C-64.1 - Referendum Act

Updated to 1 October 2024

This document has official status.

chapter C-64.1

Referendum Act

CHAPTER I INTERPRETATION

1. In this Act,

(1)  “authorized entity”, “authorized party” and “official representative of an authorized political party” have the same meaning as in the Election Act (chapter E-3.3) where used in connection with a referendum;

(2)  “referendum period” means, for the purposes of regulated expenses, the period beginning on the day of the writ instituting the holding of a referendum and ending on polling day.

For purposes of the interpretation of this Act, the Election Act applies.

1978, c. 6, s. 1; 1981, c. 4, s. 5; 1984, c. 51, s. 530; 1989, c. 1, s. 584; 1992, c. 38, s. 78.

CHAPTER II CONSEIL DU RÉFÉRENDUM

2. A Conseil du référendum is established. It is composed of three judges of the Court of Québec, one of whom is the chairman, designated by the chief judge of that Court.

If one of the members of the Conseil du référendum is absent or unable to act, the chief judge of the Court of Québec shall designate another judge of the Court to replace him.

1978, c. 6, s. 2; 1988, c. 21, s. 66; 1999, c. 40, s. 87.

3. The Conseil du référendum shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear any judicial proceeding relating to a referendum and to the application of this Act.

Its decisions are final and without appeal.

However, an appeal lies to the Court of Appeal, on a question of law, from a decision rendered by the Conseil du référendum by virtue of section 41 or 42.

This appeal is heard by preference, and the decision of the Court is final and without appeal.

This appeal is governed by articles 351 to 390 of the Code of Civil Procedure (chapter C-25.01), so far as they are applicable.

1978, c. 6, s. 3; I.N. 2016-01-01 (NCCP).

4. Only the President or a member of the National Assembly may apply to the Conseil du référendum to render a decision on the subject of a referendum for the purposes of section 12.

The Conseil must render a decision within ten days of this application, failing which the subject of the referendum is deemed to be not substantially similar to that of a referendum held during the same Legislature.

Such application must be made and, as the case may be, the decision must be rendered before the National Assembly adopts the question contemplated in section 8 or the bill contemplated in section 10.

1978, c. 6, s. 4; 1982, c. 62, s. 143.

5. The Conseil du référendum must give its opinion on any question of law or technical question submitted to it by the Government respecting the holding of a referendum.

Upon the tabling in the National Assembly of a question contemplated in section 8 or a bill contemplated in section 10, every request for an opinion on that question or bill, as well as the opinion given by the Conseil du référendum, shall be made public by the latter.

1978, c. 6, s. 5; 1982, c. 62, s. 143.

6. The chairman of the Conseil du référendum may call upon the services, on a temporary basis, of any person he considers necessary for the carrying out of its functions in respect of the holding of a referendum.

1978, c. 6, s. 6.

CHAPTER III SUBJECT OF THE REFERENDUM

7. The Government may order that the electors be consulted by referendum

(a)  on a question approved by the National Assembly in accordance with sections 8 and 9, or

(b)  on a bill adopted by the National Assembly in accordance with section 10.

As soon as the National Assembly is informed of the question or bill contemplated in the first paragraph, the Secretary General of the National Assembly shall notify the chief electoral officer thereof in writing.

1978, c. 6, s. 7; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1992, c. 38, s. 79; 1995, c. 23, s. 53.

8. On a motion of the Prime Minister, the National Assembly may adopt the text of a question which is to be the subject of a referendum. The debate on this motion is business having precedence over any other question, except the debate on the Opening Speech of the session.

1978, c. 6, s. 8; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1992, c. 38, s. 80.

9. During debate of the motion contemplated in section 8, a member may propose a motion of amendment or sub-amendment, but the latter motion does not restrict the right of another member to introduce a similar motion, or to address the substantive motion and the motions of amendment or sub-amendment at the same time. The rule that a member may speak only once does not apply. Upon 35 hours of debate, the President of the National Assembly, after conferring with the house leaders of the parliamentary groups, must put the motions of amendment or sub-amendment and the substantive motion to the vote, in such order as he may determine.

1978, c. 6, s. 9; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1992, c. 38, s. 81.

10. A bill adopted by the National Assembly cannot be submitted to a referendum unless it contains, at the time of being tabled, a provision to that effect, as well as the text of the question submitted for the referendum.

This bill cannot be presented for assent until it has been submitted to the electors by way of a referendum.

1978, c. 6, s. 10; 1982, c. 62, s. 143.

11. A bill submitted to a referendum may be assented to after the prorogation of the session during which it was adopted, provided that it be before the dissolution of the Legislature which voted its adoption.

1978, c. 6, s. 11.

12. There shall not be, during the same Legislature, more than one referendum on the same subject or on a subject which, in the opinion of the Conseil du référendum, is substantially similar to the former subject.

1978, c. 6, s. 12.

CHAPTER IV REFERENDUM WRIT

1982, c. 31, s. 103.

13. The holding of a referendum is instituted by a writ of the Government addressed to the chief electoral officer. This writ enjoins him to hold a referendum on the date fixed therein.

The chief electoral officer shall send a copy of the writ to the returning officer of each electoral division, and the returning officer must comply with it.

1978, c. 6, s. 13; 1981, c. 4, s. 6; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1987, c. 28, s. 23; 1989, c. 1, s. 585; 1992, c. 38, s. 82.

14. No writ instituting the holding of a referendum may be issued before the eighteenth day following the day on which the National Assembly was informed of the question or bill contemplated in section 7.

1978, c. 6, s. 14; 1981, c. 4, s. 6; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1992, c. 38, s. 83.

15. From the time a writ instituting the holding of a general election is issued, every writ instituting the holding of a referendum ceases to have effect and no writ may be issued before the general election is held.

1978, c. 6, s. 15; 1981, c. 4, s. 6; 1999, c. 40, s. 87.

CHAPTER V

Repealed, 1995, c. 23, s. 54.

1981, c. 4, s. 7; 1995, c. 23, s. 54.

16. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 16; 1981, c. 4, s. 7; 1984, c. 51, s. 531; 1985, c. 30, s. 145; 1987, c. 28, s. 24; 1989, c. 1, s. 586; 1992, c. 38, s. 84; 1995, c. 23, s. 54.

17. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 17; 1981, c. 4, s. 7; 1984, c. 51, s. 532; 1987, c. 28, s. 25; 1989, c. 1, s. 587.

18. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 18; 1981, c. 4, s. 7; 1989, c. 1, s. 588; 1992, c. 38, s. 85.

CHAPTER VI

Repealed, 1992, c. 38, s. 86.

1992, c. 38, s. 86.

19. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 19; 1981, c. 4, s. 8; 1984, c. 51, s. 533; 1985, c. 30, s. 31, s. 145; 1992, c. 38, s. 86.

CHAPTER VII BALLOT PAPERS

20. The ballot paper is a printed paper on which is entered, in French and in English, the question put to the electors.

The ballot paper also contains a space specially and solely reserved for the mark by which the elector expresses his choice.

