On May 29, the second session of the 40th parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia adjourned for the summer. It is scheduled to reconvene on October 6, 2014, and to adjourn on November 27, 2014.

Two campaign finance bills affecting local elections in the province were passed during the session. Bill No. 20, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, and Bill No. 21, Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 require, among other changes, third party advertising sponsors to register with Elections B.C., report expenditures and contributions of $50 or more, and clearly identify themselves in any election advertisement. Both bills received royal assent on May 29.

Two campaign finance bills affecting local elections in British Columbia were passed last week by the Legislative Assembly.

On May 1, Bill No. 20, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, and Bill No. 21, Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act, 2014, were passed after the third readings. The new laws will require, among other changes, third party advertising sponsors to register with Election B.C., report expenditures and contributions of $50 or more, and clearly identify themselves in any election advertisement.

The legislation will become effective after royal assent.

Photo of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly building courtesy of KirinX on Wikimedia Commons.

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ruled the province’s law requiring registration for political advertising is constitutional, even if no money on advertising has been spent.

The Election Act requires individuals and organizations wanting to sponsor election advertising to register with the province’s chief electoral officer. According to The Globe and Mail, Judge Bruce Cohen wrote, “The salutary effects of the impugned measure outweigh the deleterious effects [by increasing] the transparency, openness and accountability of B.C.’s electoral process and promotes an informed electorate.” The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association had argued the law discourages participation from individuals and groups without the means or ability to register.