Media and Elections

Canada

ME037

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	d. Based on mixture of principles (specify)
Comments:	The allocation of free broadcasting time depends on two criteria, the percentage of seats in the House of Commons held by each of the registered parties at the previous general election and the percentage of the popular vote at the previous general election of each registered party. The Broadcast Arbitrator shall in addition give half the weight given to each of the factors above to the number of candidates endorsed by each of the registered parties at the previous general election, expressed as a percentage of all candidates endorsed by all registered parties at that election. See Canada Elections Act ss. 338, 339.
Source:	The Canada Elections Act (2015), Clause 338-339 http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/E-2.01.pdf
Verified:	2025/03/28

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ME059

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	The Canada Elections Act (2015), Clause 319 http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/E-2.01.pdf
Verified:	2025/03/28

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ME062

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	a. 1 day
Comments:	No person shall transmit to the public, in an electoral district on polling day before the close of all of the polling stations in that electoral district, the results of an election survey that have not previously been transmitted to the public.
Source:	The Canada Elections Act, Clause 328 http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/PDF/E-2.01.pdf
Verified:	2025/03/28

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ME080

Question:	Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:	c. No information available
Comments:	Electoral law addresses overall campaign expenditure.
Source:	Elections Canada: Backgrounders: Financing of Registered Political Parties – New Rules on January 1, 2004 (http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=gen&document=ec90532&dir=bkg&lang=e&textonly=false)
Verified:	2025/03/28

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