Sometime before July 2, 2023, a by-election will be announced for the seat in the House of Commons representing Calgary Heritage in the province of Alberta.

On January 3, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Calgary Heritage (Alberta) became vacant following the resignation of Bob Benzen. Benzen officially resigned from his seat in the House of Commons on December 31, 2022, in order to return to private life, according to CTV news.

Under the law, the by-election date must be announced between January 14 and July 2, 2023, and will signal the start of the by-election period. According to Elections Canada, the earliest date the by-election can be held is February 20, 2023.

Campaign contribution limits have increased in the province of Ontario, Canada for 2023.

In a calendar year, a person individually may contribute $3,350 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 $3,350 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 $3,350 multiplied by the indexation factor.

The previous contribution limits from 2022 were $3,350.

Campaign contribution limits increased in British Columbia for 2023 to $1,401.40 for contributions to registered political parties, including their candidates, nomination contestants and registered constituency associations.

Additionally, individuals can also contribute up to $1,401.40 to independent candidates and leadership contestants, if a leadership contest is called in 2023. The previous limits from 2022 were $1,309.09.

Also increased to $400 is the limit of a fee paid to attend a leadership convention or other convention of a political party without counting toward the $1,401.40 contribution limit.

These contribution amounts are adjusted at the start of each calendar year.

Elections Canada has published the federal contribution limits for the 2023 calendar year.

In 2023, individuals may contribute up to $1,700 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.

Question:  I am the Senior Officer in Quebec for my company.  I have been receiving emails concerning a new website.  What do I need to know?

Answer:  Lobbying to design and administer a new platform to replace the current Registry of Lobbyists.  This new platform is called Carrefour Lobby Quebec.  Carrefour Lobby Quebec aims to be a modernization and update of the current registry.

On June 21, 2022, the first phase of Carrefour Lobby Quebec was deployed.  Senior officers of companies and organizations carrying out lobbying activities were invited to create their individual accounts in the new system, along with the corresponding account for their company or organization.  Authorized representatives and consultant lobbyists were also permitted to proceed with account creation in Carrefour Lobby Quebec.  Users can gain additional information on Carrefour Lobby Québec by viewing an introductory video. They can also review the methods of administration of the new system.

The second and final phase of the deployment will take place this fall.  The Commissioner of Lobbying recommended, as provided for in Bill 13, a decree be adopted fixing the final deployment of Carrefour Lobby Quebec for October 13, 2022.  The functionalities for entering lobbying activities will then be operational in the new system.   On October 13, 2022, the current Registry of Lobbyists will be officially closed and all information in the current registry will be transferred to Carrefour Lobby Quebec.  There will then be a 60-day validation period for all transferred information.

More information will be provided by the Commissioner of Lobbying as the deployment of the second phase approaches.  Until the new system is online, lobbying activities must be entered into the current registry.

The information from this response can easily be found on our website in the Lobbying Compliance section of the Canada Compliance Laws publication.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Although the next provincial election in Nova Scotia isn’t scheduled until 2025, Elections Nova Scotia (ENS) has published its strategic blueprint in preparation for that election and beyond. ENS’s new four-year strategic plan, which will last until 2026, focuses on five areas for improving electoral services.

The plan concentrates on how ENS will enhance the electoral process for all Nova Scotians through inclusion, diversity, equity, and access; how ENS will build relationships and partnerships with stakeholders; and how ENS will lead in the modernization of electoral services.

Additionally, the plan focuses on fostering a team culture that sets staff up for success and supporting election workers to excel in service delivery.

The plan was created by ENS’s Senior Leadership team.

On October 14, 2022, penalties and sanctions for the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s new lobbying law come into force and effect. In the meantime, and although the Regional Council approved the Lobbyist Registry By-law 2022-24 to establish a Lobbyist Registry on April 14,  there is a six-month educational period where penalties and sanctions will not be applied.

The new law applies to lobbying public office holders, which it defines as members of the Regional Council, officers or employees of the Council, members of local boards and committees established by the Council, and any accountability officer, including the Integrity Commissioner, the Lobbyist Registrar, an Ombudsman, and Closed Meeting Investigators. The new legislation also applies when lobbying Individuals under contract with the Region who are providing consulting or other advisory services to the Region related to matters with budgetary or operational impacts during the term of their contract.

In the law, lobbying means any communication with a public office holder by an individual who is paid or who represents a business or financial interest with the goal of trying to influence any legislative action including development, introduction, passage, defeat, amendment or repeal of a by-law, motion, resolution or the outcome of a decision on any matter before the Council, a committee of Council, or a staff member acting under delegated authority.

Registration is required electronically within five days of lobbying occurring. Lobbyist must update their registrations by filing a return if there are any changes or additions to the registration. If Lobbying continues for more than one year, a lobbyist must file a new registration for each year the lobbying continues. There are three types of lobbyists requiring registration: consultant lobbyists, in-house lobbyists, and voluntary unpaid lobbyists who lobby without payment on behalf of an individual, business, or any for-profit entity for the benefit of the interests of the individual, business, or for-profit entity.

