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OntarioDid Not Pass44th Parliament, 1st Session

Bill 99 explained in plain English

Fair and Free Elections Act, 2026

Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature
Legislature / Parliament
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Session
44th Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill 99
Full title
Fair and Free Elections Act, 2026
Current status
Did Not Pass
Latest event
Lost on division
Last updated
May 4, 2026

Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 44th Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.

Chamber
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Current Stage
Lost on division
Latest Activity
May 4, 2026
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

Bill 99, the Fair and Free Elections Act, 2026, amends Ontario's election laws to change how returning officers are appointed, adjust polling day timelines, mandate AI disclosure in political ads, and prohibit false election information, giving the Chief Electoral Officer power to order removal of non-compliant content.

What It Means

Bill 99, the Fair and Free Elections Act, 2026, proposes changes to Ontario's election laws. It shifts the responsibility for appointing returning officers from the Lieutenant Governor in Council to the Chief Electoral Officer. The bill also modifies the timeline for polling day, allowing it to fall between the 36th and 42nd day after the writ is issued, and repeals previous provisions for selecting alternate polling days. Additionally, it requires any political advertisements created using artificial intelligence to state that AI was used. The bill also introduces a new prohibition against knowingly spreading false or misleading information about an election's eligibility, dates, polling locations, or results. The Chief Electoral Officer would be empowered to order the removal of such content, with non-compliance potentially leading to an administrative penalty.

What This Bill Does
  • Changes the process for appointing returning officers.
  • Alters the timeframe for when polling day can occur.
  • Requires political advertisements created using artificial intelligence to include a disclosure statement.
  • Prohibits the knowing transmission or publication of false or misleading information about an election.
  • Empowers the Chief Electoral Officer to issue directions to stop or remove transmissions or publications that violate the Act.
  • Introduces penalties for failing to comply with a direction from the Chief Electoral Officer.
Who Is Affected
  • The Chief Electoral Officer
  • Returning officers
  • Candidates and political organizations
  • Individuals and organizations involved in creating or publishing political advertisements
  • The public (as recipients of election information)
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • The Chief Electoral Officer has the duty to appoint returning officers.
  • Individuals and organizations must ensure political advertisements generated by AI include a disclosure statement.
  • No person or organization shall knowingly transmit or publish false or misleading content about an election.
  • Individuals and organizations must comply with a direction from the Chief Electoral Officer to stop or remove non-compliant transmissions or publications within 12 hours.
Important Dates
  • The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • Failure to comply with a direction from the Chief Electoral Officer may result in an administrative penalty.
Enforcement Or Penalties
  • The Chief Electoral Officer can issue a direction to stop, discontinue, remove, or destroy transmissions or publications that contravene the Act.
  • Failure to comply with such a direction within 12 hours may be subject to an administrative penalty.
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The specific content of the required AI disclosure statement for political advertisements is not detailed in the bill.
  • The bill does not specify the amount of the administrative penalty for non-compliance with a direction from the Chief Electoral Officer.
  • The definition of 'transitional period' is not provided within the text of the bill.
  • The bill does not specify who has the authority to impose the administrative penalty.
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Election Act
amends

Changes who appoints returning officers and modifies the timing of polling day. It repeals provisions related to choosing alternate polling days.

Source: Section 1

Election Finances Act
amends

Requires political advertisements generated using artificial intelligence to include a statement identifying AI use. It also prohibits false or misleading content about elections and grants the Chief Electoral Officer power to order removal of non-compliant material, with potential administrative penalties for non-compliance.

Source: Section 2

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.

Official text

Process Snapshot

Step 1
First reading
Mar 30, 2026
Step 2
Second reading
May 4, 2026
Step 3
Committee review
Not reached yet
Step 4
Third reading
Not reached yet
Step 5
Royal assent
Not reached yet

Vote Summary

Yes
41
No
64
Abstain
0
Absent / Other
0
Final recorded vote
May 4, 2026
105 representative positions are recorded in this official snapshot for this vote.
Sponsor
John Fraser
Ontario Liberal Party | Ottawa South
Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature

Representative Voting Breakdown

Vote badges include text labels so the table stays readable for everyone, even without color cues alone.

RepresentativeRoleRidingPartyVoteNotes
MPP
MPPOttawa SouthOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDon Valley EastOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKitchener CentreGreen Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPParkdale—High ParkNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough—GuildwoodOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHaldimand—NorfolkIndependentYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWaterlooNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa West—NepeanNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSpadina—Fort YorkNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNickel BeltNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMushkegowuk—James BayNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSudburyNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSt. CatharinesNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOshawaNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPUniversity—RosedaleNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPTimiskaming—CochraneNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDon Valley NorthOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKanata—CarletonOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEtobicoke—LakeshoreOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWindsor WestNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThunder Bay—Superior NorthNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa—VanierOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDavenportNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBeaches—East YorkOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPGuelphGreen Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon WestNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto—DanforthNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAjaxOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton West—Ancaster—DundasNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKiiwetinoongNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto—St. Paul'sOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKingston and the IslandsOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon North CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon—FanshaweNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHumber River—Black CreekNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNepeanOntario Liberal PartyYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara FallsNew Democratic Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWindsor—TecumsehProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEssexProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough—AgincourtProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAlgoma—ManitoulinProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPRenfrew—Nipissing—PembrokeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—UnionvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPCambridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSimcoe—GreyProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPeterborough—KawarthaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNewmarket—AuroraProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—MaltonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOakville North—BurlingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPCarletonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBarrie—InnisfilProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPYork—SimcoeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNorthumberland—Peterborough SouthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBarrie—Springwater—Oro-MedonteProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOxfordProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPTimminsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPParry Sound—MuskokaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKenora—Rainy RiverProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSimcoe NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThunder Bay—AtikokanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHuron—BruceProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPVaughan—WoodbridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond HillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKitchener—ConestogaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—StreetsvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPStormont—Dundas—South GlengarryProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—StouffvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPickering—UxbridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton SouthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPElgin—Middlesex—LondonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara WestProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOakvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKing—VaughanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLeeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau LakesProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDurhamProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPChatham-Kent—LeamingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNipissingProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKitchener South—HespelerProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLanark—Frontenac—KingstonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWellington—Halton HillsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThornhillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—ThornhillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWhitbyProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPerth—WellingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEglinton—LawrenceProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPYork South—WestonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton MountainProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBurlingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBruce—Grey—Owen SoundProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHastings—Lennox and AddingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—LakeshoreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—Erin MillsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga East—CooksvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPGlengarry—Prescott—RussellProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLambton—Kent—MiddlesexProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBay of QuinteProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrantford—BrantProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.

Official sources

Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.

How this data is sourced