2 (1) The Chief Electoral Officer, in addition to his or her other powers and duties under this Act and the Election Act, shall, (a)  assist political parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants and third parties registered under this Act in the preparation of returns required under this Act; (a.1)  assist campaign organizers under the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 in the preparation of returns required under that Act; (b)  ensure that every registered constituency association, registered candidate and registered leadership contestant has appropriate auditing services in order to properly comply with this Act; (c)  examine all financial returns filed with him or her under this Act and the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999; (d)  conduct periodic investigations and examinations of the financial affairs and records of registered parties, registered constituency associations, registered candidates, registered leadership contestants and registered third parties in relation to election campaigns; (d.1)  use administrative penalties to promote compliance with this Act and the Election Act; (e)  reimburse candidates and political parties for election expenses in accordance with section 44; (f)  recommend any amendments to this Act that he or she considers advisable; (g)  report to the Attorney General any apparent contravention of this Act or sections 7 to 13 of the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999; (h)  prescribe forms and their contents for use under this Act and provide for their use; (i)  prepare, print and distribute forms for use under this Act or the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999; (j)  provide such guidelines for the proper administration of this Act as he or she considers necessary for the guidance of auditors, political parties, constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants and third parties and any of their officers; (j.1)  provide such guidelines for the proper administration of the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 as he or she considers necessary for the guidance of campaign organizers and any of their officers; (j.2)  publish, on a website on the Internet, the reports filed under section 34.1 or the information contained in those reports; (j.3)  assist persons and entities who sell advertising to comply with requirements under this Act; (k)  publish the guidelines provided under clauses (j) and (j.1), (i)  in The Ontario Gazette, and (ii)  on a website on the Internet; (l)  publish, in respect of each campaign period, a joint summary of the income and campaign expenses of each candidate, and of any reimbursement under section 44, together with the income and campaign expenses of the constituency association endorsing his or her candidacy, (i)  in The Ontario Gazette, and (ii)  on a website on the Internet; (m)  publish on a website on the Internet the names and addresses of registered third parties, as they are registered; and (n)  publish on a website on the Internet, within one year after the issue of the writ, reports filed under subsection 37.12 (1).  1998, c. 9, s. 52; 1999, c. 7, Sched. A, s. 23 (1-6); 2005, c. 35, s. 2 (1); 2007, c. 15, ss. 30 (1-4), 40 (1); 2016, c. 22, s. 2 (1-4), 58; 2021, c. 5, Sched. 2, s. 2 (1-6). Returns not to be re-examined (1.1) For the purposes of clause (1) (c), where the Chief Electoral Officer has examined the financial return of a registered candidate, registered leadership contestant, registered constituency association or registered party and provided an approval letter, the Chief Electoral Officer shall not subsequently re-examine that return. 2021, c. 5, Sched. 2, s. 2 (7). Internet publication (2) Information published under clause (1) (j.2), subclause (1) (l) (ii) or clause (1) (m) or (n) shall remain available for at least six years after the date of original publication.  1998, c. 9, s. 52; 2005, c. 35, s. 2 (2); 2007, c. 15, s. 30 (5). Prohibition (3) The addresses of contributors shall not be published under clause (1) (j.2), (l) or (n).  1998, c. 9, s. 52; 2005, c. 35, s. 2 (3); 2007, c. 15, s. 30 (6). Annual report (4) The Chief Electoral Officer shall make an annual report on the affairs of his or her office in relation to this Act and the Taxpayer Protection Act, 1999 to the Speaker of the Assembly.  1998, c. 9, s. 52; 1999, c. 7, Sched. A, s. 23 (7); 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1). Recommendations to Speaker (5) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, within 12 months after polling day in each general election, make recommendations to the Speaker of the Assembly with respect to, (a)  changes in limits on contributions to registered constituency associations, nomination contestants, candidates, political parties or leadership contestants; (b)  changes in limits on campaign expenses that may be incurred during a relevant period by candidates, political parties, nomination contestants or leadership contestants; (c)  changes in levels of public funding of candidates or political parties; (d)  changes in public funding of auditor’s fees charged to constituency associations, nomination contestants, candidates, political parties and leadership contestants; and (e)  any other changes in monetary limits that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate.  1998, c. 9, s. 52; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1); 2016, c. 22, s. 2 (5, 6). Tabling (6) The Speaker shall lay annual reports received under subsection (4) and recommendations received under subsection (5) before the Assembly if it is in session or, if not, at the next session.  1998, c. 9, s. 52. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1998, c. 9, s. 52 - 01/01/1999; 1999, c. 7, Sched. A, s. 23 (1-7) - 14/12/1999 2005, c. 35, s. 2 (1-3)
- 15/12/2005 2007, c. 15, s. 30 (1-6)
- 04/06/2007; 2007, c. 15, s. 40 (1)
- 04/06/2007 2016, c. 22, s. 2 (1-6)
- 01/01/2017; 2016, c. 22, s. 58
- 01/01/2017 2021, c. 5, Sched. 2, s. 2 (1-7) - 19/04/2021