Lobbyists also have to abide by a Code of Conduct, which is part of the new law.

Submitting a bid proposal as part of the procurement process and any communication with designated employees of the Region as permitted in the procurement policies and procurement documents of the Region does not require registration as a lobbyist. Former public office holders are prohibited from engaging in lobbying activities for 12 months after leaving their position. Once enforcement of penalties begins in October, lobbyists can be prohibited from lobbying for different time periods. Criminal activity will be referred to appropriate authorities.

The Regional Municipality of Niagara, also colloquially known as the Niagara Region or Region of Niagara, is composed of 12 municipalities falling under its jurisdiction, including Niagara Falls.

On June 21, Jean-François Routhier, the Commissioner of Lobbying with Lobbyisme Québec, officially deployed the first phase of Carrefour Lobby Quebec, the new online disclosure regime of lobbying activities for the province.

The current registry of lobbyists will be replaced by Carrefour Lobby Québec, which will be administered by Lobbyisme Québec. The official and complete launch of Carrefour Lobby Québec is anticipated to take place in the fall of 2022. At that time, the current lobbyists’ registry will close.

Beginning June 21, the most senior executives of companies and organizations carrying out lobbying activities and their authorized representatives, as well as consultant lobbyists, will begin to be invited to proceed with the creation of their individual account and their businesses or organizations on the new website. Lobbyisme Québec plans to help support registered lobbyists efficiently transition to the new website during the second and final phase of the platform’s deployment.

According to the Office of Lobbyisme’s press release, the Lobbyists Commissioner has recommended that the government, as provided for in Bill 13, adopt the decree setting the entry into force of the new platform on October 13, 2022.

In the works since the summer of 2019, the updated web platform aims to replace the “technological obsolescence” of the current site with a modern system, to improve the user experience, and to be in line with Quebec’s 2019-2023 digital transformation strategy.

Sometime before November 26, 2022, a by-election will be announced for the seat in the House of Commons representing Mississauga–Lakeshore in the province of Ontario.

On May 30, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Mississauga–Lakeshore (Ontario) became vacant following the resignation of Sven Spengemann. Spengemann officially resigned from his seat in the House of Commons on May 28 in order to work for the United Nations.

Under the law, the by-election date must be announced between June 10 and November 26, 2022, and will signal the start of the by-election period. According to Elections Canada, the earliest date the by-election can be held is July 18, 2022.

On April 1, 2022, Elections Canada published the updated limits on expenses for regulated activities of third parties involved in federal elections in Canada. The Canada Elections Act imposes a limit on expenses a third party can incur for regulated political activities.

For the period of April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, a third party is prohibited from incurring overall election advertising expenses of a total amount of more than $543,200 during a general election. The previous limit was $525,700.

For the same period of April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, a third party is prohibited from incurring election advertising expenses in a given electoral district of a total amount of more than $4,656 during a general election. The previous limit was $4,506.

Adjustments are made annually based on a formula of a base amount multiplied by the inflation adjustment factor in effect for the period.

On April 11, a provincial byelection will be held in the electoral division of Marie-Victorin for the Quebec National Assembly.

The election will be held to fill the vacant seat of former Member of the National Assembly Catherine Fournier, who resigned in November of last year after becoming elected the mayor of Longueuil.

The election was announced by Premier François Legault on March 8.

On March 15, a by-election will be held to elect a member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the electoral division of Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche.

After a six-month wait, and on the last possible day authorized by law, Alberta Chief Electoral Officer Glen Resler confirmed a writ was issued on February 15 to administer the election. MLA Laila Goodridge resigned in August 2021, to run for federal office. On September 20, 2021, she was elected as a Member of the Parliament in the House of Commons for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

Candidate nominations are now open and will end on February 25, 2022.

The Lobbyist Registry for the city of Burlington, Ontario, Canada has officially gone live on the city’s website this month.

A new lobbying law, passed on October 19, 2021, requires consultant lobbyists, in-house lobbyists, and voluntary unpaid lobbyists to file a registration with the City Clerk within 10 days after entering into an undertaking to lobby. Only one registration needs to be filed for each undertaking even though a lobbyist may, in connection with the undertaking, communicate or arrange meetings with more than one public office holder on more than one occasion.

The new legislation defines lobbying as meaning any communication with a public office holder by an individual who represents a business or financial interest with the goal of trying to influence legislative action. In turn, the law defines legislative action as the development, introduction, passage, defeat, amendment or repeal of a bylaw, motion, resolution, or the outcome of a decision on any matter before the City Council or a Committee of the Council. A lobbyist is required to file a return updating any change in their registration within 10 business days of the change taking place. The subject matter registration will be closed once lobbying is complete or within 12 months of the lobbying commencing, whichever is sooner.

The new Lobbyist Registry is available at https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/lobbyist-registry.asp.

Elections Canada has published the federal contribution limits for the 2022 calendar year.

In 2022, individuals may contribute up to $1,675 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.