Canada Elections Act

Marginal note:Strict liability offences — summary conviction

• 497 (1) Every person is guilty of an offence who

  • (a) being a registered party, contravenes section 372 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);

  • (b) being a registered party, contravenes subsection 375(3) or, being a registered party or an eligible party, contravenes subsection 374.1(4), section 378, subsection 379(1) or (2) or section 380 (failure to comply with requirements re officers, chief agent, registered agents or auditor);

  • (c) being a registered party, contravenes subsection 382(1) or (4) (failure to report changes to registered party information);

  • (d) being a registered party, contravenes section 384 (failure to confirm validity of information on party);

  • (e) being a chief agent of a deregistered political party, contravenes section 392 (failure to provide financial transactions return or election expenses return or related documents);

  • (f) and (g) [Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]

  • (h) being a chief agent of a merging registered party, contravenes section 403 (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);

  • (h.01) being an electoral district association, contravenes section 403.01 (failure to register);

  • (h.02) being an electoral district association of a registered party, contravenes section 403.04 (financial activity during an election period);

  • (h.03) being a registered association, contravenes section 403.05 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);

  • (h.031) being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes section 403.051 (making erroneous declaration);

  • (h.04) being a registered association, contravenes subsection 403.09(2) (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of electoral district agent);

  • (h.05) being a registered association, contravenes section 403.12, 403.13 or 403.14 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of financial agent or auditor);

  • (h.06) being a registered association, contravenes subsection 403.16(1) (failure to report changes to registered association information);

  • (h.07) being a registered association, contravenes section 403.17 (failure to confirm validity of information concerning association);

  • (h.08) being the financial agent of a deregistered electoral district association, contravenes section 403.26 (failure to provide financial transactions return for fiscal period or related documents);

  • (h.09) being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes subsection 403.35(1), (2) or (4) (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);

  • (h.1) being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes section 403.36 (failure to forward certain contributions);

  • (h.11) being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes paragraph 403.38(b) (providing incomplete financial transactions return);

  • (i) being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 404(1) (making contribution while ineligible);

  • (i.1) being the chief agent of a registered party, the financial agent of a registered association, the official agent of a candidate or the financial agent of a leadership contestant or nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 404(2) (failure to return or pay amount of ineligible contribution);

  • (i.2) being a registered party or an electoral district association of one, contravenes subsection 404.3(1) (making prohibited transfer);

  • (i.3) being a person who is authorized to accept contributions on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant, contravenes section 404.4 (failure to issue receipt);

  • (i.4) being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.2(1) (circumventing contribution limit);

  • (i.5) being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.2(2) (concealing source of contribution);

  • (i.6) being an individual, contravenes section 405.3 (making indirect contributions);

  • (i.7) being a person authorized under this Act to accept contributions, contravenes section 405.4 (failure to return or pay amount of contribution);

  • (j) contravenes subsection 410(1) or (2) (failure to document payment);

  • (k) being a person authorized to pay petty expenses, contravenes subsection 411(3) (failure to provide documentation of expenditures) or 411(4) (paying excessive petty expenses);

  • (l) being a chief agent, contravenes subsection 423(1) (exceeding election expense limit) or, being a registered party or third party, contravenes subsection 423(2) (colluding to circumvent election expense limit);

  • (m) being a chief agent, contravenes section 424 (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);

  • (m.1) being a chief agent, contravenes section 424.1 (failure to provide quarterly return);

  • (n) being a registered agent, contravenes section 425 (failure to forward excess contributions);

  • (o) being a chief agent, contravenes paragraph 427(b) (providing incomplete financial transactions return);

  • (p) [Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]

  • (q) being a chief agent, contravenes section 429 (failure to provide election expenses return or related documents);

  • (q.01) being a chief agent, contravenes paragraph 431(b) (providing incomplete election expenses return);

  • (q.011) being the chief executive officer of a provincial division, contravenes subsection 435.02(5) (failure to report provincial division changes);

  • (q.02) being a registered party, contravenes subsection 435.04(1) or (2) (failure to inform of leadership contest or related changes);

  • (q.03) being a person, contravenes subsection 435.05(1) (failure to register for a leadership contest);

  • (q.04) being a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.08(2) or section 435.11, 435.12 or 435.13 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of leadership campaign agent, financial agent or auditor);

  • (q.05) being a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.15(1) or (2) (failure to report changes to leadership contestant information);

  • (q.06) being a leadership contestant, contravenes section 435.16 (failure to file statement of withdrawal);

  • (q.07) being a registered party, contravenes section 435.17 (failure to file statement of withdrawal of acceptance);

  • (q.08) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes section 435.21 (failure to satisfy bank account requirements);

