Evidence of meeting #29 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was recommendation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:30 p.m.
Senior Director, Regulatory Compliance and Administration, Liberal Party of Canada
In reading their recommendation, that is my understanding.
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Conservative
12:30 p.m.
Conservative
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
My last question has to do with point I.2, on the appointment of deputy returning officers, poll clerks and registration officers.
Mr. Gardner, earlier you said you agreed with that recommendation, but you mentioned a limit in terms of the swearing-in. When should that be done, in your opinion?
November 2nd, 2010 / 12:30 p.m.
General Director, Bloc Québécois
It could be when Elections Canada provides the documents or equipment necessary for....
12:30 p.m.
General Director, Bloc Québécois
It could even be later than the training stage, when Elections Canada provides the ballot box and officially distributes the voters lists that will be used for the election, or the clerk's register. So the swearing-in could be done at a later stage.
I just want to say something briefly. A bit earlier, we said that the nomination of phantom candidates was more the result of small parties. I can tell you from experience that, in Quebec, the big parties have phantom candidates, as well. They are referred to as “poteaux”.
12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
I agree completely, Mr. Gardner. We know from experience that phantom candidates occasionally manage to get elected, is that not right? It involves all parties.
I want to come back to the issue of the locals. I agree with the point that Mr. Gardner has made about the swearing-in. It is a problem if the scrutineers are sworn in too early, because candidates are then deprived of volunteer assistance.
However, I want to come back to the issue of the campaign locality and the proximity of polling stations, because that is an issue, and I'm not sure that what the Chief Electoral Officer is recommending is actually viable. To take my personal experience, one would think that because I'm in an urban riding it would be very easy to find a committee room. Well, it's actually proving to be much more difficult. Where we used to be able to have maybe ten possibilities, we're now down to two. Also, because the owners know this, they want exorbitant rents. I think this needs to be looked at a little more closely.
I'm not sure if you wish to comment on that. If you do, the chair might give you some time. I don't know if there's any time left.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
--I don't have to make the decision. That's very good.
Is there anybody else with a one-off question for our witnesses?
I'll go to Mr. Hoback and then to Madam Ratansi.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Yes, I just want to make a quick comment on the signs. Again, in the spirit of fairness--and the intent of the act is to make sure that it's fair and equal for everybody--one way to make it fair and equal for everybody at the polling stations when they open at 9 a.m. is to have at 'er. Put your signs wherever you want as long as the content is something that's consistent with a regular sign.
That might be one way of doing it. So then who cares where the polling station is? Who cares where...? That person who has the property right next to the polling station is covered. Would that maybe not be an option that we should consider?
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I have no comment coming on that one either. Such restraint from our witnesses today.
Mr. Lavigne, I think you would like to jump in.
12:35 p.m.
National Director, New Democratic Party
Sure. From my perspective, having to organize armies of individuals to get to every church basement and elementary school gymnasium to make sure that our signs are in a prominent spot would add tremendously to the burden of election day. We would probably not do that or speak in favour of it.
The other alternative, of course, is to take them all down on election day. There would be no signs anywhere on election day. That would actually be a heck of a lot easier, and easier to police.
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Voices
Oh, oh!
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Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Would you fine people who don't take their election signs down before they ditch the writ--
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Voices
Oh, oh!
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A voice
Just in your riding.
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Conservative
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Liberal
Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON
I was surprised that none of you commented on paragraph I.8, which is removal of the date of birth of the electors. Maybe I didn't hear you.
There are so many people with similar names or maybe living at a similar address. If you live in urban ridings, you will understand what I'm saying. If we remove somebody's birthdate and if we don't have the checks and balances.... Sometimes people don't ask for ID and sometimes they do ask for ID, and sometimes they don't ask for citizenship cards and sometimes they do, etc. How would you ensure that there is fairness in the system? What's your take on the removal of the date of birth?
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Mr. Gardner, you did comment on it. I'll let you do it again if you'd like.
12:35 p.m.
General Director, Bloc Québécois
We said earlier—perhaps you missed it—that we agreed with removing the day and month of the person's date of birth, if necessary; we feel, however, that the person's year of birth should remain to help deputy returning officers and officials determine whether the person before them is 80 years old or 20 years old. And, if there is any doubt, they can ask the elector further questions to confirm their identity.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Do either of the other two gentlemen want to comment on that one?
Mr. Arnold?
Mr. Lavigne?
No? Okay. Is there anyone else with any other questions?
Then I'll go to Ms. Ratansi for another one.