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New Rules for Canadian Pollsters
New Canadian MR association CRIC has issued advice to members regarding the country's 'Elections Modernization Act', some of whose provisions kick in on 30th June with implications for polls both partisan and non-partisan.
 The Canadian Parliament adopted Bill C-76 last December, with the aim of increasing the transparency of third party and foreign entity involvement in the electoral process. This includes new spending and reporting rules for third parties and political parties, and tighter restrictions on political interventions by foreign entities.
CRIC says the Act differentiates between 'traditional' election surveys and those conducted by or commissioned by a third party, the latter including 'a person or group other than a registered political party or association, a candidate or nomination contestant'. Where companies are conducting election surveys sponsored by parties not actively involved in organizing and carrying out partisan activities, the impact of the legislation will be 'minor' - for example keeping for three years a list of every telephone number called during the election period, and keeping published surveys available on a webpage for the entire election period. But if the work is for a third party engaging in partisan activities, several new requirements apply to that third party - in particular, they must register those activities and their costs not just once elections are underway but also during a new 'pre-writ' period. In the case of the upcoming federal elections on October 21st, this pre-writ period begins on June 30th.
C-76 also includes new provisions to counter foreign influence and online disruption in election periods: foreign entities are prohibited from spending any money to influence elections, including the funding of third parties to engage in partisan activities, advertising, or election surveys.
CRIC says members working in the area should familiarize themselves with the amended Act to get a better understanding of any new requirements, both for themselves and more specifically for the sponsors of their surveys - but it says tge Act is 'aligned with industry standards around the transparency of polling and will contribute to a stronger democracy'.
Web site: www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca .
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