On February 3, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke (British Columbia) is vacant.

After 14 years as a member of parliament, Randall Garrison resigned from the seat in December because of health concerns.

Under the law, if a vacancy occurs less than nine months before the fixed date for a general election, no by-election is called and the seat remains vacant until the general election., which must take place by October 20, 2025. Therefore, no by-election will be held to fill this vacant seat.

Today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published its price index adjustments for expenditure limitations and the federal lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.

The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold has increased for 2025 from $22,700 to $23,300. This threshold amount is adjusted annually. Federal law requires authorized committees of federal candidates, leadership political action committees (PACs), and political party committees to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists and lobbyists’ PACs.

Additionally, the FEC published its adjusted Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for political parties for 2025.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) published the 2025-2026 election cycle contribution limits, which have been indexed for inflation. As required by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, the FEC must adjust certain contribution limits every two years.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) published the 2025-2026 election cycle contribution limits, which have been indexed for inflation. As required by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, the FEC must adjust certain contribution limits every two years.

The individual and nonmulticandidate PAC contribution limit to federal candidates has increased from $3,300 to $3,500 for both primary and general elections, allowing for a total of $7,000 for a federal candidate.

The limits on contributions by individuals to national party committees have increased from $41,300 to $44,300 per calendar year.

Individuals may now contribute $132,900 per calendar year to committees of a national political party for presidential nominating conventions, to committees of a national political party for preparation for and the conduct of election recounts and contests and other legal proceedings, and to committees of a national political party for the construction, purchase, renovation, operation, and furnishing of one or more buildings for party headquarters.

Individuals may now contribute $132,900 per calendar year to committees of a national political party for presidential nominating conventions, to committees of a national political party for preparation for and the conduct of election recounts and contests and other legal proceedings, and to committees of a national political party for the construction, purchase, renovation, operation, and furnishing of one or more buildings for party headquarters.

On January 20, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order revoking mandated enhanced ethics rules for executive branch appointees implemented on January 20, 2021, by former President Joseph R. Biden. President Trump’s Executive Order, entitled “Executive Order—Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions,” revoked over 60 prior presidential Executive orders issued in the last four years.

The rescinded order, Executive Order 13989 entitled “Executive Order on Ethic Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,” required new appointees to sign and be contractually committed to the ethics pledge outlined in the order. Appointees were prohibited from accepting gifts, with limited exceptions, from registered lobbyists and lobbying organizations for the duration of their service as appointees. Appointees were also prohibited from participating in matters involving specific parties directly and substantially related to a former employer for two years after the date of appointment.

Federal lobbyists and individuals registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act could not seek or accept employment with any executive agency with respect to which he or she lobbied within the two years before the date of the appointment. The order also prohibited certain golden parachutes from former employers and includes a general two-year prohibition on lobbying after leaving a position. Covered appointees included every full-time, non-career Presidential or Vice-Presidential appointee, non-career appointees in the Senior Executive Service, and appointees to certain positions excepted from the competitive service. It did not include any person appointed as a member of the Senior Foreign Service or solely as a uniformed service commissioned officer.

President Trump, who issued an Executive Order concerning the ethics of appointed officials in 2017, and rescinded it on January 19, 2021, could still issue another related Executive Order.

On January 17, a final rule amending the U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations, aimed at improving consistency between the procurement and non-procurement procedures concerning suspension and debarment, will take effect.

Changes include providing clarification regarding which mitigating and aggravating factors may apply to individuals for suspensions and debarments, clarifying that if the suspending and debarring official (SDO) extends the opportunity for the contractor to submit material in opposition, then the SDO should also give a deadline for submission of materials, and the allowance of the notice of proposed debarment, or the notice of suspension, to be sent by U.S. mail or private delivery service to the last known street address of the person or entity with delivery notification service.

Additional changes allow for the notice of proposed debarment, or the notice of suspension, to be sent by email to the point of contact email address in the contractor’s registration in the System for Award Management, if any, or to the last known email address as confirmed by the agency. The rule changes also clarify that the official record closes upon the expiration of the contractor’s time to submit information and argument in opposition, including any extensions.

On January 14, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) announced the appointment of James D. McGinley to the position of Associate General Counsel for Litigation. McGinley will oversee the Office of General Counsel’s Litigation Division, one of five units of the Office of General Counsel.

His division represents the commission before federal courts in all civil litigation involving campaign finance statutes. Additionally, it assists the Solicitor General’s office at the Department of Justice when cases involving the FEC are before the U.S. Supreme Court.

McGinley’s appointment became effective on January 13.