1978, c. 6, s. 20; 1984, c. 51, s. 534.

21. Notwithstanding section 20, the question entered on the ballot papers used in polling stations situated in an Indian reserve or in a place where an Amerind or Inuit community lives, must be drawn up in French, in English and in the language of the native majority of the place, to the extent that the returning officer may have the ballot papers printed in such language.

The returning officer shall determine which native language must be used and cause a translation of the question entered on the ballot paper to be made into such language.

1978, c. 6, s. 21.

CHAPTER VIII THE REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN

DIVISION I NATIONAL COMMITTEES

22. Upon the adoption of the text of a question or of a bill that is to be submitted to the referendum by the National Assembly, the secretary general of the Assembly must inform the chief electoral officer of it, in writing.

He shall also send to each member of the National Assembly a notice to the effect that the latter may, within five days after the adoption of the question or of the bill, register with the chief electoral officer in favour of one of the options submitted to the referendum.

1978, c. 6, s. 22; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1992, c. 38, s. 87.

23. All the members of the National Assembly who, within five days after the adoption of a question or of a bill that is to be submitted to the referendum, register with the chief electoral officer for one of the options, shall form the provisional committee in favour of such option.

Where, at the end of the period provided for in the first paragraph, no member of the National Assembly has registered in favour of one of the options, the chief electoral officer may invite not less than three nor more than twenty electors to form the provisional committee in favour of such option. Such electors must be chosen from among the persons publicly identified with such option.

The chief electoral officer shall, with the least possible delay, call a meeting of each provisional committee at the place, day and time he indicates. At such meeting, the members of each provisional committee shall adopt the by-laws to govern the national committee in favour of such option and appoint the chairman thereof.

1978, c. 6, s. 23; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1992, c. 38, s. 88; 1999, c. 40, s. 87.

24. The by-laws governing a national committee may determine any matter relating to its proper operation, including the name under which it is to be known and the manner in which it is to be established.

Such by-laws may also provide for the setting up of local authorities of this committee in each electoral division, provided that each of these authorities is authorized by the chairman of the national committee.

These by-laws must furthermore provide for the affiliation to the committee of groups which are favourable to the same option and see to the establishment of the norms, conditions and formalities governing the affiliation and financing of these groups.

1978, c. 6, s. 24; 1981, c. 4, s. 16.

24.1. Any application for affiliation to a national committee must be made within seven days after the adoption of the by-laws of the national committee.

The national committee must decide the application within seven days after the application is made.

1998, c. 52, s. 92.

25. The resolution of a provisional committee appointing the chairman of a national committee and that adopting the by-laws thereof must be certified by the signature of the majority of the members of such provisional committee. They shall take effect when they are forwarded to the chief electoral officer. They shall be replaced or amended only in accordance with the same procedure.

1978, c. 6, s. 25; 1984, c. 51, s. 561.

DIVISION II THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION

26. Not later than ten days before the holding of a poll, the chief electoral officer must send the electors a single booklet explaining each of the options submitted to the referendum, wherein the text is established by each national committee, respectively. Equal space, as fixed by the chief electoral officer, must be given in this booklet to each option.

1978, c. 6, s. 26; 1984, c. 51, s. 561.

DIVISION III

Repealed, 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

1992, c. 38, s. 89.

27. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 27; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

28. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 28; 1982, c. 54, s. 42; 1984, c. 51, s. 535; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1989, c. 1, s. 589; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

29. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 29; 1982, c. 31, s. 106; 1984, c. 51, s. 536; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

30. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 30; 1982, c. 54, s. 43; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

31. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 31; 1981, c. 4, s. 16; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

32. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 32; 1981, c. 4, s. 10; 1984, c. 51, s. 537; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

33. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 33; 1978, c. 15, s. 140; 1982, c. 54, s. 44; 1983, c. 55, s. 139; 1984, c. 51, s. 538; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

34. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 34; 1981, c. 4, s. 16; 1984, c. 51, s. 539; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

35. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 35; 1982, c. 31, s. 107; 1982, c. 54, s. 45; 1984, c. 51, s. 540; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1985, c. 30, s. 145; 1992, c. 38, s. 89.

DIVISION IV REFERENDUM FUND

36. The official agent, his deputy or the local agent shall not pay the cost of a regulated expense except out of a special fund called the “referendum fund” for the purposes of this Act.

1978, c. 6, s. 36.

37. Only the following amounts shall be paid into the referendum fund put at the disposal of an official agent:

(a)  the subsidy provided for in section 40;

(b)  the amounts transferred or loaned to such fund by the official representative of a political party authorized under Title III of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3), provided that the total sum of the amounts so transferred and loaned does not exceed $0.50 per elector in the aggregate of the electoral divisions;

(c)  the contributions directly paid by an elector out of his own property.

For the purposes of subparagraph b of the first paragraph, the number of electors is that provided for in section 427 of the Election Act, as amended by Appendix 2.

1978, c. 6, s. 37; 1981, c. 4, s. 16; 1984, c. 51, s. 541; 1989, c. 1, s. 590; 1992, c. 38, s. 90.

38. Only the following amounts shall be paid into the referendum fund put at the disposal of a local agent:

(a)  the amounts transferred to such fund by the official agent out of the fund contemplated in section 37;

(b)  the contributions directly paid by an elector out of his own property.

1978, c. 6, s. 38.

39. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 39; 1992, c. 38, s. 91.

DIVISION V GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY

40. The Minister of Finance shall, within three days after a writ of referendum is issued, send to the official agent of each national committee the amount of subsidy that the National Assembly may fix at the time when it adopts the text of a question or a bill that is to be submitted to the referendum. The amount of such subsidy must be the same for each of the national committees.

Where the number of electors entered on the lists of electors is used to fix the amount of the subsidy, the National Assembly may, not later than 60 days after the polling, adjust the subsidy to take account of the additional number of electors entered on the lists of electors used for the polling. The Minister of Finance shall, within three days after the date on which he is informed of this number, pay the supplementary amount of the subsidy to the official agent of each national committee.

1978, c. 6, s. 40; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1992, c. 49, s. 4.

CHAPTER IX CONTESTATIONS

41. Only the chairman of a national committee may apply for a recount of the votes before a judge.

Such application shall be made before the Conseil du référendum, which has exclusive jurisdiction to hear it. It must be made within 15 days after that of the polling. The application for a recount of the votes before a judge may be limited to one or several electoral divisions.

The Conseil du référendum shall receive such application only to the extent that it is of opinion that the facts alleged, were they true, would be susceptible of changing the total result of the referendum.

Where the Conseil du référendum receives an application for a recount of the votes before a judge, such recount shall be made, in each electoral division contemplated, as if the referendum had been an election, with the necessary modifications. No costs may be awarded. Even where all the ballot papers are rejected by the judge, no new referendum may be held.

1978, c. 6, s. 41; 1981, c. 4, s. 11; 1999, c. 40, s. 87.

42. Only the chairman of a national committee may, upon application made before the Conseil du référendum within fifteen days after that of the polling, contest the validity of a referendum.

