Bill C-309: An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (Indigenous languages)

Bill C-309 If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at [email protected]. First Reading LEGISinfo Bilingual view XML PDF Skip to Document Navigation Skip to Document Content ENGLISHSUMMARYSUMMARY1 Canada Elections Act1 Canada Elections Act Second Session, Forty-third Parliament, 69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-309 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (Indigenous languages) FIRST READING, June 14, 2021 Ms. Qaqqaq 432134 SUMMARY This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to provide that, in certain circumstances, electors are to be supplied with ballots in an Indigenous language. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 2nd Session, 43rd Parliament, 69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-309 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (Indigenous languages) Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: 2000, c. 9 Canada Elections Act 1 The Canada Elections Act is amended by adding the following after section 116: 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.‍ 2 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 186: 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. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU