On May 17, a bill to amend the Election Finances Act was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Bill 201, the Election Finances Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016, which also includes amendments to the Taxation Act, 2007, bans corporate and union donations to political parties. The legislation will also limit contributions from individuals, limit spending for third-party advertising, and tighten political party spending and fundraising rules for by-elections.

If passed, the changes are hoped to be in place or significantly underway before the June 2018 election, with initial changes legislated for January 1, 2017.

Sen. Mike Duffy was cleared of 31 charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust on April 21, 2016. The charges stem from Duffy using Senate funds to pay for travel, housing in Ottawa, and other activities loosely tied to his work as a senator. He was also charged with soliciting a bribe from then-Prime Minster Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright, in order to repay expenses ruled improper.

Following a 62-day trial, Ontario Court Justice Charles Vaillancourt dismissed 27 counts and found Duffy not guilty on the last four charges. In the 308-page decision, Vaillancourt found Duffy followed the rules of the Senate to the best of his ability, as the rules regarding legitimate expenses are vague.

Vaillancourt’s ruling also singled out Wright and other staff members in the Prime Minister’s Office for their behavior when dealing with the situation. Evidence, including emails, showed staff threatening, cajoling, and ultimately forcing Duffy to accept the money from Wright.

Had he been convicted, Duffy would have faced fines and jail time.

Photo of Sen. Mike Duffy by Ayelie on Wikimedia Commons.

Ontario, Canada Premier Kathleen Wynne announced provincial legislation will be introduced in May banning corporate and union donations to political parties. The legislation will also limit contributions from individuals, limit spending for third-party advertising, and tighten political party spending and fundraising rules for by-elections.

“I believe it is important that these changes be in place or significantly underway before the June 2018 election, with initial changes legislated for Jan. 1, 2017,” iPolitics.ca reported Wynne as saying.

Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer, Glen Resler, issued a writ to administer a by-election for the Calgary-Greenway electoral district to fill a seat in the Legislative Assembly. In the wake of the tragic passing of Progressive Conservative MLA Manmeet Bhullar last November, Alberta’s New Democratic Party (NDP) has set a March 22 election date.

Some other parties, which have yet to nominate candidates, are not pleased. They feel it is poor politics to rush to hold an election when the government has until May and not all parties have chosen their candidates.

The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut’s Management and Services Board is accepting applications for the position of chief electoral officer of Nunavut. The commissioner of Nunavut appoints the chief electoral officer for a seven-year term on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly. The chief electoral officer is accountable for the administration of all territorial general elections and by-elections, plebiscites, and local option votes.

The next territorial general election is scheduled to take place in October 2017.

Alberta’s New Democratic Party has filed a calendar for the Second Session of the 29th Legislature and announced starting dates for the spring and fall sittings. The spring sitting will commence March 8 with a throne speech and is expected to run no longer than June 2. The fall sitting will begin on October 31 and end before December 1.

The spring or fall sitting of the Assembly may be shortened or extended by passage of a motion to be decided without debate or amendment. There is no word yet on when Finance Minister Joe Ceci will table the government’s budget.

Photo of Alberta’s Legislative Building in Edmonton by Tkyle on Wikimedia Commons.

With the Liberal Party taking office in Canada, a new process for appointing unelected Senate position is taking effect. Under the new process, an independent advisory board will use merit-based criteria to present a list of five potential candidates for each vacancy to Prime Minister Trudeau.

This new measure was motivated by the desire to have a more independent and non-partisan Senate.

Senators from the Liberal Party caucus were expelled last year after accusations of expense account abuse.

An updated Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct, which had not been revised since 1997, goes into effect today.

The new Code prohibits lobbyists from lobbying a public official if the lobbyist has campaigned for or has a business interest with the public official. Lobbyists will now be held responsible for giving prohibited gifts to public officials.

The revised rules are aimed at increasing transparency and public trust in officeholders.

On December 1, 2015, new revisions to Canada’s Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct will take effect.  The updates to the Code of Conduct, which has not been updated since 1997, are designed to clarify the rules and restrictions on lobbying in the country.

New rules will prohibit a lobbyist from lobbying a public official if the lobbyist has campaigned for or has business interests with the public official.  New regulations addressing gifts will hold a lobbyist responsible for giving a gift the public official is not allowed to accept.

A territorial general election will be held on Monday, November 23.

The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories issued the Writs of Election for the 2015 Territorial General Election following the dissolution of the 17th Legislative Assembly on October 25.

The Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, won the October 19 general election in Canada by a landslide, taking 184 seats. Only 170 seats are needed to form a majority government. Stephen Harper, the Conservative Prime Minister, was unseated after three terms and almost 10 years in office.

Trudeau has stated plans to reduce greenhouse emissions, legalize marijuana, and improve infrastructure.

Photo of Justin Trudeau by Alex Guibord on Wikimedia Commons.

A by-election for the riding of Calgary-Foothills will be held on September 3, 2015.

Former Progressive Conservative Leader Jim Prentice vacated the seat when the New Democratic Party gained control of the Legislative Assembly in the May 5 provincial election.

There are six candidates competing in the election.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called for federal elections to take place on October 19, 2015.

Calling for an election during the summer is an unusual move in Canadian politics, creating the longest campaign period since 1874. Some view it as a move to ensure Harper’s Conservative Party stays in power as it will likely be the only party to have raised enough money to spend the maximum amount allowed by law.

The Conservative Party has been in power since 2006, winning two elections thereafter and gaining a majority in the House of Commons in 2011.

On August 1, the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada’s lobbyist registry came into effect. The new bylaw requires lobbyists to register at least one day before lobbying a member of council and any person on his or her staff or an employee of the city who is a member of the city’s senior management team. The law includes exemptions to registrations, as well enforcement powers and responsibilities of the lobbyist registrar.