HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 215.02 (2) and (3) of the Election Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 106, is repealed and the following substituted:

(2) The annual allowance is calculated

(a) in 2022 and 2023 by multiplying $1.75 per vote received, and

(b) in 2024 and each following year by multiplying the applicable amount established under subsection (2.1) per vote received.

(2.1) The chief electoral officer must establish the applicable amount to be used in the calculation under subsection (2) (b) as soon as possible after each January 1, and no later than January 15, of that year by

(a) determining the ratio between the consumer price index as at January 1, 2023 and the consumer price index at January 1 of the year in which the allowance is paid, and

(b) applying the ratio to adjust the amount that is to apply for that year.

(3) The chief electoral officer must pay the allowance in 2022 and each following year in 2 equal instalments on the following dates in each applicable year:

(a) January 15;

(b) July 15.

2 Section 215.03 is repealed.

3 Section 270.01 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) (a) by adding "and the annual allowance calculated under section 215.02 (2)" after "sections 186.01, 204 and 235.05",

(b) in subsection (1) (b) by adding "and the annual allowance" after "the adjusted amounts",

(c) in subsection (1) (c) by adding "established under sections 186.01 and 204" after "adjusted amounts", and

(d) in subsection (2) by striking out "section 186.01, 204 or 235.05" and substituting "section 186.01, 204, 215.02 or 235.05".

Commencement

4 This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.