Chief Electoral Officer (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The Chief Electoral Officer is the person responsible for overseeing elections in Canada
.
The position of Chief Electoral Officer was created in 1920 by the Dominion Elections Act. The Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by a resolution of the Canadian House of Commons
. He or she reports directly to Parliament
and, therefore, is completely independent of the government of the day and all political parties. The Chief Electoral Officer is not allowed to vote in federal elections. The Chief Electoral Officer serves until retirement
at age 65 or resignation
. They can be removed from office only for cause, by the Governor General of Canada
after a joint request following a majority vote by the House of Commons and Senate of Canada.
The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for the administration of elections, referendum
s and other important aspects of Canada's electoral system. The Chief Electoral Officer is assisted in carrying out this mandate by the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer and the Broadcasting Arbitrator who ensures that the provisions of the Canada Elections Act
and the Canada Referendum Act are carried out, and the Commissioner of Canada Elections who enforces the Act. Neither the Chief Electoral Officer nor the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer may vote in a general election
, the only resident Canadian citizens 18 years of age or older who can't.
Nine directorates make up Elections Canada, the organization that carries out the specific roles and responsibilities under the CEO's mandate.
The current and sixth Chief Electoral Officer is Marc Mayrand
, appointed on 21 February 2007.http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Pub=projected&Ses=1&DocId=2722766&File=0
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The position of Chief Electoral Officer was created in 1920 by the Dominion Elections Act. The Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by a resolution of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. He or she reports directly to Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
and, therefore, is completely independent of the government of the day and all political parties. The Chief Electoral Officer is not allowed to vote in federal elections. The Chief Electoral Officer serves until retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
at age 65 or resignation
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
. They can be removed from office only for cause, by 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...
after a joint request following a majority vote by the House of Commons and Senate of Canada.
The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for the administration of elections, referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
s and other important aspects of Canada's electoral system. The Chief Electoral Officer is assisted in carrying out this mandate by the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer and the Broadcasting Arbitrator who ensures that the provisions of 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....
and the Canada Referendum Act are carried out, and the Commissioner of Canada Elections who enforces the Act. Neither the Chief Electoral Officer nor the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer may vote in a general election
Elections in Canada
Canada holds elections for several levels of government: nationally , provincially and territorially, and municipally. Elections are also held for self governing First Nations and for many other public and private organizations including corporations and trade unions...
, the only resident Canadian citizens 18 years of age or older who can't.
Nine directorates make up Elections Canada, the organization that carries out the specific roles and responsibilities under the CEO's mandate.
The current and sixth Chief Electoral Officer is Marc Mayrand
Marc Mayrand
Marc Mayrand , is a Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada, a position he has held since 2007.Mayrand studied law at the University of Ottawa and the London School of Economics....
, appointed on 21 February 2007.http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Pub=projected&Ses=1&DocId=2722766&File=0
Former Chief Electoral Officers
- Oliver Mowat Biggar (1920-1927)
- Jules Castonguay (1927-1949)
- Nelson Jules Castonguay (1949-1966)
- Jean-Marc HamelJean-Marc HamelJean-Marc Hamel, was the Chief Electoral Officer from 1966 to 1990.Born in Lotbinière, Quebec, he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1948 and a Master of Commerce degree in 1949 from Université Laval. He received a M.P.A...
(1966-1990) - Jean-Pierre KingsleyJean-Pierre KingsleyJean-Pierre Kingsley was the President and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. He was the Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada, before he stepped down in December 2006. On April 28, 2009 he announced his resignation as President of IFES. He was succeeded by Bill...
(1990-2007)