The Commissioner of Canada Elections is a central figure in ensuring that Canada’s federal elections remain free, fair, and transparent. As an independent officer responsible for enforcing the Canada Elections Act, the Commissioner plays a vital role in upholding democratic integrity and public trust in the electoral process.
The current Commissioner, Caroline J. Simard, was appointed on August 15, 2022, for a non-renewable 10-year term. Simard previously served as Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), bringing a strong background in communications and public regulation to her current position. As Commissioner, she operates independently from political influence, while maintaining a close working relationship with Elections Canada, the agency responsible for administering elections.
The Commissioner’s primary mandate is to ensure compliance with the Canada Elections Act. This includes investigating complaints and suspected violations, ranging from false or misleading election advertising to voter suppression tactics and breaches of campaign financing laws. The Commissioner has the authority to use a variety of enforcement tools to address these issues. These include caution letters for minor infractions, compliance agreements with individuals or political entities to voluntarily resolve matters, notices of violation that come with monetary penalties, and, in more serious cases, referrals for prosecution through the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
One of the key principles guiding the Commissioner’s work is confidentiality. Investigations are not made public unless they result in formal legal actions, such as a compliance agreement or a court case. This approach is intended to protect both the integrity of investigations and the rights of individuals involved. However, the Commissioner does report annually to the Chief Electoral Officer, and public summaries of compliance agreements and enforcement outcomes are published online to maintain transparency and accountability.
In recent years, the Commissioner of Canada Elections has faced an increasing workload due to rising public awareness and evolving threats to the electoral system. During the 2025 spring election, the Commissioner’s office received more than 16,000 public complaints—more than seven times higher than the 2021 election and a significant leap from the 1,800 complaints in 2021 and 2,600 in 2019. This unprecedented volume of reports reflects heightened public concern about election fairness, as well as growing awareness of how to report irregularities.
Many of the complaints centered on issues related to election advertising, including misleading content, improper disclosures, and violations of spending rules. While a portion of these reports were outside the Commissioner’s jurisdiction, over 2,000 cases have already been closed, with many others still under review.
Artificial intelligence and foreign interference were also flagged as emerging threats during this year’s campaign. An internal briefing prepared for Commissioner Simard classified AI as a “high” risk factor for spreading disinformation. Despite these warnings, the Commissioner reported that the number of complaints related to AI and foreign interference was lower than anticipated. Simard noted that while these concerns were present, they did not appear to affect the outcome of the election based on current information.
The Commissioner’s role is becoming increasingly complex as the digital environment evolves. New technologies like deepfakes, bot-generated content, and covert foreign influence campaigns pose fresh challenges for monitoring and enforcement. As a result, the Commissioner of Canada Elections is expected to adapt tools and investigative techniques to stay ahead of these threats.
The office’s work is not only legal but also civic in nature. It encourages citizens to report concerns and stay informed, reinforcing the idea that protecting democracy is a shared responsibility. The sharp rise in public complaints during the 2025 election suggests that more Canadians are taking that responsibility seriously.
The Commissioner of Canada Elections remains a cornerstone of Canada’s electoral system. Through rigorous enforcement, independent oversight, and public engagement, the office continues to play a crucial role in maintaining the health and legitimacy of the country’s democratic process.