  • (q.09) being a leadership contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes section 435.24 (failure to pay recoverable claim in timely manner);

  • (q.1) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.3(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide leadership campaign return or related documents);

  • (q.11) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 435.3(4);

  • (q.12) being a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.3(7) (failure to send declaration re: leadership campaign return to agent);

  • (q.13) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes any of subsections 435.31(1) to (3) (failure to provide return on contributions or related documents);

  • (q.14) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes section 435.32 (failure to forward certain contributions);

  • (q.15) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.35(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);

  • (q.16) being a leadership contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes paragraph 435.43(b) (providing incomplete financial return);

  • (q.17) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, contravenes subsection 435.45(2) or section 435.46 (failure to dispose of surplus leadership campaign funds);

  • (r) being an official agent, contravenes section 437 (failure to satisfy bank account requirements);

  • (s) being an official agent, a candidate or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), contravenes subsection 439(2) (incurring more than maximum allowed for notice of nomination meetings) or subsection 443(1) (exceeding election expenses limit) or, being an official agent, candidate, person authorized under paragraph 446(c) or a third party, contravenes subsection 443(2) (colluding to circumvent election expense limit);

  • (t) being an official agent, contravenes subsection 445(1) (failure to pay recoverable claim in timely manner);

  • (u) being an official agent, contravenes subsection 451(1), (2), (3) or (4) (failure to provide electoral campaign return or related documents);

  • (u.1) being an official agent, fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 451(2.2);

  • (v) being a candidate, contravenes subsection 451(5) (failure to send declaration re electoral campaign return to agent);

  • (w) being an official agent, contravenes section 452 (failure to pay value of contribution that cannot be returned);

  • (x) being an official agent, contravenes section 455 (failure to provide updated electoral campaign return or related documents);

  • (y) being an official agent, contravenes paragraph 463(1)(b) (providing incomplete electoral campaign return);

  • (z) being an official agent, contravenes subsection 472(2) or section 473 (failure to dispose of surplus electoral funds);

  • (z.1) being a registered agent or financial agent, contravenes section 476 (improper or unauthorized transfer of funds);

  • (z.2) being an official agent, contravenes subsection 478(2) (failure to return unused income tax receipts);

  • (z.21) being a registered party or registered association, contravenes subsection 478.02(1) (failure to notify of nomination contest);

  • (z.22) being a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.04 (failure to appoint financial agent);

  • (z.23) being a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.06, 478.07 or 478.08 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of financial agent);

  • (z.24) being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.1(1) or (2) (failure to report changes in nomination contestant information);

  • (z.25) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.12 (failure to satisfy bank account requirements);

  • (z.26) being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes subsection 478.15(1) (exceeding nomination campaign expenses limit);

  • (z.27) being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes subsection 478.17(1) (failure to pay recoverable claim in timely manner);

  • (z.28) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.23(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide nomination campaign return or related documents);

  • (z.29) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 478.23(4);

  • (z.3) being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.23(8) (failure to send declaration re: nomination campaign return to agent);

  • (z.31) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes section 478.24 (failure to forward certain contributions);

  • (z.32) being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.25(1) (failure to appoint auditor);

  • (z.33) being a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.25(4) or (5) or section 478.26 (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of auditor);

  • (z.34) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.3(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);

  • (z.35) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes paragraph 478.38(b) (providing incomplete financial return); or

  • (z.36) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, contravenes subsection 478.4(2) or section 478.41 (failure to dispose of surplus nomination campaign funds).

• Marginal note:Offences requiring intent — summary conviction

  (2) Every person is guilty of an offence who

  • (a) being a person or entity other than an electoral district agent of a registered association, knowingly contravenes subsection 403.28(1) or (2) (paying or incurring registered association’s expenses while ineligible);

  • (a.1) not being an electoral district agent or a registered agent, knowingly contravenes subsection 403.28(3) or 416(3) (accepting contributions while ineligible);

  • (a.2) not being the financial agent of a registered association, knowingly contravenes subsection 403.28(4) (accepting or making transfers while ineligible); or

  • (b) not being a chief agent, a registered agent or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), knowingly contravenes section 416 (paying or incurring registered party’s expenses).

