10 (1) No political party and no person, organization or entity acting on behalf of the political party shall accept contributions for the purposes of the political party or for the purposes of any constituency association or for the candidacy of any person at an election or for an election campaign of any person unless the political party is registered under this Act.  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.7, s. 10 (1); 2016, c. 22, s. 5. Qualifications for registration (2) Any political party may apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for registration in the register of political parties if the political party, (a)  after writs are issued for a general election or for two or more concurrent by-elections, endorses candidates in at least two electoral districts; or (b)  at any time other than during a campaign period and within one year after the Chief Electoral Officer makes a determination under subsection (7) that the name of the political party and the abbreviation thereof, if any, is registrable, provides the Chief Electoral Officer with the names, addresses and signatures of at least 1,000 persons who, (i)  are eligible to vote in an election, and (ii)  endorse the registration of the political party concerned.  2007, c. 7, Sched. 11, s. 1 (1); 2007, c. 15, s. 39 (4). Application for registration (3) The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a register of political parties and subject to this section shall register therein any political party that is qualified to be registered and that files an application for registration with the Chief Electoral Officer, setting out, (a)  the full name of the political party; (b)  the political party name or abbreviation to be shown in any election documents; (c)  the name of the leader of the political party; (d)  the address of the place or places in Ontario where records of the political party are maintained and of the place in Ontario to which communications may be addressed; (e)  the names of the principal officers of the political party; (f)  the name of the chief financial officer of the political party; (g)  the names of all persons authorized by the political party to accept contributions; (h)  the name and address of every financial institution to be used by the political party as the depositories for contributions made to that political party; (i)  the names of the political party signing officers responsible for each depository referred to in clause (h); (j)  a statement of the assets and liabilities of the political party as of a date not earlier than ninety days prior to the date of its application for registration attested to by the chief financial officer; and (k)  a statement, attested to by the leader of the party, that participating in public affairs by endorsing candidates and supporting their election is a fundamental purpose of the party.  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.7, s. 10 (3); 1998, c. 9, s. 79; 2007, c. 7, Sched. 11, s. 1 (2); 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1); 2007, c. 7, Sched. 7, s. 186 (2). Registration by Chief Electoral Officer (4) On receiving an application for registration of a political party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, (a)  examine the application and determine if the party can be registered; (b)  if the party can be registered, enter it in the register of political parties and so inform the party; (c)  if the party cannot be registered, so inform the party, with written reasons for the determination.  1998, c. 9, s. 56; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1). Name of political party (5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall not register a political party if, (a)  its name includes the word “independent” or “indépendant” in any form; or (b)  in his or her opinion, the resemblance between the name or abbreviation of the name of the party and the name, abbreviation of the name or nickname of another political party or political organization that is active anywhere in Canada is so close that confusion is likely.  1998, c. 9, s. 56; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1). Variation of register (6) Where any change in the information referred to, (a)  in clause (3) (a) or (b) is proposed to be made, the registered party shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing of the proposed change and, unless the Chief Electoral Officer determines that the proposed change is so significant as to constitute an entirely new name or abbreviation, the Chief Electoral Officer shall, subject to subsection (5), vary the register of political parties accordingly; or (b)  in clauses (3) (c) to (i) occurs, the registered party shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing within thirty days of such alteration and, upon receipt of such notice, the Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the register of political parties accordingly.  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.7, s. 10 (6); 1998, c. 9, s. 79; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1). Annual statement of purpose (6.1) On or before May 31 in each year, the registered party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a statement, attested to by the leader of the party, that participating in public affairs by endorsing candidates and supporting their election is a fundamental purpose of the party.  2007, c. 7, Sched. 11, s. 1 (3); 2007, c. 15, s. 39 (5). Submission of name to Chief Electoral Officer (7) A political party which intends to apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for registration under clause (2) (b) shall, prior to canvassing for signatures for the purpose, submit to the Chief Electoral Officer the full name of the political party and the abbreviation thereof, if any, and the Chief Electoral Officer shall determine whether the name and abbreviation thereof, if any, is registrable in accordance with subsection (5).  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.7, s. 10 (7); 1998, c. 9, s. 79; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1). Reservation of name (8) Where the Chief Electoral Officer determines that the name and abbreviation thereof, if any, of a political party is registrable, that name and abbreviation thereof, if any, shall be reserved for the political party for a period of one year following the date that the Chief Electoral Officer makes the determination and, during the period, the political party shall be deemed to be a registered political party for the purposes of subsection (5).  R.S.O. 1990, c. E.7, s. 10 (8); 1998, c. 9, s. 79; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1). Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1998, c. 9, s. 56 - 01/01/1999; 1998, c. 9, s. 79 - 01/01/1999 2007, c. 7, Sched. 7, s. 186 (2) - 01/10/2009; 2007, c. 7, Sched. 11, s. 1 (1-3) - 17/05/2007; 2007, c. 15, s. 39 (4, 5)
- 04/06/2007; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1)
- 04/06/2007 2016, c. 22, s. 5
- 01/01/2017