Protecting Canada's Vote
Government of Canada Enacts Bill C-25 to Fortify Federal Elections Against Threats
Canada's Strong and Free Elections Act — Bill C-25 — received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026, making it the most significant overhaul of the country's elections law in a decade. The Act bans untraceable political donations, cracks down on AI-generated deepfakes, and sharply raises fines for those who break the rules, according to Ottawa Citizen.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon introduced the bill on March 26, 2026, framing it as a direct response to the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference. The inquiry investigated allegations — mostly tied to China — that foreign actors meddled in Canada's 2021 federal election, according to Goderich Signal Star.
Fines Jump and Crypto Donations Are Now Banned
The Act dramatically increases the cost of breaking Canada's elections rules. The maximum fine for an individual jumps from $1,500 to $25,000. For an organization or political party, the ceiling rises from $5,000 to $100,000, according to Hanna Herald. These are called Administrative Monetary Penalties — financial fines issued without going to court.
Federal parties, riding associations, and leadership candidates are now strictly banned from accepting cryptocurrency, money orders, or prepaid cards. Any such funds already held must be returned or destroyed. Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault had pushed for this ban since his 2022 post-election report, according to Toronto Sun.
Privacy Advocates Warn the Bill Falls Short on Voter Data
Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne testified before the Senate committee on May 28, 2026. He warned that "unauthorized use and disclosure of voter information can have serious and concrete implications," pointing to a recent data breach in Alberta. He supported the bill's intent but flagged gaps in how political parties handle voter data, according to Calgary Sun.
Privacy expert and University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist went further. He called the privacy provisions "falling well short of what Canadians should expect." His core complaint: political parties are still not subject to PIPEDA or the Privacy Act — the same privacy laws that apply to private companies. The bill uses policy-based requirements instead of hard legal obligations, making enforcement difficult, according to Cold Lake Sun.
19 Riding Names Changed, Deepfakes Targeted
Beyond financing rules, the Act officially renames 19 federal electoral districts across seven provinces. The changes are meant to better reflect the geographic or cultural identity of each riding. The Act also bans AI-generated deepfakes designed to mislead voters about candidates or election results, according to Brantford Expositor.
Candidates can now claim 65% of "security expenses" — up to a cap of $3,250 — as a reimbursable election expense. This change addresses growing concerns about the physical safety of candidates on the campaign trail, according to Seaforth Huron Expositor.
A Long Road From Bill C-65 to Royal Assent
Bill C-25 is the successor to Bill C-65, the Electoral Participation Act, which died in the 44th Parliament when Parliament was prorogued in early 2026. MacKinnon reintroduced the core measures quickly. The bill cleared Third Reading in the House of Commons on June 11, 2026, and the Senate held its Second Reading just five days later, according to Fairview Post.
Senator Farah Mohamed led the Senate push for the bill. She argued it "strikes an appropriate balance" between protecting elections and recognizing political parties as "essential engines of democracy." Some opposition members, including Bloc Québécois MPs, raised concerns about the speed of the bill's passage during late-night sittings in June, according to Pincher Creek Echo.
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