• Marginal note:Offences requiring intent — dual procedure

  (3) Every person is guilty of an offence who

  • (a) being a registered party, wilfully contravenes section 372 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);

  • (b) wilfully contravenes subsection 381(1), (1.1) or (2) (ineligible person acting as officer, chief agent, registered agent or auditor);

  • (b.1) being an officer of a party, contravenes section 381.1 (officer knowing party not a political party);

  • (b.2) being a leader of a party, contravenes subsection 384.1(1), (3) or (4) (providing or certifying false or misleading information or making false declaration);

  • (b.3) being a registered party or an eligible party, contravenes subsection 384.1(2) (providing false or misleading information);

  • (b.4) being a member of a party, contravenes subsection 384.1(5) (making false declaration);

  • (c) being a chief agent of a deregistered political party, wilfully contravenes section 392 (failure to provide final transactions return or election expenses return or related documents);

  • (d) and (e) [Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]

  • (f) being a chief agent of a merging registered party, wilfully contravenes section 403 (failure to provide financial transactions returns or related documents);

  • (f.01) being an electoral district association, wilfully contravenes section 403.01 (failure to register);

  • (f.02) being an electoral district association of a registered party, wilfully contravenes section 403.04 (financial activity during an election period);

  • (f.03) being a registered association, wilfully contravenes section 403.05 (failure to provide statement of assets and liabilities or related documents);

  • (f.031) being the financial agent of a registered association, knowingly contravenes section 403.051 (making erroneous declaration);

  • (f.04) being a registered association, wilfully contravenes subsection 403.09(2) (failure to comply with requirements re: appointment of electoral district agent);

  • (f.05) being a person, wilfully contravenes subsection 403.15(1) or (2) (acting as financial agent or auditor when ineligible to do so);

  • (f.06) being the financial agent of a deregistered electoral district association, wilfully contravenes section 403.26 (failure to provide financial transactions return for fiscal period or related documents);

  • (f.07) being the financial agent of a registered association, wilfully contravenes subsection 403.35(1), (2) or (4) (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);

  • (f.08) being the financial agent of a registered association, wilfully contravenes section 403.36 (failure to forward certain contributions);

  • (f.09) being the financial agent of a registered association, contravenes paragraph 403.38(a) (providing financial transactions return containing false or misleading information);

  • (f.1) being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 404(1) (making contribution while ineligible);

  • (f.11) being a registered party or an electoral district association of one, wilfully contravenes subsection 404.3(1) (making prohibited transfer);

  • (f.12) being a person who is authorized to accept contributions on behalf of a registered party, a registered association, a candidate, a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes section 404.4 (failure to issue receipt);

  • (f.13) being an individual, knowingly contravenes subsection 405(1) or (4.1) (exceeding contribution limit);

  • (f.14) being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 405.2(1) (circumventing contribution limit);

  • (f.15) being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 405.2(2) (concealing source of contribution);

  • (f.16) being a person entitled to accept contributions under this Act, contravenes subsection 405.2(3) (knowingly accepting excessive contribution);

  • (f.161) being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 405.2(4) (entering prohibited agreement);

  • (f.162) being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.21(1) (soliciting or accepting contribution);

  • (f.163) being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 405.21(2) (collusion);

  • (f.17) being an individual, wilfully contravenes section 405.3 (making indirect contributions);

  • (f.18) being an individual, wilfully contravenes section 405.31 (exceeding cash contribution limit);

  • (f.19) being a person authorized under this Act to accept contributions, wilfully contravenes section 405.4 (failure to return or pay amount of contribution);

  • (g) being a chief agent, wilfully contravenes subsection 423(1) (exceeding election expense limit);

  • (h) being a registered party or a third party, knowingly contravenes subsection 423(2) (colluding to circumvent election expense limit);

  • (i) being a chief agent, wilfully contravenes section 424 (failure to provide financial transactions return or related documents);

  • (i.1) being a chief agent, wilfully contravenes section 424.1 (failure to provide quarterly return);

  • (j) being a registered agent, wilfully contravenes section 425 (failure to forward excess contributions);

  • (k) being a chief agent, contravenes paragraph 427(a) (providing financial transactions return containing false or misleading statement);

  • (l) [Repealed, 2003, c. 19, s. 58]

  • (m) being a chief agent,

    • (i) wilfully contravenes section 429 (failure to provide election expenses return or related documents), or

    • (ii) contravenes paragraph 431(a) (providing election expenses return containing false or misleading statement);

  • (m.01) being a registered party, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.04(1) or (2) (failure to inform of leadership contest or related changes);

  • (m.02) being a person, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.05(1) (failure to register for a leadership contest);

  • (m.03) being a person, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.14(1) or (2) (acting as financial agent or auditor when ineligible to do so);

  • (m.04) being a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes section 435.16 (failure to file statement of withdrawal);

  • (m.05) being a registered party, wilfully contravenes section 435.17 (failure to file statement of withdrawal of acceptance);

  • (m.06) being a person other than a leadership campaign agent, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(1) (acceptance of contribution while ineligible);

  • (m.07) being a leadership campaign agent, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(2) (accepting prohibited contribution);

