The Canada Elections Act (French: Loi électorale du Canada; full title: An Act respecting the election of members to the House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts, full title in French: Loi concernant l’élection des députés à la Chambre des communes, modifiant certaines lois et abrogeant certaines autres lois) is an Act of the Parliament of Canada which regulates the election of members of parliament to the House of Commons of Canada. The Act has been amended many times over Canada's history. The Canada Election Act limits spending on election advertising by interest groups, which was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in Harper v. Canada (Attorney General) (2004). It also sets out various provisions regarding the publication or broadcast of election advertising and election results. In 1989, the government of Canada appointed the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing regarding restrictions in the Elections Act inconsistent with Section Three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1996, the Act was amended to establish a Register of Electors. In 2003, the Act was extended to cover the nomination contests of registered parties. In 2007, it was amended to mandate fixed election dates.
