C-65Electoral Participation Act
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on March 20, 2024
- Status
- Defeated at committee in the House of Commons
- Sponsor
- Dominic LeBlancLiberal
- Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
What it does
Changes election rules by adding advance polling days, updating special ballots, creating new voting options, and tightening rules on party data, foreign influence, and enforcement.
What it does
- Adds two extra days of advance polling.
- Lets returning officers set up polling divisions made up of a single institution, or part of one, where seniors or people with a disability live, and sets voting rules for those stations.
- Updates the special ballot process and creates special ballot offices at post-secondary schools.
- Sets new requirements for political parties’ personal information policies.
- Creates new bans and changes existing ones on foreign influence, false or misleading election information, and some contributions, and gives the Commissioner of Canada Elections more powers to deal with breaches.
- Requires the Chief Electoral Officer to report on a three-day polling period, voting at any place in a polling station, voting at any polling station in an electoral district, and a test for whether a party promotes hatred against an identifiable group.
Who it affects
- Voters
- Seniors
- People with disabilities
- Post-secondary students
- Political parties
- Election officials
- Commissioner of Canada Elections
Background
It amends the Canada Elections Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Defeated here. Defeated
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 a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act
Vote 849,
Passed
170 yeato148 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 849 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 144 0 11 Conservative Nay 0 116 2 Bloc Nay 0 31 1 NDP Yea 23 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Split evenly 1 1 1 Total 170 148 2nd reading of Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (reasoned amendment)
Vote 848,
Failed
119 yeato204 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 848 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 146 9 Conservative Yea 118 0 0 Bloc Nay 0 31 1 NDP Nay 0 23 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Nay1 broke ranks 1 2 0 Total 119 204 Time allocation for Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act
Vote 829,
Passed
173 yeato146 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 829 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 5 Conservative Nay 0 116 2 Bloc Nay 0 26 6 NDP Yea 23 0 1 Green Nay 0 2 0 Independent Nay 0 2 1 Total 173 146
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalKevin Lamoureux· May 31, 2024
“When I think of elections, I think of the stakeholders. The most important stakeholders, of course, are those who vote.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeDave Epp· May 31, 2024
“It is the election process, and that is what Bill C-65 purportedly seeks to amend. Running in and the timing of an election should always be about maintaining the confidence of this place, about putting a vision forward for the country and about running on one's record in serving the country.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocXavier Barsalou-Duval· May 31, 2024
“Today we are debating Bill C-65, tabled by the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs. I want to give a bit of background on the content of the bill before delving into the details of the Bloc Québécois's position.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPLindsay Mathyssen· May 31, 2024
“It is always an honour to rise in this House to represent the people of London—Fanshawe and to speak today to this really important piece of legislation. Today is yet another win for Canadians being delivered by the NDP caucus.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At consideration in committee in the House of Commons. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.