BILL
NUMBER		 TITLE DATE
INTRODUCED
27 ELECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2021
(First Reading) 		Oct. 27/21

Commencement:
4 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.

 
Explanatory Notes

SECTION 1: [Election Act, section 215.02]

  • sets out, for 2022 and each following year, the method of calculating the annual allowance to a registered political party whose candidates in the most recent general election received at least 2% of the total number of valid votes cast in all electoral districts or 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which the political party endorsed candidates;
  • requires the annual allowance to be adjusted for 2024 and each following year in accordance with changes in the consumer price index;
  • requires the chief electoral officer to pay the allowance in 2022 and each following year in 2 equal instalments on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

SECTION 2: [Election Act, section 215.03] repeals the requirement that a special committee of the Legislative Assembly conduct a review of the annual allowance paid to political parties and submit a report to the Legislative Assembly.

SECTION 3: [Election Act, section 270.01]

  • requires the chief electoral officer to publish the annual allowance on an Elections BC authorized internet site and have notice of the annual allowance published in the Gazette;
  • provides that the requirement for the chief electoral officer to give notice to candidates, registered political parties and registered constituency associations of adjusted amounts referred to in this section applies in respect of adjusted individual political contribution limits and adjusted election expense limits but not adjusted limits for individual sponsorship contributions to third party sponsors;
  • provides, for the purpose of adjusting the annual allowance, that the chief electoral officer has the discretion to determine whether to use a consumer price index prepared under the Statistics Act or published under the Statistics Act (Canada) and to determine which consumer price index is applicable for a particular time.

BILL 27 – 2021
ELECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2021

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 215.02 (2) and (3) of the Election Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106, is repealed and the following substituted:

(2) The annual allowance is calculated

(a) in 2022 and 2023 by multiplying $1.75 per vote received, and

(b) in 2024 and each following year by multiplying the applicable amount established under subsection (2.1) per vote received.

(2.1) The chief electoral officer must establish the applicable amount to be used in the calculation under subsection (2) (b) as soon as possible after each January 1, and no later than January 15, of that year by

(a) determining the ratio between the consumer price index as at January 1, 2023 and the consumer price index at January 1 of the year in which the allowance is paid, and

(b) applying the ratio to adjust the amount that is to apply for that year.

(3) The chief electoral officer must pay the allowance in 2022 and each following year in 2 equal instalments on the following dates in each applicable year:

(a) January 15;

(b) July 15.

2 Section 215.03 is repealed.

3 Section 270.01 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) (a) by adding "and the annual allowance calculated under section 215.02 (2)" after "sections 186.01, 204 and 235.05",

(b) in subsection (1) (b) by adding "and the annual allowance" after "the adjusted amounts",

(c) in subsection (1) (c) by adding "established under sections 186.01 and 204" after "adjusted amounts", and

(d) in subsection (2) by striking out "section 186.01, 204 or 235.05" and substituting "section 186.01, 204, 215.02 or 235.05".

Commencement

4 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.


Explanatory Notes

SECTION 1: [Election Act, section 215.02]

  • sets out, for 2022 and each following year, the method of calculating the annual allowance to a registered political party whose candidates in the most recent general election received at least 2% of the total number of valid votes cast in all electoral districts or 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which the political party endorsed candidates;
  • requires the annual allowance to be adjusted for 2024 and each following year in accordance with changes in the consumer price index;
  • requires the chief electoral officer to pay the allowance in 2022 and each following year in 2 equal instalments on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

SECTION 2: [Election Act, section 215.03] repeals the requirement that a special committee of the Legislative Assembly conduct a review of the annual allowance paid to political parties and submit a report to the Legislative Assembly.

SECTION 3: [Election Act, section 270.01]

  • requires the chief electoral officer to publish the annual allowance on an Elections BC authorized internet site and have notice of the annual allowance published in the Gazette;
  • provides that the requirement for the chief electoral officer to give notice to candidates, registered political parties and registered constituency associations of adjusted amounts referred to in this section applies in respect of adjusted individual political contribution limits and adjusted election expense limits but not adjusted limits for individual sponsorship contributions to third party sponsors;
  • provides, for the purpose of adjusting the annual allowance, that the chief electoral officer has the discretion to determine whether to use a consumer price index prepared under the Statistics Act or published under the Statistics Act (Canada) and to determine which consumer price index is applicable for a particular time.