ARCHIVED - Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

($ thousands)

2004–2005
Actual

2005–2006
Actual

2006–2007

Main
Estimates

Planned
Spending

Total
Authorities

Total Actuals

Elections

273,640

314,387

87,226

87,226

118,673

115,216

Total

273,640

314,387

87,226

87,226

118,673

115,216

Less: Non‑respendable revenue

–

–

–

–

–

–

Plus: Cost of services received without charge

5,220

5,472

5,346

5,832

Total Agency Spending

278,860

319,859

87,226

92,572

 118,673

121,048

Full-time Equivalents

386

452

361

361

447

396

2006–2007 ($ thousands)

Program
Activity

Budgetary

Plus: Non-
budgetary

Total

Operating

Capital

Grants

Contributions and Other Transfer Payments

Total: Gross Budgetary Expenditures

Less:
Respendable
Revenue

Total: Net Budgetary
Expenditures

Loans,
Investments,
and 
Advances

Elections

Main Estimates

60,951 

– 

–

26,275

87,226 

–

87,226 

– 

87,226 

Planned Spending

60,951 

– 

–

26,275

87,226 

–

87,226 

– 

87,226 

Total Authorities

92,089 

– 

–

26,584

118,673 

–

118,673 

– 

118,673 

Actual Spending

88,632 

– 

–

26,584

115,216 

–

115,216 

– 

115,216 

Vote or
Statutory Item

Truncated Vote 
or Statutory Wording

2006–2007 ($ thousands)

Main 
Estimates

Planned 
Spending

Total 
Authorities

Total Actuals

15

Program expenditures

21,468 

21,468 

22,026 

18,569

(S)

Salary of the Chief Electoral Officer

224 

224 

480 

480

(S)

Expenses of elections

61,455 

61,455 

92,088 

92,088

(S)

Contributions to employee benefit plans

4,079 

4,079 

4,079 

4,079

Total

87,226 

87,226 

118,673 

115,216

1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Reimbursements to candidates, parties and auditors, and allowances to eligible political parties (new political financing provision of the Canada Elections Act)

2) Start Date: Ongoing

3) End Date: Ongoing

4) Description: Elections Canada’s role is to administer the Canada Elections Act, which has three main objectives: fairness, transparency and participation.

To promote fairness and participation, the Act provides for reimbursement of election expenses to candidates and parties, and a subsidy for certain auditors’ fees. A candidate who is elected or receives at least 10% of the valid votes cast at an election is entitled to a reimbursement of 60% of the election expenses limit. A registered party is eligible for reimbursement of election expenses if the party obtains 2% or more of the total valid votes cast nationally, or 5% of the valid votes cast in electoral districts where the party has endorsed candidates. The Act provides for a subsidy, equal to the lesser of $1,500 or 3% of the candidate’s election expenses with a minimum of $250, to be paid out of public funds directly to the candidate’s auditor.

A registered association that has, in a fiscal period, accepted contributions or incurred expenses of $5,000 or more in total (less transfers to other political entities), must obtain an audit report that provides an audit opinion as to whether the Registered Association Financial Transactions Return presents fairly the information contained in the financial records on which it is based. When an audit of the Registered Association Financial Transactions Return is required, the Act provides for a subsidy of a maximum of $1,500 for the audit of the expenses. This amount is paid out of public funds directly to the electoral district association's auditor after the Chief Electoral Officer has received the return, the auditor's report, and other documents required to accompany the return.

For eligible political parties, the Act also provides for the payment of a quarterly allowance according to the following formula: a registered political party that obtained at least 2% of the total valid votes cast in a general election, or 5% of the valid votes cast in the ridings where it presented candidates, has the right to a quarterly allowance that is calculated as the product of $0.4375 multiplied by the number of valid votes cast in the most recent general election preceding that quarter and the inflation adjustment factor that is in effect for that quarter.

5) Strategic Outcomes: Electoral events that are fair and accessible within the context of, and in accordance with, constitutional and legal requirements.

6) Results Achieved: Elections Canada issued payments of quarterly allowances to eligible registered parties in accordance with the Act.

