Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 25th, 2010

[Marc Mayrand]

It really happened very recently, not even two weeks ago.

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

All right, that's fine.

Earlier you talked about wireless technology in Canada. In what year are you aiming to use it?

I just want to clarify the fact that there are a lot of regions in Canada, particularly in rural Canada, that didn't benefit from the Liberal policy that high-speed technology should be accessible across the country. This wireless technology project might be half-baked.

[Marc Mayrand]

With regard to wireless technology, following the recent by-elections, we first tested telephony in the offices of our returning officers. There are 440 of them scattered across the country, even in quite remote regions. We provide full coverage with wireless technology for each of the returning officers' offices.

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

We're talking about telephony?

[Marc Mayrand]

Exactly.

However, there are now technologies that make it possible to accelerate data transfer. That's the direction where Elections Canada is headed. In the next few years, the returning officers' offices will essentially operate from a web base currently centralized in Ottawa. Approximately 90% of communications will be wireless.

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

When you say in the years to come, does that mean two, four, six years?

[Marc Mayrand]

For returning officers, the next general election will necessarily be conducted wirelessly. I'm not going to go into the details, but there are various methods for boosting the signals and increasing data transfer speeds. For example, the electoral lists revision that continues during the election will be conducted on a web base and wirelessly. I would say that, within five years, that should be the way we do things.

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

All right. To be honest with you, since we're talking about expenditures, dollars, etc., I would have liked to talk to you this morning about certain changes to election procedure that might result in savings. I'm coming back to that tiresome example of shredding, which is centralized. It is Ottawa companies or your offices that take charge of that, whereas it could be the offices of the returning officers in each constituency. Perhaps there might be other opportunities to save money rather than centralize everything.

[Marc Mayrand]

Certain recommendations in my report will concern what we call efficiency. We're mainly going to target work organization in the polling stations, where we think it's possible to achieve quite significant economies of scale.

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

Both economies of time and of money?

[Marc Mayrand]

Yes, and the idea is also to improve service to electors.

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

All right.

[Marc Mayrand]

There will be a series of recommendations concerning efficiency in my report, which will be tabled by mid-June. With regard to shredding, a provision in the act requires that us to bring all material back after an election. That's one thing. The other thing is that we have an agreement with Canada Post for the delivery of material in the constituencies. That agreement covers the deployment and return of material. Shredding is done through a federal government program that costs us nothing. Here in the National Capital Region, the departments and agencies can make free use of this program which is meant for them.

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

However, you have return charges.

[Marc Mayrand]

Under the contract binding us to Canada Post, the costs are the same. These are fixed costs. They cover the delivery and return of material.

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

I understand, but the return isn't included; the rate will change.

[Marc Mayrand]

The fact is that there is always material to return.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you, Mr. Proulx.

Mr. Albrecht.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just to put Mr. Proulx's mind at ease, on page 7 there's a clear identifier that you are looking at cost savings. Maybe at some point you could detail what type of cost savings you envision by working with the provincial and territorial electoral partners. Reducing duplication is one way, obviously, and I'd be interested in hearing a little more detail on that.

Prior to your answering that one, I want to go back to page 5, where you outline six different areas that you're focusing on in between elections in order to improve the administrative and voter turnout. I want to highlight two.

The area dealing with physical disabilities and visual disabilities is, I think, key, and I'm really pleased to see you focusing on that.

The other area relates to increasing the voter turnout among our youth. Certainly anything we can do there...and we've discussed that a number of times at this committee. I'm wondering, though, if there's any possibility for Elections Canada to work more closely with high schools who are using the Student Vote approach. I think it's voluntary right now.

I'm not sure if you have a direct relationship with the high schools--

[Marc Mayrand]

Oh, yes.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

--but this, in my area, for those high schools that are using it, is a crucial way to create, even though students are not yet old enough to vote, an environment where they may choose to follow through on that in later years.

If you could just comment on those three points, that would be great.

[Marc Mayrand]

In terms of the technology for electors with disabilities, we will be looking at that during your visit on June 17. We hope to make a demonstration of the technology so that you can see the devices, and see how they work and can be used.

With respect to youth, we are already funding Student Vote for federal elections.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Let me clarify. Is that available on a “per school” basis or “per school board” basis, or how is it administered?

[Marc Mayrand]

It's on a “per school” basis, and it's very open. It's up to the school to indicate an interest, and Student Vote will....