Bill C-279: An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (length of election period)

Cover Summary BILL C-279 First Session, Forty-second Parliament, 64-65 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-279 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (length of election period) FIRST READING, MAY 31, 2016 Mr. MacGregor 421175 SUMMARY This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to specify the maximum duration of an election period. It also provides for the postponement of polling day in cases where it would otherwise be held between December 20 and January 2. Available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1st Session, 42nd Parliament, 64-65 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-279 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (length of election period) 2000, c. 9 Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: 1 Paragraph 57(1.‍2)‍(c) of the Canada Elections Act is replaced by the following: (c) fix the date for voting at the election, which date must be at least 36 days, but not more than 46 days, after the issue of the writ. 2 The Act is amended by adding the following after subsection 57(5): Exception — end of year (6) If, in accordance with paragraph (1.‍2)‍(c), the date for voting at the election would be fixed between December 20 of one year and January 2 of the following year, polling day shall be no earlier than January 13 and no later than January 20. 3 The Act is amended by adding the following after subsection 171(2): Advance polling stations — subsection 57(6) (3) If polling day is fixed in accordance with subsection 57(6), advance polling stations shall open on the first Friday following January 2. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons