C-297An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (Indigenous languages)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 22, 2022
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 22, 2022
What it does
Lets ballots be printed in Indigenous languages in some ridings on Indigenous land, and for special ballots on request.
What it does
- Allows the Chief Electoral Officer to require all ballots in an electoral district on Indigenous land to be printed in both official languages and in the Indigenous language or languages of the electors.
- Requires the Chief Electoral Officer to have a special ballot printed in an Indigenous language when an elector asks for one with their registration and special ballot application.
- Uses the right writing system for each Indigenous language, including syllabics where needed.
- Defines Indigenous land as reserves and other land set apart for a band under the Indian Act, plus land covered by certain claim or self-government agreements.
Who it affects
- Electors on Indigenous land
- Indigenous language speakers
- People requesting special ballots
- Chief Electoral Officer
- Election workers
Background
The bill adds new rules to the Canada Elections Act. It sets out what counts as Indigenous land for these rules.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
NDPLori Idlout· June 22, 2022
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-297, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (Indigenous languages). [Member spoke in Inuktitut and provided the following text:] ᓯᕗᓪᓕᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗ ᖁᔭᓕᒍᒪᕗᖓ ᒪᓕᒐᓕᐅᖅᑎᖅᔪᐊᕐᒃ ᐊᑦᒪᓐᑕᓐ- ᒍᕆᔅᐹᒧᑦ, ᐊᐃᒃᐲᒪᑦ ᑖᒃᓱᒥᖓ ᒪᓕᒐᒃᓴᒃᒥᒃ.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.