  • (m.08) being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(3) or (4) (paying or incurring expenses for specified purposes while ineligible);

  • (m.09) being a person, knowingly contravenes subsection 435.22(5) (paying personal expenses of leadership contestant while ineligible);

  • (m.1) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.3(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide leadership campaign return or related documents);

  • (m.11) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 435.3(4);

  • (m.12) being a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.3(7) (failure to send declaration re: leadership campaign return to agent);

  • (m.13) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes any of subsections 435.31(1) to (3) (failure to provide return on contributions or related documents);

  • (m.14) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes section 435.32 (failure to forward certain contributions);

  • (m.15) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.35(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);

  • (m.16) being a leadership contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes paragraph 435.43(a) or knowingly contravenes paragraph 435.43(b) (providing document containing false or misleading information or that is substantially incomplete);

  • (m.17) being the financial agent of a leadership contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 435.45(2) or section 435.46 (failure to dispose of surplus leadership campaign funds);

  • (n) being a person other than an official agent, contravenes subsection 438(2) or (3) (accepting or issuing receipts for contributions), being a person or entity, other than a candidate, official agent or person authorized under paragraph 446(c), contravenes subsection 438(4) or (5) (paying or incurring electoral campaign expenses) or, being a person other than a candidate or official agent, contravenes subsection 438(6) (paying candidate’s personal expenses);

  • (o) being a candidate, official agent or person authorized under paragraph 446(c), wilfully contravenes subsection 439(2) (spending more than maximum allowed for notice of nomination meetings);

  • (p) being an official agent, a candidate or a person authorized under paragraph 446(c), wilfully contravenes subsection 443(1) (exceeding election expenses limit);

  • (q) being an official agent, a candidate, a person authorized under paragraph 446(c) or a third party, contravenes subsection 443(2) (colluding to circumvent election expenses limit);

  • (r) being an official agent, wilfully contravenes subsection 451(1), (2), (3) or (4) (failure to provide electoral campaign return or related documents);

  • (r.1) being an official agent, wilfully fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 451(2.2);

  • (s) being a candidate, wilfully contravenes subsection 451(5) (failure to send electoral campaign return declaration);

  • (t) being an official agent, wilfully contravenes section 452 (failure to pay value of excess contribution);

  • (u) being an official agent, wilfully contravenes section 455 (failure to provide updated electoral campaign return or related documents);

  • (v) being an official agent, contravenes paragraph 463(1)(a) or knowingly contravenes paragraph 463(1)(b) (providing electoral campaign return containing false or misleading statement or one that is incomplete);

  • (w) being an official agent, wilfully contravenes subsection 472(2) or section 473 (failure to dispose of surplus electoral funds);

  • (x) being a registered agent or financial agent, knowingly contravenes section 476 (unauthorized or improper transfer of funds);

  • (y) being a registered party or registered association, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.02(1) (failure to notify of nomination contest);

  • (z) being a person, wilfully contravenes section 478.09 (acting as financial agent when ineligible to do so);

  • (z.01) being a person other than the financial agent of a nomination contestant, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.13(1) (acceptance of contribution while ineligible);

  • (z.02) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.13(2) (accepting prohibited contribution);

  • (z.03) being a person or entity, knowingly contravenes subsection 478.13(3), (4) or (5) (paying or incurring expenses for specified purposes or paying personal expenses while ineligible);

  • (z.04) being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.15(1) (exceeding nomination campaign expenses limit);

  • (z.05) being a person or entity, contravenes subsection 478.15(2) (circumventing nomination campaign expenses limit);

  • (z.06) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.23(1), (2) or (6) (failure to provide nomination campaign return or related documents);

  • (z.07) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully fails to comply with a requirement of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 478.23(4);

  • (z.08) being a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.23(8) (failure to send declaration re: nomination campaign return to agent);

  • (z.09) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes section 478.24 (failure to forward certain contributions);

  • (z.1) being a person, wilfully contravenes section 478.27 (acting as auditor when ineligible to do so);

  • (z.11) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.3(1) or (3) (failure to provide updated financial reporting documents);

  • (z.12) being a nomination contestant or the financial agent of one, contravenes paragraph 478.38(a) or knowingly contravenes paragraph 478.38(b) (providing document containing false or misleading information or that is substantially incomplete); or

  • (z.13) being the financial agent of a nomination contestant, wilfully contravenes subsection 478.4(2) or section 478.41 (failure to dispose of surplus nomination campaign funds).

• Marginal note:When certain proceedings may be brought

  (4) No proceedings may be commenced with respect to a failure to provide a return or other document to the Chief Electoral Officer before the expiration of the period within which an application may be made under this Act for an extension of the period within which that return or document is to be provided.