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Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Election Act

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On April 13, 2021, the Legislative Assembly agreed that a Special Committee be appointed to conduct a review of the annual allowance paid to political parties under section 215.02 of the Election Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106) including, without limiting this, a review of the following:

  1. Whether an annual allowance paid to political parties should be continued to be paid after 2022.
  2. If an annual allowance to political parties is to be continued,
    1. the amount of the annual allowance, and
    2. the number of years the annual allowance is to be paid.

Section 215.03 of the Act requires the Special Committee to submit a report to the Legislative Assembly within six months of its appointment.

The Committee released its report on August 9, 2021, with recommendations that the annual allowance paid to political parties be made permanent after 2022 and be set in 2023 at the current rate of $1.75 per vote received in the last provincial general election, with adjustments thereafter for inflation. The Committee's review was informed by 11 presentations and 103 written submissions and one video submission received during its public consultation process. Committee Members would like to thank all those who shared their views and provided input on this important issue.

Read more in the Media Release.


Terms of Reference

​On April 13, 2021, the Legislative Assembly agreed that, pursuant to section 215.03 of the Election Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106), a Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Election Act be appointed to conduct a review of the annual allowance paid to political parties under section 215.02 of the Act, including, but not limited to, a review of the following:

  1. Whether an annual allowance paid to political parties should be continued to be paid after 2022.
  2. If an annual allowance to political parties is to be continued,
    1. the amount of the annual allowance; and
    2. the number of years the annual allowance is to be paid.

That any information or evidence previously under consideration by the Special Committee appointed by order of the House on March 2, 2021 be referred to the Special Committee.

That the Special Committee have all the powers of a Select Standing Committee and in addition be empowered to:

  1. appoint of its number, one or more subcommittees and to refer to such subcommittees any of the matters referred to the Special Committee and to delegate to the subcommittees all or any of its powers except the power to report directly to the House;
  2. sit during a period in which the House is adjourned, during the recess after prorogation until the next following Session and during any sitting of the House;
  3. conduct consultations by any means the Special Committee considers appropriate;
  4. adjourn from place to place as may be convenient; and
  5. retain personnel as required to assist the Special Committee.

That the Special Committee report to the House by September 1, 2021; and that during a period of adjournment, the Special Committee deposit its reports with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and upon resumption of the sittings of the House, or in the next following Session, as the case may be, the Chair present all reports to the House.

Contact Information

​Special Committee to Review Provisions of the Election Act
c/o Parliamentary Committees Office
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Canada

Phone: 250-356-2933 (collect) or 1-877-428-8337 (toll-free)
Fax: 250-356-8172
Email: electionactcommittee@leg.bc.ca

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Parliament Buildings, Victoria BC V8V 1X4 Canada