who is ineligible to be an auditor of a registered party or an eligible party shall act in that capacity.

404. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall act or continue to act as an officer of a registered party or an eligible party if

(a) they know that the party does not have as one of its fundamental purposes participating in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election; and

(b) the party has not made an application for deregistration under section 414.

(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) may sign an application for deregistration under section 414.

Changes in Information Concerning Parties

405. (1) Within 30 days after the day on which there is a change in the information in respect of a registered party or an eligible party in the registry of political parties, the party shall report the change to the Chief Electoral Officer in writing. The report shall be certified by the leader of the party.

(2) The report of a change in the information referred to in paragraphs 385(2)(a) to (c) shall include a copy of the resolution of the party to make the change. If the changed information complies with subparagraph 387(a)(i) or (ii), the change is deemed to be effective as of

(a) the day after polling day, in the case of a report made during an election period; or

(b) the day on which the report was made, in any other case.

(3) The report of a change of leader for a party shall include a copy of the resolution of the party to appoint the new leader, certified by the new leader and another officer of the party.

(4) If the report involves the replacement of an officer, the chief agent or the auditor, it shall include a copy of the signed consent referred to in section 399.

(5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter any change in the information referred to in this section in the registry of political parties.

(6) The Chief Electoral Officer shall enter any change in the information referred to in subsection (2) in the registry of electoral district associations.

406. (1) A registered party and an eligible party shall, not later than 10 days after the issue of the writs for a general election, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with

(a) a statement certified by its leader confirming the validity of the information concerning the party in the registry of political parties; or

(b) if there is a change in that information, the report of the change made under subsection 405(1).

(2) If the leader of a registered party or eligible party designates representatives to endorse candidates at a general election, the registered party or eligible party shall include with the statement or report referred to in subsection (1) a statement certified by its leader that sets out the names of the designated representatives.

407. (1) On or before June 30 of every year, a registered party and an eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with

(a) a statement certified by its leader confirming the validity of the information concerning the party in the registry of political parties; and

(b) if there is a change in that information, the report of the change made under subsection 405(1).

(2) On or before June 30 of every third year, beginning in 2016, a registered party and an eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with the names and addresses of 250 electors and their declarations in the prescribed form that they are members of the party.

(3) On or before June 30 of every year, a registered party and an eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with a declaration in the prescribed form by the leader that, having considered all of the factors relevant to determining the party’s purposes — including those described in subsection 521.1(5) — one of the party’s fundamental purposes is as described in paragraph 385(2)(j).

408. (1) No leader of a political party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with information under section 385 that the leader knows is false or misleading.

(2) No registered party and no eligible party shall provide the Chief Electoral Officer with information under any of sections 405 to 407 that it knows is false or misleading.

(3) No leader of a registered party or of an eligible party shall certify, under any of sections 405 to 407, a report or statement that they know contains false or misleading information.

(4) No leader of a political party shall make a declaration referred to in section 385, 405 or 407 that they know is false or misleading.

(5) No member of a political party shall make a declaration referred to in section 385 or 407 that they know is false or misleading.

Deregistration of Registered Parties

409. The Chief Electoral Officer shall, effective on the expiry in a general election of the period for the confirmation of nominations under subsection 71(1), deregister a registered party that, at that time, has not endorsed a candidate in that general election.

410. (1) If the Chief Electoral Officer is not satisfied that a registered party is in compliance with subsection 395(1) or section 402, he or she shall, in writing, notify the party that it is required to

(a) show its compliance with subsection 395(1) within 60 days after the day on which the party receives the notice; or

(b) show its compliance with section 402 within 90 days after the day on which the party receives the notice.

(2) If the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the party has made reasonable efforts to comply with subsection 395(1) or section 402 within the time set out in the notice, he or she may, in writing, notify the party that it has another period of up to 60 or 90 days, as the case may be, in which to comply.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall deregister a registered party if it fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be.

411. The Chief Electoral Officer shall give notice of a deregistration under section 409 or 410 to the registered party and its chief agent and of the resulting deregistration under section 417 to the registered associations and their financial agents.

412. The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered party if the party fails to provide

(a) any of the documents referred to in section 392;

(b) a report under subsection 396(2) concerning the appointment of a registered agent;

(c) any of the documents referred to in subsection 400(2) or 405(1) or (4) with respect to a replacement of its auditor or chief agent;

(d) either of the documents referred to in subsections 405(1) and (3) with respect to a change of its leader;

(e) a report in accordance with subsection 405(2) of a change in the registered information on its name, short-form name, abbreviation or logo mentioned in paragraphs 385(2)(a) to (c);

(f) a report under subsection 405(1) concerning a change in any other registered information;

(g) confirmation under subsection 406(1) or section 407 of the validity of the registered information;

(h) a report that is required to be filed under subsection 476.1(1) by the registered party; or

(i) a statement that is required under subsection 478.1(1) or (2).

413. The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered party if its chief agent fails

(a) to provide him or her with a document for a fiscal year in accordance with subsection 432(1); or

(b) to provide him or her with a document for a general election in accordance with subsection 437(1).

414. On application, other than during the election period of a general election, by a registered party to become deregistered, signed by the leader and any two officers of the party, the Chief Electoral Officer may deregister the party.

415. (1) If the Chief Electoral Officer believes on reasonable grounds that a registered party, its leader, its chief agent or one of its other officers has omitted to perform any obligation referred to in section 412 or 413, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, in writing, notify the party and any of its officers who are named in the registry of political parties that the party or officer must

(a) rectify the omission by the discharge of that obligation,

(i) within 5 days after receipt of the notice, in the case of a failure to comply with subsection 406(1), or

(ii) within 30 days after receipt of the notice, in any other case; or

(b) satisfy the Chief Electoral Officer that the omission was not the result of negligence or a lack of good faith.

(2) If paragraph (1)(b) applies, the Chief Electoral Officer may amend the notice by

(a) exempting, in whole or in part, the recipients of the notice from complying with the obligations referred to in section 412 or 413; or

(b) specifying a period for compliance with the obligations referred to in subparagraph (1)(a)(i) or (ii), as the case may be.

(3) The Chief Electoral Officer may deregister a registered party if its leader, its chief agent or one of its officers fails to comply with a notice referred to in subsection (1) or with a notice amended under subsection (2).

416. (1) If the Chief Electoral Officer proposes to deregister a registered party under section 414 or subsection 415(3), he or she shall, in writing, so notify the party and its registered associations.

(2) The notice shall specify the effective date of the deregistration, which shall be at least 15 days after the day on which the notice is sent.

(3) The notice shall be sent by registered mail or by a method of courier service that provides proof of mailing, a record while in transit and a record of delivery.

417. If a registered party is deregistered, its registered associations are also deregistered.

418. (1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall without delay cause a notice of the deregistration of a registered party and of its registered associations to be published in the Canada Gazette.

(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall indicate the deregistration of the party in the registry of political parties.

419. A registered party that is deregistered continues to have the obligations of a registered party for the purpose of section 420.

420. The chief agent of a deregistered political party shall, within six months after the day of its deregistration, provide the Chief Electoral Officer with

(a) the documents referred to in subsection 432(1) for

(i) the portion of its current fiscal period ending on the day of its deregistration, and

(ii) any earlier fiscal period for which those documents have not already been provided under that subsection; and

(b) the documents referred to in subsection 437(1), for any general election for which those documents have not already been provided under that subsection.