The Conseil du référendum shall receive such application only to the extent that it is of opinion that the facts alleged, were they true, would be susceptible of changing the total result of the referendum.

Where the Conseil du référendum receives an application for the contestation of the validity of a referendum, that application must be tried before the Conseil du référendum, which has exclusive jurisdiction to hear it, in accordance with the provisions of Title V of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3) to the extent that they are applicable.

Where a referendum is declared invalid, a new referendum shall be held only if a new writ is issued in accordance with this Act.

1978, c. 6, s. 42; 1981, c. 4, s. 12; 1984, c. 51, s. 542; 1989, c. 1, s. 591; 1999, c. 40, s. 87.

CHAPTER X MISCELLANEOUS

43. The chief electoral officer and his personnel have with respect to the holding of a referendum powers similar to those granted to them by the Election Act (chapter E-3.3) with respect to elections.

The chief electoral officer has with respect to national committees and their agents powers similar to those granted to him by the Election Act with respect to the authorization and financing of political parties, their party authorities and representatives and with respect to the control of election expenses.

1978, c. 6, s. 43; 1981, c. 4, s. 13; 1982, c. 54, s. 46; 1984, c. 51, s. 543; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1989, c. 1, s. 592.

44. Except to the extent that this Act provides otherwise, every referendum shall be governed by the provisions of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3) that are in force at the time and that are enumerated in Appendix 2, with, where necessary, the amendments indicated therein.

The regulations made under the Election Act and writs made under the said Act apply, with the necessary modifications, to a referendum.

1978, c. 6, s. 44; 1981, c. 4, s. 14; 1984, c. 51, s. 544; 1989, c. 1, s. 593; 1995, c. 23, s. 55.

45. The chief electoral officer must cause a special version of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3) to be printed, striking out therefrom the sections not appearing in Appendix 2, incorporating therein the sections of the said Act appearing in the said Appendix and making the amendments indicated in the said Appendix.

In preparing the special version, the chief electoral officer may amend the titles and subtitles of the said Act.

The chief electoral officer shall also cause to be printed a special version of the regulations made pursuant to sections 549 and 550 of the Election Act.

1978, c. 6, s. 45; 1981, c. 4, s. 15; 1982, c. 54, s. 47; 1984, c. 51, s. 545; 1985, c. 30, s. 32; 1989, c. 1, s. 594; 1992, c. 38, s. 92.

46. (Repealed).

1978, c. 6, s. 46; 1982, c. 54, s. 48.

47. The chief electoral officer must make, in addition to the obligations imposed by section 45, such measures of concordance as are necessary for the carrying out of this Act, in the version of the Act contemplated in the said section.

1978, c. 6, s. 47; 1982, c. 54, s. 49; 1984, c. 51, s. 546; 1984, c. 51, s. 561; 1986, c. 61, s. 2.

48. The moneys necessary for the application of this Act shall be taken out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

1978, c. 6, s. 48.

49. (Amendment integrated into c. E-3, s. 49).

1978, c. 6, s. 49.

50. (Amendment integrated into c. E-3, s. 142).

1978, c. 6, s. 50.

51. (Amendment integrated into c. F-2, s. 83).

1978, c. 6, s. 51.

52. (Omitted).

1978, c. 6, s. 52.

53. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987).

1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

APPENDIX 1

(Repealed).

1978, c. 6, Appendix 1; 1981, c. 4, s. 17.

APPENDIX 2

(Sections 44, 45)

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE HOLDING OF A REFERENDUM

ELECTION ACT (chapter E-3.3)

SECTIONS                      AMENDMENTS

1            Replace the words “Referendum Act (chapter
             C-64.1)” in subparagraph 5 of the first
             paragraph by the words “Election Act (chapter
             E-3.3)”.

2

3            Replace the fourth paragraph by the following:

             “An elector who is a Member of the National Assembly
             representing an electoral division other than the
             electoral division in which he is domiciled may be
             considered to be domiciled either in the polling
             subdivision of his domicile or in the polling
             subdivision where the main office he uses as a
             Member of the National Assembly in the electoral
             division he represents is situated.”

             Replace the words “an election period” in
             the fifth paragraph by the words “a referendum
             period”.

4

46           Replace the first paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “46.  An official agent may resign by sending a
             written notice to that effect to the chairman of the
             national committee.”

             Replace the words “Within 30 days of resigning, the
             official representative shall file with the party,
             the party authority, the independent Member or the
             independent candidate” in the second paragraph by
             the words “Within 30 days of resigning, the
             official agent shall file with the national
             committee”, and the words “financial
             report” by the words “return of
             regulated expenses”.

             Replace the words “an authorized entity no longer has
             an official representative, another official
             representative” in the third paragraph by the words
             “a national committee no longer has an official
             agent, another official agent”.

             Replace the words “official representative or of a
             delegate” in the fourth paragraph by the words
             “official agent”.

60           Replace the section by the following section:

             “60.  The official agent of a national committee is
             authorized to solicit and collect contributions until
             polling day.

             After polling day, the official agent is authorized
             to solicit and collect contributions only for the
             purpose of paying the debts arising from his
             regulated expenses and to dispose, in accordance with
             the second paragraph of section 441, of the sums and
             property derived from his referendum fund.”

66           Replace the section by the following section:

             “66.  Where the chairman of a national committee
             resigns, he shall so notify the chief electoral
             officer in writing without delay.”

87           Strike out the second paragraph.

88           Replace the first paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “88.  Sums of money donated to a national committee
             and services rendered and goods furnished to it for
             the purposes of promoting an option submitted to a
             referendum are contributions.”
 
             Strike out subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the second
             paragraph.

             Replace subparagraph 4 of the second paragraph by
             the following subparagraph:

             “(4) a loan granted to a national committee at the
             current market rate of interest at the time it is
             granted by an authorized political party;”.

             Strike out subparagraphs 5 and 6 of the second
             paragraph.

             Replace subparagraph 7 of the second paragraph by the
             following subparagraph:

             “(7) air time on the radio or television or space in
             the newspaper, periodical or other printed matter
             available free of charge to national committees by
             any radio, television or cable broadcaster or any
             owner of a newspaper, periodical or other printed
             matter, provided he offers such service equitably as
             to quality and quantity to each national committee;”.

             Replace subparagraph 8 of the second paragraph by
             the following subparagraph:

             “(8) transfers of funds between:

             (a) an authorized party and the referendum fund of
             a national committee;
 
             (b) the referendum fund of a national committee and
             the referendum fund put at the disposal of a local
             agent.”

90

91           Replace the first paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “91.  The total of contributions to each national
             committee by the same elector in the same referendum
             shall not exceed the amount of $3,000.”

             Replace the words “an authorized entity” in
             the second paragraph by the words “a national
             committee”.

92           Replace the first paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “92.  Contributions shall not be solicited except
             under the responsibility of the official agent of a
             national committee, or except through persons
             designated in writing by the official agent.”

             Replace the word “representative” in the second
             paragraph by the word “agent”.

93           Replace the words “representative of the authorized
             entity” by the words “agent of the national
             committee”.

94           Replace the section by the following section:

             “94.  The local agent has, for the electoral division
             for which he is appointed, the powers conferred on
             the official agent of the national committee by
             sections 92, 93 and 96.”

95           Replace “official representative of the authorized 
             entity” by
             “official agent of the national committee”.

96           Replace the word “representative” by the word
             “agent”.

97           Replace the words “authorized entity” by
             the words “national committee”.

98           Replace the words “authorized entity” by the
             words “national committee”.

99           Replace the words “authorized entity” by the
             words “official agent”.

100

104          Replace the words “representative of an authorized
             entity” by the words “agent of a national
             committee”.

105          Add, after the second paragraph, the following
             paragraph:

             “The principal of, and interest on, every loan must
             be paid before the return of the regulated expenses
             is sent.”

131

132          Replace the words “party authority at the level
             of the electoral division” in the first paragraph
             by the words “authority, at the level of the
             electoral division, of an authorized party represented
             in the National Assembly”.

133          Replace the words “an election” by the words
             “a referendum”.

134          Replace the words “political parties and independent
             candidates” by the words “national
             committees”, and the words “election expenses”
             by the words “regulated expenses”.

135          Replace the words “particulars that will be contained
             in” in the fourth and fifth lines by the words
             “question that will appear on”.

135.1

136

137          Replace “an election period” in the second
             paragraph by “a referendum period”.

138
 to
144

145          Replace the words “an election” in the first
             paragraph by the words “a referendum”.

146          Replace the section by the following section:

             “146.  Not later than the twenty-seventh day
             preceding polling  day, the returning officer shall
             transmit to each official delegate the list of
             electors for the electoral division, the list of
             electors entitled to exercise their right to vote
             outside Québec for the division and the list
             of addresses for which no electors’ names are entered.

             The lists shall be transmitted in computer form and in
             duplicate copies.

             The chief electoral officer shall transmit the lists 
             in computer form to the national committees.

             For the purposes of this Act, “official delegate”
             means a person appointed as such by the chairman of a
             national committee to represent him in an electoral
             division.

147          Replace the word “election” in the first
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

             Replace the word “parties” in the second
             paragraph by the words “national committees”.

179
 to
181

182          Replace the section by the following section:

             “182.  The returning officer shall inform the chief
             electoral officer, the national committees and each
             official delegate of the places selected.”

182.1

183

184          Replace the section by the following section:

             “184.  The returning officer shall appoint two
             revisors not later than Wednesday of the fourth
             week preceding that of the polling.

             The first revisor shall be appointed on the
             recommendation of the official delegate of the
             national committee which has the greatest number of
             Members of the National Assembly.

             The second revisor shall be appointed on the
             recommendation of the official delegate of the
             national committee which has the second greatest
             number of Members of the National Assembly.”
 
186          Strike out the first paragraph.

187          Replace the words “parties represented in the 
             National Assembly” by the words “national 
             committees referred to in section 184”.

188          Replace the section by the following section:

             “188.  The revisor recommended by the national
             committee to which the greatest number of
             Members of the National Assembly belong shall act as
             vice-chairman of the board of revisors.”

189          Replace the section by the following section:

             “189.  The returning officer shall post, in his
             office, the list of revisors appointed to each board
             of revisors and shall transmit it to the chief
             electoral officer, the national committees and each
             official delegate.”

190
to
196

198.1
to
213

214          Replace the word “election” in the third
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

215
 to
217

218          Replace “candidate” in the first and second
             paragraphs by “official delegate”.

             Replace “to the authorized parties represented in the
             National Assembly and to any other authorized party having
             so requested” in the fourth paragraph by “to 
             each national committee”.

227
 to
231.1

231.2        Replace the word “candidate” in the second
             paragraph by the words “official delegate”.

231.2.1      Replace “to the authorized parties represented in 
             the National Assembly and to any other authorized party
             having so requested ” by “to each national
             committee”.

231.3
 to
231.13

231.14       Replace “candidate” in the second
             paragraph by “official delegate”.

233          Replace the word “election” by the word
             “referendum”.

248          Replace the first and second paragraphs by the
             following paragraphs:

             “248.  Every employer shall, upon written request,
             grant a leave without pay to an employee who acts as
             the chairman of a national committee or as an
             official delegate.  The request may be made at any
             time from the date of the writ instituting the
             holding of a referendum.

             The employee’s leave begins on the day requested by
             the employee and ends on the thirtieth day following
             polling day.”

249          Replace the first, second and third paragraphs by the
             following paragraphs:

             “249.  Every employer shall, upon written request,
             grant a leave without pay to an employee who acts as
             the official agent of a national committee.  The
             request may be made at any time from the date of the
             writ instituting the holding of a referendum.

             The employee’s leave begins on the day requested by
             the employee and ends on the ninetieth day following
             polling day.”

250

251          Replace the words “a candidate or” by the words
             “the chairman of a national committee, an official
             delegate or an”.

252
 to
255

259.1        Replace the word “election” by the word
             “referendum” and the words “an
             election” by the words “a referendum”.

259.2        Replace the word “Election” in the first and
             second paragraphs by the word “Referendum”.

259.3        Replace the word “Election” by the word
             “Referendum”.

259.4        Replace the word “election” by the word
             “referendum”.

259.5        Replace the word “election” in the first and
             second paragraphs by the word “referendum”.

259.6

259.7        Replace “Election” in the first paragraph
             by “Referendum”.

             Replace “candidate or, where applicable,
             the authorized party” in the third paragraph
             by “official delegate”, and
             “election” in that paragraph by
             “referendum”.

259.8        Replace the word “election” in the first
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

             Replace the words “party or candidate concerned” in
             the first paragraph by the words “national committee
             concerned”.

             Replace the words “party, candidate” in the second
             paragraph by the words “national committee”.

259.9        Replace the words “The party, candidate” by the
             words “The national committee”.

260          Replace the section by the following section:

             “260.  Upon receipt of a copy of the writ, the
             returning officer shall publish a notice of poll.

             The notice of poll shall set forth

             (1) the text of the question put to the electors;

             (2) the days and hours of polling at advance polling
             stations;

             (3) the day and hours of polling at polling stations;

             (4) the name of every national committee and, for
             each of them, the name of the chairman and of 
             the official agent, and, for the
             division, the given name and surname of the official
             delegate and of the local agent.”

261          Replace the words “candidate or his mandatary”
             by the words “official delegate”.

262          Replace the words “candidate and each authorized
             party authority at the level of the electoral
             division” in the first paragraph by the words
             “official delegate”.

262.1

263          Replace the figure “317” by the figures
             “310, 312 to 317”.

264

265

268

269

270          Replace the words “the candidates” by the
             words “each official delegate”.

272

273          Replace the words “general election” in the first
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

             Replace the words “of his domicile” in the third
             paragraph by the words “where the house of detention
             is situated”.

274          Replace the words “chief electoral officer” in the
             third paragraph by the words “returning officer of
             the electoral division concerned”.

             Add, after the third paragraph, the following paragraph:

             “The returning officer shall ensure that the list
             remains confidential.”

275

276          Replace the words “authorized party” by the words
             “official delegate of a national committee”.

278          Replace the section by the following section:

             “278.  The returning officer referred to in section
             275 shall give the deputy returning officer a sealed
             ballot box containing the ballot papers, the list of
             electors of the house of detention, the poll book and
             the materials required for the poll.  He shall also
             give him directives on the work of the polling
             officers.”

279

280          Strike out the second paragraph.

282          Replace the section by the following section:

             “282.  The counting of the votes shall be effected
             in accordance with section 272.”

286
 to
289

290          Replace the word “candidates” by the words 
             “official delegates”.

291
 to
293.4

293.5        Strike out the words “and a list of the places where
             the elector may consult the list of candidates” in
             the first paragraph.

             Strike out the words “be in the form prescribed by
             Schedule IV and shall” in the second paragraph.

296
 to
299

300          Replace the section by the following section:

             “300.  The counting of the votes of electors outside
             Québec shall be proceeded with in accordance with
             section 272, adapted as required.

             However, the counting shall be proceeded with at the
             place and time fixed by the chief electoral officer.

             The deputy returning officer shall, for each
             electoral division, draw up a statement of votes and
             an abstract from such statement that he shall deliver
             to the chief electoral officer or the person
             designated by him, together with the ballot box.

             The chief electoral officer shall forthwith
             communicate the results to each returning officer
             concerned and transmit to him the abstract from the
             statement of votes which concerns him.”

302          Replace the word “candidate” in the fifth
             paragraph by the words “official delegate”.

303
 to
305

306          Replace the words “an election” in the first
             paragraph by the words “a referendum”.

307
 to
309

310          Replace the section by the following section:

             “310.  In every polling station, the returning
             officer shall appoint, as deputy returning officer,
             the person recommended by the official delegate of
             the national committee which has the greatest number
             of Members in the National Assembly.

             He shall appoint, as poll clerk, the person
             recommended by the official delegate of the national
             committee which has the second greatest number of
             Members in the National Assembly.

             Where the two national committees have an equal
             number of Members in the National Assembly, the
             chief electoral officer shall determine, by a drawing
             of lots, which committee is deemed to have the
             greatest number of Members or, as the case may be,
             the second greatest number of Members in the National
             Assembly.”

310.1        Replace the section by the following section:

             “310.1.  For every polling station, the returning
             officer shall appoint two persons to act as officers
             assigned to the list of electors, respectively recommended
             by the official delegate of a national committee.”

312

312.1

313          Replace the word “candidate” in the first
             paragraph by the words “official delegate”.

             Replace the word “candidates” in the second
             paragraph by the words “official delegates”.

314

315

315.1

316          Replace the section by the following section:

             “316.  The official delegate of each national
             committee may designate a person and give him a power
             of attorney to represent the national committee
             before the deputy returning officer or the officer in
             charge of information and order, or before each of
             them.”

317          Replace the words “candidate or his mandatary” by
             the words “official delegate”.

318          Replace the words “A candidate” by the
             words “The official delegate of each national
             committee”.

319          Replace the words “candidate or his mandatary”
             by the words “official delegate”.

320          Strike out the words “in accordance with the model
             provided in Schedule III and” in the first paragraph.

321
 to
323

324          Replace the section by the following section:

             “324.  The ballot paper must contain on the obverse
             a space specially reserved for the wording of the
             question.”

325
 to
327

328          Replace the word “candidates” in the second
             paragraph by the words “national committees”.

329
 to
333

334          Replace the words “candidates and their mandataries”
             by the words “chairmen of national committees and
             their official delegates”.

335
 to
341

342          Replace the word “candidate” by the words
             “national committee”.

343
 to
347

348          Replace the words “then indicate to him the order in
             which the candidates appear on the ballot paper and
             the indications entered under their names, where such
             is the case” by the words “read the question and
             indicate to him the order in which the options appear
             on the ballot paper”.

349

350          Replace the word “candidate” in the first paragraph
             by the words “national committee”.

             Replace the word “election” in subparagraph 8 of the
             first paragraph by the word “referendum”, the words
             “a candidate” in subparagraph 4 of the first
             paragraph by the words “an option” and the word
             “election” in subparagraph 5 of the first paragraph
             by the word “referendum”.

351

352          Strike out the word “political” in the first
             paragraph and replace the words “a party or
             candidate” in the first paragraph by the
             words “an option submitted to a referendum”.

             Replace the words “party or candidate promoted by
             the publicity” in the second paragraph by the words
             “national committee concerned”.

353
 to
355

356          Replace the section by the following section:

             “356.  No elector may, on the premises of a polling
             station, indicate, in any manner, the option in
             favour of which he intends to vote or has voted.”

357          Replace the section by the following section:

             “357.  No official delegate, representative or
             election officer may, on the premises of a polling
             station, attempt to learn the option in favour of
             which an elector intends to vote or has voted.”

358          Replace the section by the following section:

             “358.  No official delegate, election
             officer or elector who has given assistance to
             another elector may disclose the option for which
             the elector has voted.”

359          Replace the word “whom” by the words
             “which option”.

360          Replace the word “candidate” by the words
             “official delegate”.

361
 to
363

364          Replace the word “candidate” in subparagraph 4
             of the second paragraph by the word “option”
             and the words “a person who is not a candidate”
             in subparagraph 5 of the second paragraph by the words
             “an option which is not one of the options
             submitted to the referendum”.

365

366          Replace the words “a candidate or the representative
             of a candidate” by the words “an official
             delegate or his representative”.

366.1

367          Replace the word “candidate” in the first
             paragraph by the word “option”.

368          Replace the word “candidate” by the words
             “official delegate”.

369

370

371          Replace the words “candidate or his mandatary”
             in the first paragraph by the words “official
             delegate”.

             Replace the words “candidate, mandatary” in the
             second paragraph by the words “official delegate”.

372          Replace the word “candidate” in the first
             paragraph by the word “option”.

             Replace the figure “285” in the second
             paragraph by the figure “300”.

373

374

375          Replace the words “declare elected the candidate
             who” in the first paragraph by the words
             “announce the option which”.

377          Replace the words “declare elected the candidate
             who” and the word “candidate” in the
             first paragraph by the words “issue a declaration
             indicating the option which” and the words
             “official delegate”, respectively.

378          Replace the word “election” in the first
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

379          Replace the word “election”
             by the word “referendum”.

380          Replace the section by the following section:

             “380.  The chief electoral officer shall, as soon
             as possible, publish a notice in the Gazette officielle
             du Québec indicating, for each electoral division,
             the number of votes for each of the options
             appearing on the ballot paper.”

381          Replace the word “election” which appears twice
             in the first paragraph by the word “referendum”.

401          Replace the section by the following section:

             “401.  For the purposes of sections 403, 415, 416,
             417 and 421, the expression “regulated expenses”
             includes expenses referred to in paragraph 10 of
             section 404 and the expression “official agent”
             includes a private intervenor within the meaning of
             Division V if the private intervenor is an elector,
             and a representative of a private intervenor if the
             private intervenor is a group of electors.”

402          Replace the section by the following section:

             “402.  The cost of any goods or services used during
             the referendum period to promote or oppose, directly
             or indirectly, an option submitted to a referendum is
             a regulated expense.”

403          Replace the words “an election period” by
             the words “a referendum period”, the words
             “an election expense” by the words “a
             regulated expense” and the words “election
             period” by the words “referendum period”.

404          Replace the section by the following section:

             “404.  The following are not regulated expenses:

             (1) the cost of publishing articles, editorials,
             news, interviews, columns or letters to the editor in
             a newspaper, periodical or other publication,
             provided that they are published without payment,
             reward or promise of payment or reward, that the
             newspaper, periodical or other publication is not
             established for the purposes or in view of the
             referendum and that the circulation and frequency of
             publication are as what obtains outside the
             referendum period;

             (2) the cost at fair market value of producing,
             promoting and distributing a book that was planned to
             be put on sale at the prevailing market price
             regardless of the issue of the writ;

             (3) the cost of broadcasting by a radio or television
             station of a program of public affairs, news or
             commentary, provided that the program is broadcast
             without payment, reward or promise of payment or
             reward;

             (4) the reasonable expenses incurred by a person, out
             of his own money, for meals and lodging while
             travelling for referendum purposes, if the expenses
             are not reimbursed to him;

             (5) the transportation costs of a person, paid out of
             his own money, if the costs are not reimbursed to
             him;

             (5.1) the cost of the food and beverages served at a
             political activity where the cost is included in the
             entrance fee paid by participants;

             (6) the reasonable expenses incurred for the
             publication of explanatory commentaries on this Act
             and the regulations thereunder, provided the
             commentaries are strictly objective and contain no
             publicity of such a nature as to favour or oppose an
             option submitted to a referendum;

             (7) the reasonable ordinary expenses incurred for the
             day-to-day operations of not more than two permanent
             offices of an authorized party the addresses of which
             are entered in the registers of the chief electoral
             officer;

             (8) interest accrued from the beginning of the
             referendum period to the day occurring 90 days after
             polling day, on any loan lawfully granted to an
             official agent for regulated expenses, unless the
             official agent has paid them and declared them as
             regulated expenses in his return of regulated expenses;

             (9) the expenses incurred for the holding of
             meetings, the total of which does not exceed $600
             for the entire referendum period, including the
             renting of halls and the convening of participants,
             provided the meetings are not directly or
             indirectly organized on behalf of a national
             committee;

             (10) the publicity expenses, the total of which
             does not exceed $1,000 for the entire referendum
             period, incurred by a neutral intervenor authorized
             under Division V, without directly promoting or
             opposing an option, to advocate abstention or the
             spoiling of ballots;

             (11) the remuneration paid to a representative referred
             to in section 316.

             For the purposes of subparagraph 7 of the first
             paragraph, the permanent office of an authorized
             party is the office where the employees of the party
             or of a body associated with it for the purpose of
             attaining its objects and recognized by the leader of
             the party for such a purpose by a letter addressed to
             the chief electoral officer before the seventh day
             following the issue of the writ, work on a permanent
             basis, outside the referendum period, at ensuring the
             dissemination of the party’s political program and
             coordinating the political action of the party
             members.”

405          Replace the words “election expenses, an authorized
             party” in the first paragraph by the words
             “regulated expenses, a national committee”.

             Replace the second paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “The official agent shall be appointed by the
             chairman of the national committee who shall notify
             it to the chief electoral officer.”

             Replace the words “leader of a party” in the
             third paragraph by the words “chairman of the
             national committee”.

             Replace the words “a party” in the fourth
             paragraph by the words “a national committee”.

406          Replace the section by the following section:

             “406.  Only one official agent is appointed for
             each national committee.

             However, the official agent may, with the approval of
             the chairman of the national committee, appoint the
             required number of deputies and, for each electoral
             division, a local agent.  He shall notify the chief
             electoral officer and the returning officer thereof
             in writing.

             The official agent may authorize them to incur or
             authorize regulated expenses up to the amount he
             fixes in their deeds of appointment.  The amount may
             be changed at any time, in writing, by the official
             agent before he files his return of regulated
             expenses.

             Any regulated expense incurred by the deputy of the
             official agent or by a local agent is deemed to be
             incurred by the official agent up to the amount fixed
             in the deed of appointment.

             The deputy and the local agent shall provide the
             official agent of the national committee with a
             detailed statement of expenses incurred or authorized
             by them.”

407          Replace the first paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “407.  An official agent or local agent may, in
             writing, authorize an advertising agency to incur or
             order regulated expenses up to the amount he fixes
             in the authorization.  That amount may be changed, by
             the official agent or the local agent, as the case
             may be, in writing, at any time before he files his
             return of regulated expenses.”

             Insert the words “or the local agent, as the case
             may be” after the word “agent” in the
             second paragraph.

410          Replace the section by the following section:

             “410.  If the official agent dismisses a local agent,
             he shall notify it in writing to the returning
             officer.  He may appoint another local agent.”

411          Replace the words “an official agent” in the
             first paragraph by the words “a local agent”.

             Replace the words “an official agent” and the
             words “candidate or his mandatary” in the
             second paragraph by the words “a local agent”
             and the words “official delegate”, respectively.

412          Replace the section by the following section:

             “412.  No person may act as the official agent of a
             national committee, his deputy or a local agent
             unless he is qualified to vote.”

413          Replace the section by the following section:

             “413.  During a referendum period, only the official
             agent of a national committee, his deputy or a local
             agent may incur or authorize regulated expenses.

             However, a non-affiliated elector authorized under
             Division V may incur regulated publicity expenses
             provided that the total of the expenses for the
             entire referendum period does not exceed $1,000.”

414          Replace the section by the following section:

             “414.  An official agent, his deputy or a local
             agent shall pay the cost of regulated expenses only
             out of a referendum fund.”

415          Replace the section by the following section:

             “415.  No goods or services whose cost is wholly or
             partly a regulated expense contemplated in section
             403 may be used during a referendum period except by
             the official agent of a national committee, his
             deputy or a local agent, or with his authorization.”

416          Replace the section by the following section:

             “416.  No person may accept or execute an order for
             regulated expenses not given or authorized by the
             official agent of a national committee, his deputy,
             a local agent or authorized advertising agency.”

417          Replace the words “an election expense”
             and “election period” in the first paragraph
             by the words “a regulated expense” and
             “referendum period”, respectively.

421          Replace the words “an election” in the first
             paragraph by the words “a referendum”.

             Replace the words “or deputy” in the first,
             second and third paragraphs by the words “, deputy
             or local agent”.

421.1        Replace the second paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “Where the cost of the writing, object, material,
             advertisement or publicity referred to in section
             421 exceeds $1,000, the printer, manufacturer,
             owner or radio or television broadcaster may only
             mention or, as the case may be, indicate as the
             person having caused the writing, object, material,
             advertisement or publicity to be produced, published
             or broadcast the name and title of the official agent
             or deputy official agent of a national committee or
             of the local agent of the official agent.”

422          Replace the words “the official agents of several
             candidates”, the word “official”, and the
             word “party” by the words “several local
             agents”, the word “local” and the words
             “national committee”, respectively.

424          Replace the words “an election expense” in the
             first paragraph by the words “a regulated expense”.

425          Replace the first and second paragraphs by the
             following paragraphs:

             “425.  Every person to whom an amount is due for
             regulated expenses, other than expenses incurred by
             a non-affiliated elector, shall present his claim to
             the official agent or the local agent not later than
             60 days after polling day.  In no case may the
             regulated expenses be paid by the official agent or
             the local agent if the claim is presented to him
             after that period has expired.

             Where the official agent or local agent has died or
             resigned and has not been replaced, the claim shall
             be presented within the same time to the chairman of
             the national committee or to the official agent, as
             the case may be.”

426          Replace the section by the following section:

             “426.  Regulated expenses shall be limited so as
             never to exceed for a national committee, during one
             referendum, $1 per elector for all the electoral
             divisions.

             However, the national committee that represents the
             option for which the fewest non-affiliated electors
             have been authorized under section 457.6 to incur
             regulated expenses may spend an additional amount to
             50% of the difference between the expenses that
             authorized non-affiliated electors favourable to one
             option may incur and the expenses that may be
             incurred by those favourable to the other option.

             The amount is established by the chief electoral
             officer who shall draw up a certificate and transmit
             a copy to the chairman and the official agent of
             each national committee not later than the tenth day
             preceding polling day.”

427          Replace the section by the following section:

             “427.  For the purposes of section 426, the number
             of electors is the greater of the number of electors
             whose names are entered on the list of electors
             produced upon the issue of a writ instituting a
             referendum and the number of electors whose names
             are entered on the list following revision.

             The number is established by the chief electoral
             officer who shall draw up a certificate thereof and
             send a copy of the certificate to the chairman and
             the official agent of each national committee.”

429          Replace the word “election” in the first
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

             Strike out the second paragraph.

429.1        Replace the word “election” by the word
             “referendum”.

430

431

434          Replace the first paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “434.  The official agent of each national committee
             and, through him, each local agent he has appointed
             shall, within 90 days after polling day, deliver to
             the chief electoral officer a return of the regulated
             expenses incurred or authorized by them.”

             Insert, after the second paragraph, the following
             paragraph:

             “The return must, in addition, indicate the name,
             the complete address of the domicile of, and the amount
             paid by, each elector whose total contribution to a
             national committee exceeds $200.”

435          Replace the word “election” and the words
             and figure “sections 432 and” by the word
             “regulated” and the word “section”,
             respectively.

436          Replace the words “sections 432 and” in the
             first paragraph by the word “section”.

             Replace the words “leader of the party or to the
             candidates if they so request” in the second
             paragraph by the words “chairman of the national
             committee if he so requests”.

437          Replace the section by the following section:

             “437.  In addition to regulated expenses, the
             official agent and the local agent must indicate in
             the returns prescribed in section 434 the source of
             the sums paid into the referendum fund put at their
             disposal.

             They must also indicate

             (1) the financial institutions with which the sums
             collected by the national committee have been
             deposited and the account numbers used;

             (2) the total amount of contributions of $200 or
             less;

             (3) the total amount of contributions of over $200;

             (4) the total of the amounts transferred or loaned by
             the official representative of an authorized party.”

438          Replace the words and figure “sections 432 and”
             in the first paragraph by the word “section”.

             Replace the word “election” in the second
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

439

440          Replace the second paragraph by the following
             paragraph:

             “If the claim is not contested by the official agent,
             he shall forward to the chief electoral officer the
             necessary additional sum, out of his referendum fund,
             to enable him to discharge the claim.”

441          Replace the section by the following section:

             “441.  On filing the return prescribed by section
             434, the official agent of a national committee shall
             keep the remaining sums or goods in his referendum
             fund.

             The sums and goods may be used only for political,
             religious, scientific or charitable purposes.”

443          Replace the words “the candidate or party leader”
             in the second paragraph by the words “the chairman or
             official agent of the national committee”.

444          Replace the words “a candidate or party leader”
             by the words “the chairman or official agent of a
             national committee”.

             Strike out the figure and word “432 or”.

445          Replace the section by the following section:

             “445.  Before filing the return and declaration
             prescribed in section 434, an official agent and a
             local agent must have discharged all the claims
             received within the period prescribed in section 425
             unless they contest them and indicate them as
             contested.

             In no case may the official agent, the local agent or
             the national committee pay a claim so contested.
             Only the official agent may pay the claim in
             execution of a judgment of a competent tribunal in
             favour of the creditor after the hearing of the case
             and not upon an acquiescence in the demand or an
             agreement of settlement.

             The chief electoral officer may, if no national
             committee objects, authorize the official agent of a
             national committee to pay a contested claim if the
             refusal or failure to pay results from bona fide
             error.”

446          Insert the words “or local agent” after
             the word “agent”.

447          Replace the word “representative” and the
             words “return of election expenses” by the
             word “agent” and the words “returns of
             regulated expenses”, respectively.

448          Replace the section by the following section:

             “448.  The judge having jurisdiction to decide an
             application under sections 443 to 446 is the chief
             judge of the Court of Québec.

             No application under the first paragraph may be
             heard without a notice of at least three clear days
             to the chief electoral officer and to the chairman
             of each national committee.”

457.2        Replace the section by the following section:

             “457.2.  Only an elector or a group not endowed
             with legal personality and composed in the majority of
             natural persons who are qualified electors may apply
             for authorization as a neutral intervenor.

             Only an elector who cannot join a national committee
             may apply for authorization as a non-affiliated
             elector.

             Neutral intervenors and non-affiliated electors are
             private intervenors.”

457.3        Replace subparagraphs 3 to 6 of the first paragraph
             by the following subparagraphs:

             (3) in the case of a neutral intervenor, state
             briefly the purpose of the application and declare
             that he does not intend to directly promote or
             oppose either option;

             (4) in the case of a non-affiliated elector,
             indicate which option he intends to promote and
             state briefly why he cannot join a national
             committee;

             (5) declare that he is not associated with and has
             not contributed to either national committee;

             (6) declare that he is not acting directly or
             indirectly on behalf of either national committee;”.

             Insert, at the beginning of subparagraph 7 of the
             first paragraph, the following: “in the case of a
             neutral intervenor,”.

457.4        Replace the words “any candidate or party” at
             the end of subparagraph 5 of the first paragraph by the
             words “either option”.

             Replace subparagraph 6 of the first paragraph by the
             following subparagraph:

             “(6) state briefly the purpose of the application,”.

             Replace the words “any candidate or party” at
             the end of subparagraph 7 of the first paragraph by the
             words “either national committee”.

