Bill 205: Elections Act (amended) and House of Assembly Act (amended)

The primary impact falls on political candidates, registered parties, electoral district associations, and their official agents operating in Nova Scotia elections — not on typical commercial businesses. Campaign finance professionals and official agents will need to note that one person can no longer serve as official agent for more than one candidate in the same electoral district, and that candidates can now personally pay up to $5,000 in election advertising expenses by credit card with prior agent approval. Auditors who prepare election expense reports will face a revised threshold triggering the requirement for an accompanying auditor's report (when expenses, contributions, or fundraising net proceeds reach $1,000). Businesses that use voter lists for outreach — such as political consulting or direct-mail firms — will need to comply with the clarified rules on permissible electoral uses of elector information.