Implementing Recommendations of the Local Government Elections Task Force

On July 7, 2010, the Province announced it had given the “green light” to implement the recommendations of the Local Government Elections Task Force. On April 21, 2011, the Province announced it would proceed with implementing those changes for the 2014 local elections, rather than for 2011.

The Task Force made 31 recommendations for changes to local government elections rules – rules that apply to elections for municipalities, regional district electoral areas, boards of education and various other local bodies. Most of the recommendations focus on improving campaign finance, transparency and enforcement, including consolidating these matters into a separate Act. The recommendations also include changing the date of local elections to the third Saturday in October (from the current third Saturday in November), starting with the 2014 elections. Nearly all of the recommendations need legislation in order to be implemented.

Implementing the Task Force’s recommendations for the 2014 local elections rather than 2011:

• will give all election participants a fair opportunity to understand and follow the new rules when they are introduced
• recognizes that the recommendations constitute the most significant changes to local elections legislation in nearly two decades
• should help avoid confusion among election participants about which rules apply in 2011, and the inadvertent errors that could result
• will ensure that details of the most significant changes – such as expense limits and the rules related to such limits – can be more fully considered before they take effect.

Further information about implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations will be posted to this site, as it is developed. Questions or comments about implementation of the Task Force recommendations, or about existing election rules can be directed to: