Le Lézard
Subjects: PDT, LAW, CPN
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Prospective candidates no longer required to pay deposit
GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 8, 2017 /CNW/ -
- On October 25, 2017, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta rendered its decision in Szuchewycz v. Canada (Attorney General), stating that the $1,000 deposit requirement for prospective candidates in federal elections infringes on section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides that: "Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein."
- The decision is binding until it is stayed by a court or overturned on appeal.
- The Acting Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, stated that the deposit requirement provision will no longer be applied by Elections Canada, effective immediately.
- This is in keeping with Elections Canada's well-established practice regarding provincial court decisions that invalidate or modify provisions of the Canada Elections Act (the Act). Decisions are applied nationally in order to achieve the fair and consistent application of the Act across the country.
- As a result, prospective candidates will no longer have to pay the $1,000 deposit as part of their nomination requirements.
- This means that the deposit is not required from prospective candidates in the federal by?elections currently underway.
- All other requirements for the nomination of candidates are still in effect. These requirements are established in section 66 and section 67 of the Act.
- Elections Canada was not a party to the litigation.
Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.
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SOURCE Elections Canada
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