C-25Strong and Free Elections Act
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on March 26, 2026
- Status
- Became law on June 18, 2026 · S.C. 2026, c. 20
- Sponsor
- Steven MacKinnonLiberal
- Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
What it does
Bill C-25 changes election rules on foreign influence, online misinformation, donations, privacy policies, enforcement, and some electoral district names.
What it does
- Establishes new election offences and updates existing ones for foreign influence, bribery, unauthorised computer use, and false or misleading information about elections and candidate nominations.
- Adds new rules for voting in nomination contests and leadership contests.
- Prohibits political entities and third parties from accepting or using certain contributions, including anonymous ones.
- Requires political parties to have policies to protect personal information.
- Expands enforcement under the Canada Elections Act, including higher administrative monetary penalties and new powers for the Commissioner of Canada Elections in conspiracy, attempt, accessory after the fact, and counselling cases.
- Creates a law to change the names of certain electoral districts, based on proposals from the MPs who represent them.
Who it affects
- Political parties
- Third parties
- Candidates
- Nomination contest participants
- Leadership contestants
- Commissioner of Canada Elections
- Voters in affected districts
Background
The bill was introduced in the House of Commons and given first reading on 26 March 2026. It also enacts a separate statute to rename certain electoral districts.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate pre study
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
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
Time allocation for Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026
Vote 154,
Passed
167 yeato156 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 154 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 167 0 7 Conservative Nay 0 132 8 Bloc Nay 0 18 4 NDP Nay 0 4 1 Green Nay 0 1 0 Independent Nay 0 1 0 Total 167 156 Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026
Vote 151,
Passed
314 yeato0 nay · 14 paired
Party breakdown for vote 151 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 165 0 9 Conservative Yea 124 0 16 Bloc Yea 18 0 4 NDP Yea 5 0 0 Green Yea 1 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 314 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalSteven MacKinnon· April 16, 2026
“I am pleased to address the House of Commons today to speak to Bill C-25, the strong and free elections act. Bill C-25 introduces amendments to the Canada Elections Act that would bolster the strength and resilience of Canada's electoral system.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeMichael Cooper· April 16, 2026
“I rise to speak on Bill C-25, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act. This bill would make a number of substantive amendments to the act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocChristine Normandin· April 16, 2026
“I would also like to thank the government for taking the time, with this bill, to consult the opposition parties and listen to the different suggestions and recommendations that we made. The bill seeks to reform the Canada Elections Act, and nothing is more important than the public's trust in its democratic institutions.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.