The outgoing head of Elections Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, who resigned under mysterious circumstances, will be named the president of the IFES, CBC News has learned.

The Washington D.C.-based organization, formerly known as the International Foundation for Election Systems, provides technical assistance in new and developing democracies for such things as election administration and human rights.

Jean-Pierre Kingsley will be named the president of the International Foundation of Election Systems.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Kingsley announced without any explanation in December that he would be stepping down on Feb. 17 as Canada's chief electoral officer, a job he held for 17 years during which he oversaw five national elections and one referendum.

Kingsley announced he would leave office after Elections Canada was involved in a spat with the federal Conservatives over the party's handling of donations to its 2005 national convention.

Kingsley had complained that the Conservatives resisted his requests to see their convention books to examine if any laws were broken.

He submitted his resignation letter on Dec. 22 — one day after the Tories re-filed their 2005 financial statement.

Kingsley has faced scathing criticism over the years from Stephen Harper, who, before he was prime minister, at times called Kingsley "dangerous" and "heavy-handed" and described Elections Canada as out-of-control "jackasses."

With files from the Canadian Press