This provision is meant to offer the possibility for the Chief Electoral Officer to bypass the requirement to apply a merit-based process to make an appointment, specifically during an election period if there is no returning officer or assistant returning officer, because under the Canada Elections Act there are specific tasks that must be performed by the returning officer. And if there is no returning officer and there is no time to go through a merit-based process, then there is no way for the election to be carried out in the electoral district.
As we know, there can be an election at any time, either a byelection or a general election, and if there is a current vacancy when an election writ is issued, then the election would not be able to happen in the electoral riding.
The words that are being added to this section just specify that this power to appoint somebody without the need to apply a merit-based process is only for the purposes of an election and is for the tasks that must be performed in relation to that election.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])