Commissioner of Canada Elections Annual Report 2014-2015
About Us
The position of Commissioner of Canada Elections (CCE) was originally created in 1974. The powers of the Commissioner of Election Expenses (as it was known at the time) were limited to compliance and enforcement of rules relating to election expenses. In 1977, the Commissioner's powers were significantly expanded to include all provisions under the Act and the position formally became known as the Commissioner of Canada Elections.
Today, the Commissioner of Canada Elections continues to play an important role in safeguarding Canadians' trust in the democratic process. As an independent officer, the Commissioner's dual roles of ensuring compliance with, and enforcement of, the Canada Elections Act (the Act) and the federal Referendum Act, are carried out with the aim of promoting the integrity of the electoral process.
The Commissioner is supported by approximately 25 people, including federal public servants and independent contractors.
Text description of "Commissioner of Canada Elections Organizational Structure" graph
Complaints and Referrals
All complaints and referrals received by the Commissioner with respect to the Act are assessed to determine if they fall within the mandate of the office. Individuals whose complaints or allegations do not fall under the Commissioner's area of responsibility – that is to say, are not covered by the Act – are advised and, wherever possible, are redirected to the appropriate complaint mechanism.
If, following a preliminary review, the Commissioner concludes that the allegations made in connection with a complaint or referral may have merit, an investigation may be conducted to clarify the facts and gather evidence related to the alleged offence. At all times throughout the process, the Commissioner ensures that decisions are guided by the principles of independence, impartiality and fairness. Additional information regarding the Commissioner's mandate can be found in the Compliance and Enforcement Policy of the Commissioner of Canada Elections available on the Commissioner's Web site at: www.cce-cef.ca.
Submitting a Complaint
The Commissioner receives complaints from a variety of sources. Anyone with a complaint or allegations of wrongdoing under the Canada Elections Act may contact the Commissioner's office:
- by web form: www.cce.cef.ca
- by e-mail: info@cef-cce.ca,
- by fax: 1-800-663-4908 or 819-939-1801, or
- by postal mail:
Commissioner of Canada Elections
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0M6