We have tabled our 2019-2020 Annual Management Report (in French only) in the Assemblée nationale and it is now available on our website. This year’s document compiles the 31 recommendations we have made in recent years for improving Québec’s election system. It also takes stock of the past financial year, which included a by-election in the electoral division of Jean-Talon and 283 municipal by-elections.
We led several major projects in 2019-2020:
- In February 2020, we took part in the special consultations on Bill 39, which establishes a new voting system. We presented a brief (in French only) outlining the impact of this voting system on election proceedings and electoral administration. We took the opportunity to share our thoughts on the bill and to make some recommendations.
- In February 2020, we presented a brief titled Learning about and experiencing democracy in schools. It recommends that education for democratic citizenship form part of the elementary and secondary course of study for Québec students. The document was produced as part of the consultation launched in January 2020 by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur to review the Ethics and religious culture program.
- In September 2019, we launched extensive consultations to understand the expectations and concerns of the Québec population regarding Internet voting, and to assess the social acceptability of this voting option. This process was undertaken as part of a study (in French only) on the appropriateness of introducing Internet voting in the Québec context. The study was tabled in the Assemblée nationale in June 2020.
- In November 2019, we participated in the special consultations on Bill 40. Passed in June 2020, this legislation changes how school boards are organized and governed, transforming them into school service centres.
More than 30 recommendations to improve Québec’s election system
The improvements we are proposing to electoral legislation aim to better serve electors and other stakeholders in Québec democracy. People’s needs and expectations are constantly changing, and we believe that legislative provisions must adapt accordingly. Implementing our recommendations would, among other benefits:
- ENHANCE information and access to voting for electors;
- EXPAND democratic knowledge among young Quebecers;
- Better PROTECT personal information;
- SIMPLIFY the nomination process and IMPROVE services to candidates;
- ENSURE greater transparency surrounding pre-election expenses;
- IMPROVE the efficiency of electoral administration;
- IMPROVE the public consultation process when the Commission de la représentation électorale establishes the electoral map.
The next provincial general election is scheduled for October 3, 2022. For our recommended improvements to be implemented by then, the members of the Assemblée nationale would need to amend the relevant legislation in the coming months.
Read our Annual Management Report or the 2019-2020 Highlights (both in French only) for more information.
