Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9)

Marginal note:Impersonation

• 480.1 (1) Every person is guilty of an offence who, with intent to mislead,

  • (a) falsely represents themselves to be any of the persons referred to in paragraph (2);

  • (b) causes anyone to falsely represent themselves to be any of those persons;

  • (c) creates or causes to be created an image that is likely to be mistaken for an image of any of those persons;

  • (d) creates or causes to be created an imitation of the voice of any of those persons that is likely to be mistaken for the voice of the persons or an audio recording that falsely represents anything said by any of those persons;

  • (e) distributes, transmits or publishes an image referred to in paragraph (c) or imitation or audio recording referred to in paragraph (d).

• Marginal note:Persons

  (2) For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(a) to (e), the persons are the following:

  • (a) the Chief Electoral Officer, a member of the Chief Electoral Officer’s staff or a person who is authorized to act on the Chief Electoral Officer’s behalf;

  • (b) an election officer or a person who is authorized to act on an election officer’s behalf;

  • (c) a person who is authorized to act on behalf of the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, including the Commissioner;

  • (d) a leader of a registered party or eligible party;

  • (e) a person who is authorized to act on behalf of a registered party or registered association;

  • (f) a candidate or a person who is authorized to act on a candidate’s behalf;

  • (g) a potential candidate;

  • (h) a prospective candidate;

  • (i) a nomination contestant; and

  • (j) a leadership contestant.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (3) A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) if they establish that the image, imitation, audio recording or representation was manifestly for the purpose of parody or satire.