Thank you to our witnesses--all three of you--for coming here.
I have some questions about the single transferable vote system, but before I do that I just want to inquire....
Mr. Angus suggested one candidate might raise $800,000. As a practical matter—I guess this is more in the way of a comment than a question—we can all as MPs raise money for our riding associations from anywhere in the country. I'm unaware of anybody who has raised anywhere near $800,000 through their local campaign, and of course that information is all publicly available. I think a little perspective is required. The impositions we've put, particularly with the elimination of corporate fundraising, make it unlikely that anyone could simply buy their way to office through running massive advertising campaigns funded by massive spending. It's a practical matter.
I want to ask about the voting system. On the single transferable vote system, you didn't say this, but I gather this is the same system, in rough terms, that was voted on in British Columbia, in the referendum a few years back.