             Replace the words “a member of any party” at
             the end of subparagraph 8 of the first paragraph by the
             words “associated with and has not contributed to
             either national committee”.

457.5

457.6

457.7        Replace the word “election” in the first
             paragraph by the word “referendum”.

             Replace the words “a candidate” in the second
             paragraph by the words “an official delegate”.

457.8        Replace the section by the following section:

             “457.8.  Not later than the tenth day preceding
             polling day, the returning officer shall transmit
             to the national committees and to each official
             delegate a list of the authorizations which have
             been granted.

             The list shall indicate the name of each private
             intervenor, the name of the private intervenor’s
             representative, if any, and the number and date of
             the authorization.  The list shall also indicate
             whether the private intervenor is a neutral
             intervenor or a non-affiliated elector and, in
             the latter case, the option that the non-affiliated
             elector intends to promote.”

457.9        Replace the words “an election” in the first
             paragraph by the words “a referendum”.

457.10

457.11

457.12       Replace the section by the following section:

             “457.12.  A private intervenor who is an elector or
             the representative of a private intervenor may not
             join or contribute to a national committee during the
             referendum period.”

457.13       Replace the section by the following section:

             “457.13.  A neutral intervenor may not incur
             expenses that are not related to the purpose stated
             in the application for authorization or that
             directly promote or oppose either option.

             A non-affiliated elector may not incur expenses that
             do not promote the option indicated in the
             application for authorization.”

457.14
 to
457.16

457.17       Replace the figure “$25” in the
             first paragraph by the figure “$60”.

457.18
 to
457.20

457.21       Replace the words “a judge of the Court of
             Québec” in the first paragraph by the words
             “the Conseil du référendum”.

             Replace the word “court” in the third
             paragraph and the word “judge” in the
             last paragraph by the word “council”.

485          Strike out the second, third and fourth paragraphs.

486

487          Replace the section by the following section:

             “487.  In respect of the financing of national
             committees and the control of regulated expenses, he
             shall, in particular,

             (1) verify that the national committees, official
             agents and their deputies and local agents are
             complying with the provisions of the Act;

             (2) receive and examine the return of regulated
             expenses;

             (3) inquire into the legality of contributions and
             regulated expenses.”

488          Replace the words “political parties” in
             paragraph 4 by the words “national committees”.

             Replace, in paragraph 5, the words “political party”
             by the words “national committee”, the word
             “candidates” by the word “committees”
             and the word “parties” by the words “national
             committees”.

488.1        Replace the words “an election” in the first line
             of the third paragraph by the words “a referendum”.
 
             Replace the words “this Act” in the first
             line of the third paragraph by the words “the
             Referendum Act (chapter C-64.1)”.
   
             Replace the word “election” in the last line
             of the third paragraph by the word “referendum”.		   

489.1        Replace the words “authorized parties represented in
             the National Assembly” by the words “national
             committees” and strike out the words “, the
             filing of nomination papers”.

490          Replace the words “election period or during an
             enumeration or revision period” in the first
             paragraph by the words “referendum period”.

             Replace “authorized parties represented in the National
             Assembly” by “national committees” and
             “other authorized parties, the candidates” by
             “official delegates”;

             Strike out the words “or the end of the enumeration
             or revision” in the third paragraph.

491
 to
494

496          Strike out the first paragraph.

             In the second paragraph, change in French; no change
             necessary in English.

497

498

512

551
 to
551.4

553          Replace the word “candidate” in paragraph 3
             by the words “national committee”.

553.1        Replace the word “election” in paragraph 1
             by the word “referendum”.

554          Replace the word “election” in paragraph 2
             by the word “referendum”.

             Strike out the words “of election”
             in paragraph 3.

555

556          Strike out paragraph 4.

556.1        Replace the words “an election” in paragraphs
             1 and 2 by the words “a referendum”.

557          Replace the word “election” by
             the word “referendum”.

558          Replace the words “every candidate or every person
             who later becomes a candidate” in subparagraph 1 of
             the first paragraph by the words “every official
             delegate”.

             Replace the words “a candidate” in subparagraph
             2 of the first paragraph by the words “an option”.

             Replace the word “election” in subparagraph 1 of
             the second paragraph by the word “regulated”.

             Replace the words “the election of a candidate at
             an election” in subparagraphs 1 and 2 of the second
             paragraph by the words “an option submitted at a
             referendum”.

559          Insert, after the word “agent”, the words
             “or any local agent”.

             Replace the word “election” in paragraph 1
             by the word “regulated”.

559.1        Replace the words “an election” in paragraph
             1 by the words “a regulated”.

560          Replace the words “candidate or party leader” by
             the words “chairman or official delegate of a national
             committee” and the word “election” by
             the word “regulated”.

563          Replace the section by the following section:

             “563.  Every person who fails to file a report or
             return of regulated expenses or the report referred
             to in section 457.18 is liable to a fine of $50 for
             each day of delay.”

564          Replace the first paragraph by the following paragraph :

             “564.  Every person who contravenes any of sections 66,
             87, 90 to 93, 95 to 97, 99, 100, 104, 105, 410, 413 to 417,
             421, 421.1, 422, 424, 429, 429.1, 457.9 and 457.11 to 
             457.17 is liable to a fine of $500 to $10,000.”

565

566

567          Strike out the following in the first paragraph: “,
             in paragraph 4 of section 556”.

             Replace the word “election” in the second paragraph
             by the word “regulated” and insert after the word
             “agent” the words “or the local agent”.

568          Strike out the second paragraph.

568.1

569          Replace the words “Such proceedings” in the second
             paragraph by the words “Proceedings are instituted
             before the Court of Québec.  They”.

570          Replace the words “an election” in the first
             paragraph by the words “a referendum”.

571
 to
573

SCHEDULE II 

             Strike out “, 481, 499, 509, 529, 534”.

             Replace “Election Act (chapter E-3.3)”
             by “Referendum Act (chapter C-64.1)”.
                         

1978, c. 6, Appendix 2; 1980, c. 6, ss. 1-19; 1979, c. 71, s. 170; 1981, c. 4, ss. 18-23; 1982, c. 31, ss. 108-117; 1982, c. 58, s. 24; 1982, c. 54, ss. 50-51; 1982, c. 62, s. 143; 1983, c. 54, ss. 32-33; 1984, c. 51, s. 547, s. 561; 1985, c. 30, s. 33, s. 34, s. 145; 1987, c. 68, s. 69; 1988, c. 21, s. 66; 1989, c. 1, s. 595; 1990, c. 4, s. 967; 1992, c. 38, s. 93; 1995, c. 23, s. 56; 1997, c. 8, s. 22; 1998, c. 52, s. 94; 1999, c. 15, s. 30; 1998, c. 52, s. 94; 1999, c. 40, s. 87; 2001, c. 2, s. 56; 2001, c. 72, s. 33.

REPEAL SCHEDULE

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), chapter 6 of the statutes of 1978, in force on 1 June 1979, is repealed effective from the coming into force of chapter C-64.1 of the Revised Statutes.