Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (demographic information)
This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to require certain registered parties to make diversity-related information available to the public. It further amends the Act to require the Chief Electoral Officer to collect and report on demographic information related to candidates, nomination contestants and leadership contestants.
Bill S-213 proposes to make political parties, specifically those that received at least 2% of the vote in the last election, more transparent about their diversity. These parties would be required to publicly share information on their websites about policies and programs aimed at increasing diversity in candidate selection. This includes rules for choosing candidates, diversity initiatives, and progress made towards diversity goals.
The bill also mandates the Chief Electoral Officer to collect and report on demographic information from candidates, nomination contestants, and leadership contestants. This information, gathered through voluntary self-identification questionnaires, will help analyze diversity within political participation. The goal is to promote greater representation and accountability regarding diversity within Canadian political parties.