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2011 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 39th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

MR. BOB SIMPSON

BILL M 206 – 2011

ELECTION TRANSPARENCY AMENDMENT ACT, 2011

This Act amends the Election Act by requiring pre-election financing reports to be filed by candidates, constituency associations and registered political parties. Changes in this Act will close the reporting gap between annual financial reports or leadership contestant financing reports and reports filed after an election. Ensuring that a database of political donations is accessible to voters prior to the general voting day respects the right of voters to know the financial supporters of all candidates and their respective organizations. This Act reflects voluntary policies recently used by political parties in British Columbia during leadership contests.

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Section 210 of the Election Act, R. S. B. C. 1996, c. 106 is amended by adding:

Pre-election financing reports by candidates, constituency associations and registered political parties

210.1 (

l) Within 10 days after an election is called, the financial agent of

(

a) a candidate

(

b) a registered political party that is represented by a candidate in the election,

(

c) a registered constituency association that is the local organization for the electoral district of a registered political party referred to in paragraph (b), or

(

d) a registered constituency association for an independent candidate in the election

must file with the chief electoral officer, on behalf of the candidate or organization, a pre-election financing report in the form prescribed by regulation and must include all political contributions accepted by the candidate or organization since the last report filed with the chief electoral officer.

(2) Following the report referred to in subsection (1), updated reports of political contributions must be filed with the chief electoral officer on a daily basis until the general voting day in the form prescribed by regulation.

(3) The chief electoral oflicer must publish a

summary of the information included in reports under subsection (1) and must continue to update the

summary with additional information under subsection (2).

Explanatory Note

This Act amends the Election Act by requiring pre-election financing reports to be filed by candidates, constituency associations and registered political parties. Changes in this Act will close the reporting gap between annual financial reports or leadership contestant financing reports and reports filed after an election. Ensuring that a database of political donations is accessible to voters prior to the general voting day respects the right of voters to know the financial supporters of all candidates and their respective organizations. This Act reflects voluntary policies recently used by political parties in British Columbia during leadership contests.

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c) Queen’s Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada