Guidelines for Use of the Lists of Electors
III. Use of the Lists of Electors
The CEA provides specific obligations with regard to the appropriate use of the lists of electors. All authorized recipients should be familiar with the authorized use of the lists of electors and related prohibitions. They should also consult Annex D of these guidelines for frequently asked questions in regard to the authorized use of the lists of electors.
Table 2 – Authorized Use of the Lists of Electors provides an overview of the authorized uses of the lists of electors. These are further defined as follows:
a) Authorized Use by Registered Parties
Registered parties are authorized to use the lists to communicate with electors, including for the purposes of soliciting contributions and recruiting party members.
b) Authorized Use by Eligible Parties
Eligible parties are authorized to use the lists to communicate with electors, including for the purposes of soliciting contributions and recruiting party members.
c) Authorized Use by Members of Parliament
Members of Parliament (MP) are authorized to use the lists to communicate with their electors. This includes soliciting contributions for their campaign.
- If an MP is a member of a registered party, they may also use the lists of electors to solicit contributions for that party and to recruit party members within their electoral district.
d) Authorized Use by Candidates
Candidates are authorized to use the lists of electors to communicate with electors during an election period, including for the purposes of soliciting contributions and campaigning.
Authorized Recipients | Types of Lists | Authorized Uses | Section of the Act |
---|---|---|---|
Registered parties |
|
|
s. 110(1) |
Eligible parties |
|
|
s. 110(1.1) |
Members of Parliament (MP) |
|
|
s. 110(2) |
Candidates |
|
|
s. 110(3) |
e) Prohibited Use
Pursuant to paragraph 111(f), authorized recipients of the lists of electors are prohibited to use personal information contained in the lists of electors for purposes other than those authorized by the CEA.
Using personal information contained in the lists of electors in an unauthorized manner is a criminal offence under the CEA. Any recipient who makes unauthorized use of the personal information recorded in the lists of electors is liable to a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to one year or both (ss. 487(1)(b) and 500(3.1)).