BILL NO. 135
(as introduced)
2nd Session, 60th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
57 Elizabeth II, 2008
Municipal Elections Act
(amended)
The Honourable Jamie Muir
Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
First Reading: April 28, 2008
Second Reading: May 5, 2008
Third Reading: May 26, 2008 (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)
Explanatory Notes
Clause 1 replaces an obsolete reference to the county court.
Clauses 2 to 4 amend the Municipal Elections Act to clarify the provisions of the Act dealing with new methods of voting at a municipal election and provides a municipality with the authority to create offences for violations of election by-laws, including the imposition of fines and periods of imprisonment.
Clause 5 provides that the Act comes into force on proclamation.
An Act to Amend Chapter 300
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Municipal Elections Act
1 Subsection 131(1) of Chapter 300 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Municipal Elections Act, as amended by Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2007, is further amended by striking out "county court" in the third and fourth lines and substituting "Supreme Court of Nova Scotia".
2 (1) Subsection 146A(3) of Chapter 300, as enacted by Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2003 and amended by Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2007, is further amended by
(a) adding immediately after clause (c) the following clauses:
(cb) the method of recounting the ballots or votes;
(cc) additional hours and dates for voting at an advance poll, including permitting voting twenty-four hours per day over a period of days;
(b) adding ", including matters or things under Sections 41A, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 86" immediately after "election" in the second line of clause (d).
(2) Section 146A of Chapter 300, as enacted by Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2003 and amended by Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2007, is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (6) the following subsections:
(a) impose a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or imprisonment for a maximum term of two years less a day, or both;
(c) provide for imprisonment, for not more than one year, for non-payment of a fine.
(8) The Remission of Penalties Act does not apply to a pecuniary penalty imposed under a by-law made pursuant to this Section.
(9) The limitation period for the prosecution of an offence under a by-law made pursuant to this Section is two years from the later of the date of the commission of the offence and the date on which it was discovered that an offence had been committed.
4 Section 164 of Chapter 300 is amended by adding "or a by-law made pursuant to this Act" immediately after "Act" in the second line of clause (d) and in the third last line.
5 This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2008 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created June 9, 2008. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
