On December 13, 2018, Parliament adopted Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act, which aims to increase transparency of third party and foreign entity involvement in the electoral process. Among a number of sweeping changes to the Canada Election Act,  Bill C-76 introduces two significant provisions: (1) new spending and  reporting rules for third parties and political parties, and (2) tighter  restrictions on political interventions by foreign entities. 

The Act contains many new provisions related to election surveys. What does that mean for survey research firms? The  quick answer to the question above is that Bill C-76 will have a minor  impact for CRIC members conducting election surveys sponsored by parties  not actively involved in organizing and carrying out partisan  activities, such as election advertising, rallies and door-to-door canvassing.

An  important point to emphasize here is that the Act makes a distinction  between a traditional “election survey” and “election surveys conducted  by, or caused to be conducted by, a third party[1].” 

If it’s the former – election surveys – survey research firms will need to comply with a few new requirements around transparency and the Voter Contact Registration. For example, calling service providers will now need to keep, for a three-year period, a list of every telephone number called during the election period. As well, sponsors of election surveys will be required to keep published surveys available on a webpage for the entire election period. 

However, if an election survey is conducted or sponsored by a third party  engaging in partisan activities, then several new requirements apply to  that third party. The test is whether that third party is using the survey results to inform  their decisions around partisan activities and advertising. 

While  spending rules for third parties and political parties is not new under the old Act, one of the big changes with Bill C-76 is that it extends  spending and reporting requirements to cover a “pre-writ” period. For  the upcoming federal elections on October 21, this new pre-writ period kicks in on June 30 and ends when the writ is dropped.

Starting  June 30, therefore, third parties engaging in partisan activities,  advertising, and election surveys will need to register these activities, both during the pre-writ period and once the elections are officially underway. 

C-76 also includes new provisions to counter foreign influence and online disruption in election periods. New provisions prohibit foreign entities from  spending any money to influence elections, including the funding of  third parties to engage in partisan activities, advertising, or election  surveys. For added transparency, the largest online platforms will also be required to maintain registries of political advertisements shown on their platforms.

CRIC  members that conduct election surveys should familiarize themselves  with the amended Act to get a better understanding of any new  requirements —both for themselves and more specifically for the sponsors  of their surveys. While there will be a little more onus on research  firms than before, the Elections Modernization Act is aligned with industry standards around the transparency of polling and will contribute to a stronger democracy.