Procedure and House Affairs Committee on June 14th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Everyone is listening. Can we just put the question? It's a yea or a nay on this issue. Have we had enough discussion?

Let's go to the question. Do we go with this recommendation? All those in favour of going with the recommendation please raise your hands. This is recommendation 1.6, on removing the office of the assistant chief electoral officer.

We have some agreed. Those opposed please signify.

I'm going to suggest the opposed have it. So that's a no.

Thank you very much.

It looks as though we're still setting up.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

I like the status quo.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

We're just going with status quo.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Yes. I'm very conservative.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Recommendation 1.7.... I'm going to push the committee. We're still setting up for food.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

On number 1.6, did you take my vote?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

It wasn't necessary; you were outvoted. Your vote yea would have been to leave it status quo. The motion was clearly voted to just leave it the way it is.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Were you voting for it?

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Yes.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

And the two Bloc?

[An hon. member]

I wasn't ready for the vote.

[A voice]

Two didn't vote.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Chair, if you don't want to ask for a recorded vote on every paragraph, I think we must take our time now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I agree.

This recommendation is from the Chief Electoral Officer, from his last report. Can we just take a vote on this now?

Marcel.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

This is a Governor in Council appointee. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Kingsley, but it's not up to Mr. Kingsley to recommend abolishing the post of a Governor in Council appointee. It's up to the government. There's a process through Privy Council Office to look at this.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Mr. Godin, one more comment on this.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

In my view, we are entitled to receive recommendations. We then determine if we want to accept them. This is what we are here for. Otherwise, we might as well adjourn the meeting because I have other things to do.

After all, these are only recommendations and Mr. Kingsley is entitled to make them. Let us vote and we will see if we accept them or not.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

No one is arguing. Let's vote on it. Do you agree? All those who agree with the removal of the office, raise your hands. Three. Those who do not agree? We will record that the majority of the committee did not.

Was there a question before we break?

Mr. Preston.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

When we get to recommendation 1.7.... I was anticipating. I was actually moving along.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Well, let's push for recommendation 1.7 and then we'll eat.

[Raymond Simard, Liberal, Saint Boniface, MB]

Mr. Chair, I'm going to eat and work at the same time because--

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Then let's do that. I'm okay with getting food.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

We will take a 10-minute break.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

The meeting is in session, and I would like to remind members that this meeting is public.

To continue where we left off, we were at recommendation 1.7, appointment of revising agents.

Mr. Preston.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

This concerns the habit or the rules under the Canada Elections Act that the names of these potential revising agents are given to the deputy returning officers in any riding by the parties that finished first and second in the last election, as is currently the practice of selecting deputy returning officers and poll clerks. I don't understand why we're fixing half a problem; we're going to change it for revising agents, but we're not changing it for the other.