The report titled Financement politique : Bilan et perspectives 2021 (PDF – in French), available in French only, was tabled in the Assemblée nationale on April 5, 2022. With respect to political financing and election expenses, Élections Québec’s role involves both education and monitoring. The report covers the various activities associated with this role. It describes the actions carried out in 2021 and provides a glimpse into the work planned for 2022.
General elections for English-language school boards resumed in September 2021, with municipal general elections following in November. Although both these electoral events took place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of health measures relating to authorization, political financing and expenses ensured the safety of everyone involved. The conduct of municipal elections was subject to certain measures implemented under the Act to facilitate the conduct of the 7 November 2021 municipal general election in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent Regulation issued by the Chief Electoral Officer.
The report also addresses several pieces of legislation adopted over the course of the year. For example, the Act to amend the Election Act, passed in December 2021, introduced changes to the regulation of political financing that will be in effect for the next provincial general elections, scheduled for October 3, 2022. These changes have three aims:
- Simplifying certain processes to facilitate the application of the Election Act;
- Updating certain provisions;
- Improving the protection of personal information in the context of political financing.
In preparation for the provincial general elections, additional measures will be introduced to better manage the democratic process. They will include updates to reporting procedures for pre-election expenses incurred by authorized political entities. Furthermore, we will issue or update several directives relating to the activities of third parties during the election period, electronic signatures and payment methods.
