The ruling Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper used its majority in the House of Commons on Tuesday night (May 13) to pass a controversial reform of elections laws. The final vote was 143 for the reforms, and 123 against.
The government says the Fair Elections Act (Bill C-23) will eliminate voter fraud and control election campaign spending, but the opposition parties say the legislation will take the vote away from hundreds of thousands of Canadians, open loopholes in election spending, and clear the way for the government to win in the federal election in 2015.
The bill now goes to Canada’s upper chamber, the Senate, where it’s expected to be passed, and then receive royal assent by June.
More information:
Globe and Mail – air Elections Act passes third reading, expected to become law by June – here
Postmedia News – Both sides claim victory as Fair Elections Act clears the Commons – here
CBC News – Vote against elections act, Tom Mulcair tells Conservative MPs – here
RCI – Government-dominated committee sets limits on election bill changes – here
RCI – Open letter by 465 Canadian academics concerned about damage to democracy – here
C-23 – Fair Elections Act – status of bill – here
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