Election Investigations Guidebook Elections Canada’s “Thresholds Test and Standards” for Preliminary Assessment The following factors should be considered in recommending whether to initiate, continue, or terminate an investigation: a) Reasonable grounds to believe that the allegation deals with an alleged offense committed by an Election Officer or a specific offense committed by anyone under the [relevant election law]; b) Reasonable grounds to believe that the allegation is founded on specific and verifiable leads, facts, information, or physical documentary evidence, and deals with an act or omission that could constitute a specific offense under the [relevant election law]; c) Reasonable grounds to believe that the public interest relation to the act or omission…would justify committing investigative resources; d) [S]ufficient grounds exist to believe that there is a reasonable prospect of identifying the suspect…; e) Sufficient grounds to believe that the alleged offense was committed and that an investigation would provide sufficient, substantial, admissible and reliable evidence; f) Sufficient grounds to believe that there is a reasonable prospect of identifying the suspect and obtaining compelling information or evidence to prove that an offense was committed by the alleged offender; g) Reasonable grounds to believe that substantial, reliable and admissible evidence may be obtained from available avenues of investigation…; h) Reasonable grounds to believe that suspects would agree to cooperate and provide information and evidence…; i) Whether all reliable, substantial, available and admissible information or evidence have been collected on which to reach an informed decision; j) 46 Whether an assessment of the credibility of the information, the weight of