Elections Ontario

Elections Ontario

Élections Ontario
Agency overview
Jurisdiction	Provincial Elections in Ontario
Headquarters	51 Rolark Drive, Toronto, Ontario
Employees	81,792 (general election period) [1]
Agency executive	Greg Essensa, Chief Electoral Officer[2]
Website	www.elections.on.ca

Elections Ontario (French: Élections Ontario) is an agency of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario responsible for the administration of provincial elections and referenda. The agency is led by the Chief Electoral Officer, Greg Essensa, appointed in 2008, as a non-partisan Officer of the Legislative Assembly. His predecessor was John Hollins (2001-2008). It is charged with the implementation and enforcement of the Election Act (R.S.O., c. E.6), Election Finances Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. E.7), Representation Acts (various), as well as specific portions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (S.O. 1996, c. 32, Sched.), Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 (S.O. 1999, c. 7, Sched. A), and Fluoridation Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. F.22).^[3] The agency collects information about political parties, candidates, constituency association, leadership contestants, and third parties involved in Ontario politics.^[4]

Mandate

Former logo of Elections Ontario

Its responsibilities include:

• Administering the election process in general elections and by-elections
• Maintaining the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario (PREO)
• Testing new voting equipment, vote-counting equipment and alternative voting methods
• Conducting public education on the electoral process
• Investigating and reporting apparent contraventions
• Overseeing the registration of political parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants and third party advertisers
• Publishing on the Internet financial statements of the people and entities governed by the Act, including the real time disclosure of political contributions
• Reviewing financial statements to ensure compliance
• Distributing publicly funded subsidies
• Investigating and reporting apparent contraventions
• Recommending reforms to the Election Act and Election Finances Act.^[5]

Sudbury by-election bribery investigation

On February 19, 2015, Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa delivered a report to the Ontario legislature alleging that Premier Kathleen Wynne's chief-of-staff Patricia Sorbara and Sudbury riding organizer Gerry Lougheed Jr. had offered a job to Andrew Olivier, who intended to run to be the Liberal candidate in the by-election.^[6] Ontario police investigated the allegations and laid two charges against Lougheed. Police did not lay charges against Sorbara.^[7][8]

Privacy Breach

In July 2012, Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa announced the April disappearance of two USB flash drives holding data on 2.4 million voters in 25 Ontario ridings.^[9] The data included the names, gender, birth date and address of voters.^[10] The two staff members who lost the drives no longer work at Elections Ontario.^[11] The Ontario Provincial Police and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario started investigations into the privacy breach described as "the largest in Ontario history".^[12] Merchant Law Group filed a class action suit with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on July 20, 2012.^[13][14][15] Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian issued a report with recommendations on the incident on July 31, 2012.^[16]

References

External links

• Website

Government of Ontario departments and agencies
Ministries	Advanced Education and Skills Development Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Attorney General Cabinet Office Children and Youth Services Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Community and Social Services Community Safety and Correctional Services/Solicitor General of Ontario Economic Development and Growth Education Energy Environment and Climate Change Finance Government and Consumer Services Health and Long-Term Care Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Infrastructure Intergovernmental Affairs Labour Municipal Affairs and Housing Natural Resources and Forestry Northern Development and Mines Research, Innovation and Science Tourism, Culture and Sport Transportation
Boards, commissions and officers	Alcohol and Gaming Commission Auditor General Chief Electoral Officer Civilian Police Commission Energy Board Environmental Commissioner Fairness Commissioner Film Review Board Human Rights Commission Information and Privacy Commissioner Integrity Commissioner Landlord and Tenant Board Liquor Control Board Mining and Lands Commissioner Municipal Board Niagara Escarpment Commission Niagara Parks Commission Ombudsman Securities Commission St. Lawrence Parks Commission Workplace Safety & Insurance Board
Agencies	Agricorp Cancer Care Clean Water Conservation eHealth Elections Independent Electricity System Operator Heritage Trust Hydro One Lottery and Gaming Corporation Metrolinx Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Northland Transportation Parks Power Generation Real Estate Council Royal Ontario Museum Science Centre Science North Trillium Foundation
Provincial services	Archives Crown Attorney Forensic Sciences Provincial Police ServiceOntario Special Investigations Unit
Other	Executive Council Arts Council Francophone Affairs Ornge Parliament Network Seniors' Secretariat TFO TVO Women's Directorate List of defunct Ontario ministries and agencies Management Board Secretariat (Ontario) Agent-General

Canada's electoral regulatory bodies
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