Campaign contribution limits increased in British Columbia for 2025 to $1,484.38 for contributions to registered political parties, including their candidates, nomination contestants and registered constituency associations. Additionally, individuals can also contribute up to $1,484.38 to independent candidates and leadership contestants, if a leadership contest is called in 2025. The previous limits from 2024 were $1,450.82 and $1,401.40 in 2023. Also increased to $420 is the limit of a fee paid to attend a leadership convention or other convention of a political party without counting toward the $1,484.38 contribution limit. These contribution amounts are adjusted at the start of each calendar year.

Campaign contribution limits increased in the city of Surrey, British Columbia for 2025 to $1,402.40 for local elections candidate or elector organization per campaign. For a local by-election held in 2025, unendorsed candidates may contribute an additional $1,402.40 to their own campaign, and a group of endorsed candidates may contribute an additional $1,402.40 in total to the campaign of the elector organization. The campaign contribution limit is adjusted at the start of each calendar year.

Elections Canada has published the federal contribution limits for the 2025 calendar year. In 2025, individuals may contribute up to $1,750 to independent candidates, leadership candidates, registered parties, and to, in total, all of the registered associations, nomination contestants and candidates of each registered party. The limits also apply to any unpaid balance of loans made during a contribution period and the amount of any loan guarantees made during a contribution period. The limits increase annually by $25 on January 1.

For 2025, the minimum wage required to be paid by US Federal Contractors under Executive Order 14026 increases to $17.75 an hour. Beginning January 30, 2022, all federal agencies were required to incorporate a $15 minimum wage in new contract solicitations pursuant to an executive order signed by President Joseph R. Biden on April 27, 2021. Since January 1, 2024, tipped workers must also receive 100% of the wage received by non-tipped workers, eliminating the difference between the type of workers. Contractors covered by Executive Order 14026 must ensure that workers receive no less than the minimum wage rates in effect during each calendar year in which a covered contract is performed. Based on an order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 26, 2023, the minimum wage requirements of the final rule implementing Executive Order 14026 are not currently being enforced as to contracts or subcontracts to which the states of Texas, Louisiana, or Mississippi (including their agencies) are a party.

Campaign contribution limits have increased in Ontario for 2025. In a calendar year, a person individually may contribute $3,400 to each party, to each constituency association and nominations contestants of a party, and to each leadership contestant of a party. Additionally, in a campaign period, a person may contribute $3,400 to each candidate of a party, and to each independent non-party candidate. The total contribution made with respect to a single fundraising event by a contributor may not exceed $3,400 multiplied by the indexation factor. The previous contribution limits from 2024 were $3,375.

Campaign contribution limits have increased in Prince Edward Island for 2025.

Beginning January 1, 2025, the individual contribution limit is $3,300 per party.

A contribution to a registered candidate affiliated with a registered party is a contribution to the party.

An individual may choose to donate the maximum to each registered party and any independent candidates.

The previous contribution limit from 2024 was $3,250.

On January 3, 2025, the U.S. Federal Register is scheduled to publish the Federal Election Commission’s announcement of its civil monetary penalty amounts, adjusted for inflation, for 2025.

The potential fines for civil violations of federal campaign finance laws will increase to range from $ 7,445 to $87,056, from the previous range of $ 7,256 to $ 84,852.

The amounts are calculated through a statutory formula applying the most recent “cost-of-living adjustment multiplier,” issued by the Office of Management and Budget, to the current amounts.

The amended civil monetary penalties are expected to take effect as of January 3, 2025, the publication date in the Federal Register.

On January 2, the U.S. Federal Register published proposals from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to amend regulations related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). FARA requires the registration and reporting with the DOJ of persons acting within the U.S. as agents of foreign principals. The law also requires foreign agents to label the informational materials they distribute.

The DOJ is proposing new regulations regarding exemptions to FARA’s registration requirement, the filing and labeling of informational materials, and other issues to ensure the regulations keep pace with technological changes.

FARA has eight exemptions allowing a person engaging in otherwise covered activities for or in the interests of a foreign principal to be exempt from registration if certain criteria are met. The DOJ proposes changes when addressing exemptions for bona fide trade and commerce activities and activities not predominantly serving a foreign interest. They also want changes for the exemption of activities by attorneys in connection with certain proceedings, investigations, and inquiries.

The DOJ proposes defining  informational materials by regulation as any material that the person disseminating it believes or has reason to believe will, or which the person intends to in any way, influence any agency or official of the U.S. government or any section of the public within the U.S., with reference to formulating, adopting, or changing the domestic or foreign policies of the U.S. or with reference to the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party. They additionally propose significant changes relating to how informational materials must be labeled, including conspicuous statements with the name of the country or territory where the foreign principal is located.

The department is also proposing a series of technological provisions including how registration statements are filed, how registration fees are paid, the limited need for in-person public examination of registration statements when they are available online, the DOJ’s need for an agent’s business email address to expedite communications with the agent, and updates to the advisory opinion request procedure.

Public comments on the proposed rule changes will be considered until March 3, 2025.