Press Releases and Media Advisories

POLITICAL PARTIES'
2003 FISCAL RETURNS NOW AVAILABLE ON WEB

OTTAWA, Thursday, August 5, 2004 — The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, announced today that the political party financial transactions returns received for the 2003 fiscal period are now available on the Elections Canada Web site. Under subsection 424(4) of the Canada Elections Act, parties must submit these returns within six months after the end of each fiscal period.

The Marijuana Party has applied for and has been granted an extension to the filing deadline. The party's report will be published as soon as it is received.

On December 7, 2003, the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada merged to form the Conservative Party of Canada. When two registered parties merge, the Act requires each party to file a final return with Elections Canada for the fiscal period up to the date of the merger. On June 7, 2004, the two merging parties filed final fiscal returns covering the period from January 1, 2003, to December 6, 2003.

The Natural Law Party of Canada was deregistered on January 23, 2004, following the party's request to deregister voluntarily. On July 23, 2004, the party filed its final fiscal returns for the period up to January 23, 2004.

The fiscal returns are available at www.elections.ca > Election Financing > Political Parties' Financial Reports.

Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.

Information:
Elections Canada Media Relations
1 877 877-9515
or at www.elections.ca