Canada Elections Act

Marginal note:Certificate

• 444 (1) On receipt from a registered party of the documents referred to in subsection 437(1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the Receiver General with a certificate that sets out the amount that is 50% of the registered party’s election expenses that were paid by its registered agents as set out in the return for its general election expenses if

  • (a) the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied — even despite any statement that the registered party’s auditor has included under paragraph 438(2)(d) in a report under subsection 438(1) — that the registered party and its chief agent have complied with the requirements of sections 437 to 443;

  • (b) the auditor’s report does not include a statement referred to in any of paragraphs 438(2)(a) to (c); and

  • (c) candidates endorsed by the registered party received at least

    • (i) 2% of the number of valid votes cast at the election, or

    • (ii) 5% of the number of valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which the registered party endorsed a candidate.

• Marginal note:Reduction of reimbursement

  (2) If the election expenses, as set out in the election expenses return, exceed the maximum amount that is allowed under section 430, the amount that is provided for in subsection (1) is reduced as follows, without at any time being less than zero:

  • (a) by one dollar for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by less than 5%;

  • (b) by two dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 5% or more but by less than 10%;

  • (c) by three dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 10% or more but by less than 12.5%; and

  • (d) by four dollars for every dollar that exceeds the maximum amount by 12.5% or more.

• Marginal note:Reimbursement

  (3) On receipt of the certificate, the Receiver General shall reimburse the amount set out in it to the registered party by paying that amount out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.