  ($ thousands)

7) Actual Spending 2004–2005

8) Actual Spending
2005–2006

9) Planned Spending 2006–2007

10) Total Authorities
2006–2007

11) Actual Spending
2006–2007

12) Variance(s) between 9
and 11

13) General elections and by‑elections

– Candidates

26,481

24,628

(684)

(684)

684

– Political parties

30,548

27,998

(816)

(816)

816

– Candidates’ auditors

1,255

1,124

(246)

(246)

246

14) Quarterly allowances

– Allowance to eligible political parties

7,226

24,536

25,300

27,452

27,452

(2,152)

15) Electoral district associations’ auditors

– Electoral district associations’ auditors

932

975

878

878

97

16) Total TPP

 65,510

 79,218

 26,275

26,584

26,584

(309)

17) Comment(s) on variance(s)

The variance between the planned spending and the actual spending for the 2006–2007 quarterly allowance to political parties is due to the increased voter participation in the 39th general election, along with an increase in the inflation adjustment factor.

The variance between the planned spending and the actual spending for reimbursement of election expenses to eligible candidates and parties, as well as payments of subsidies to candidates’ auditors, is due to reversal of an overestimated Payable-at-year-end.

Committee Correspondence – April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2007

Between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2007, the Chief Electoral Officer sent eight letters following his appearances before committees of the House of Commons or Senate. Of the letters, five were addressed to the Chair of the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, two to the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, and one to the Chair of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The letters are as follows:

1. June 13, 2006, to Gary Goodyear, Chair of the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on April 27, 2006, during the Committee’s study of Bill C-4, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act (sunset clause)
2. September 26, 2007, to Senator Donald Oliver, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on September 19, 2006, during the Committee’s study of Bill C-2, the Federal Accountability Act
3. October 5, 2006, to Gary Goodyear, Chair of the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearances on June 13, 2006, and September 26, 2006, during the Committee’s studies of the Report on the 38th general election, recommendations; study on the election of members to the House; and Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (fixed election dates)
4. November 29, 2006, to Gary Goodyear, Chair of the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on October 26, 2006, during the Committee’s study of the Government response to the Committee’s report, Improving the Integrity of the Electoral Process
5. December 12, 2006, to Gary Goodyear, Chair of the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on December 7, 2006, during the Committee’s study of Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Public Service Employment Act (identification at the polls)
6. December 12, 2006, to Kevin Sorenson, Chair of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on November 1, 2006, during the Committee’s study on democratic development
7. January 26, 2007, to Gary Goodyear, Chair of the House Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on October 26, 2006, during the Committee’s study of the Government response to the Committee’s report, Improving the Integrity of the Electoral Process
8. February 23, 2007, to Senator Donald Oliver, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, further to the Chief Electoral Officer’s appearance on January 31, 2007, during the Committee’s study of Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (fixed election dates)

Response to the Auditor General of Canada, including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

The Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, tabled her report to the House of Commons on November 22, 2005. Chapter 6 of the report is entitled “Elections Canada – Administering the Federal Electoral Process.” The Chief Electoral Officer responded to the five recommendations contained in the report and work continued throughout 2006–2007 on addressing the recommendations. The recommendations highlighted opportunities for exploring ways to improve efficiency in certain aspects of activities, the quality of performance measures, reporting to Parliament on our strategic direction, and our human resources planning and information systems. A complete master list and status report of the actions completed are planned for review by the agency’s Audit Committee in 2007–2008.

For further information on the Auditor General’s recommendations concerning Elections Canada, click here.

Internal Audits or Evaluations

The internal audit function is a key component of Elections Canada’s governance framework. The agency has initiated the enhancements required under the new internal audit policy that came into force on April 1, 2006. This activity is in progress and Elections Canada is committed to continuing the work in 2007–2008 to meet the April 1, 2009, deadline for full implementation.

Agency

Elections Canada

Points to Address

Agency’s Input

1. Role played by procurement and contracting in delivering programs

The Contracts and Procurement Division becomes involved early in the process. It helps the program/project managers to determine the best procurement strategy and establish a realistic timeline for ensuring that the program objectives are achieved through the contractual process, as required.

2. Overview of how the agency manages its contracting function

The contracting function at Elections Canada is centralized. Two senior contracting officers respond to their assigned directorate clients’ contracting and procurement requests. This set-up allows the parties to build a relationship, understand each other’s business processes and interact smoothly. It also permits a quick turnaround when time is of the essence.

3. Progress and new initiatives enabling effective and efficient procurement practices

Training sessions are conducted periodically for directors, managers and administrative officers to increase their awareness of the contracting and procurement process in the federal government.