Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing
Encyclopedia
The Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing or RCERPF, also known as the Lortie Commission, was a Royal Commission
established to investigate changes to Canadian election laws defined in the Canada Elections Act
. The Royal Commission was appointed by the federal government in 1989 "to review, among other issues, the many anomalies identified by Charter challengers", particularly regarding restrictions in the Elections Act inconsistent with Section Three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
.
It reported to the Cabinet of Canada
in 1991, and made many recommendations. As a result, in 1992 Bill C-78 was passed, and in 1993 Bill C-114 was passed.
One of the recommendations was that "provincial (elector) lists be used for federal purposes". This led to the establishment of a working group in 1995, which in March 1996 submitted the report The Register of Electors Project: A Report on Research and feasibility to the chief electoral officer of Elections Canada. That report recommended the creation of the National Register of Electors
, which was established when Bill C-63 was granted Royal Assent
by Roméo LeBlanc
, the Governor General of Canada
, on 18 December 1996.
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
established to investigate changes to Canadian election laws defined in the Canada Elections Act
Canada Elections Act
Canada Elections Act is an Act of the Parliament of Canada respecting the election of members of parliament to the Canadian House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts....
. The Royal Commission was appointed by the federal government in 1989 "to review, among other issues, the many anomalies identified by Charter challengers", particularly regarding restrictions in the Elections Act inconsistent with Section Three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Section Three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Section Three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a section of the Charter that constitutionally guarantees all Canadian citizens the democratic right to vote in a general federal or provincial election and the right to be eligible for membership in the House of Commons or of a...
.
It reported to the Cabinet of Canada
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
in 1991, and made many recommendations. As a result, in 1992 Bill C-78 was passed, and in 1993 Bill C-114 was passed.
One of the recommendations was that "provincial (elector) lists be used for federal purposes". This led to the establishment of a working group in 1995, which in March 1996 submitted the report The Register of Electors Project: A Report on Research and feasibility to the chief electoral officer of Elections Canada. That report recommended the creation of the National Register of Electors
National Register of Electors
The National Register of Electors is a continuously-updated permanent database of eligible electors for federal elections in Canada maintained by Elections Canada...
, which was established when Bill C-63 was granted Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
by Roméo LeBlanc
Roméo LeBlanc
Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc was a Canadian journalist, politician, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 25th since Canadian Confederation....
, the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, on 18 December 1996.