Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) Committee on April 9th, 2008

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

I have one final request to make. I will be brief, because we were asked to be.

You regularly conduct studies on various topics. In relation to Bill C-16, for example, you provided us with some relating to voter turnout among youth. They were extremely interesting. I don't know whether you have any research reports on the experience in Australia, Scotland or other countries. However, if you do have any information that could help us in our own study, I invite you to pass it along to us through the clerk.

[Marc Mayrand]

I am thinking of one study that was conducted that we did not commission, and which is now public. It's the study conducted by Mr. Ron Gould on the problems they experienced in Scotland when they implemented this new system. I could send it along to you. It focuses more on the administrative and operational side of things, and the challenges in that area. I will also see whether we have anything else we could provide to you.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

That would be great.

[The Chair, Liberal, Albina Guarnieri]

Thank you.

Mr. Bélanger, you have the floor.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Mayrand, Ms. Davidson and Mr. Perrault, I want to thank you for being with us to day. I also want to thank you for the work you have done at Elections Canada with respect to the issue we are considering today, as well as in all the other cases.

I have to admit that, hearing the many suggestions you are making, I am tempted to think that Elections Canada was not consulted when the bill was being developed. If you were consulted, you were clearly ignored. However, I am not asking you to comment on that.

I want to come back to the comments made by Mr. Reid. I am delighted to know that representatives of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada will be appearing before the Committee, because they do not agree with either the comments made by Mr. Reid, or his attitude. In fact, in the brief they sent to the Committee, they refer to a study carried out on behalf of the Commissioner of Official Languages. A professor from the University of Montreal concluded that, if the two reform bills currently before Parliament were to pass, the Francophone and Anglophone minorities in that institution—the Senate, in other words—would completely disappear. I think the minority communities in Canada, be they Anglophone or Francophone, have every reason to be concerned.

Mr. Mayrand, as part of your duties, do you conduct any legal analysis with respect to the constitutionality of the measures that are proposed?

[Marc Mayrand]

No.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I think the Committee should consider doing so. In fact, I want to suggest that the Commissioner of Official Languages be invited to appear before the Committee, Madam Chair.

In the Constitution, we are dealing not only with what is written in black and white, but also all the written and unwritten principles associated with it. One of the principles outlined in the secession reference relates to the protection of minorities. If Bill C-20 ignores minorities, in my opinion, an official constitutional challenge should be launched against the bill on that basis. I'm not talking about the constitutional challenges that New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario are preparing. I think it's important to clarify that for the benefit of those closely following this issue.

Mr. Mayrand, I have two questions. First of all, would it be possible for provincial governments, based on the wording of the bill currently before us, to call by-elections in an attempt to influence the result in one region or another? Would it be possible for provincial governments to call a provincial election or by-election when a consultation is underway?

[Marc Mayrand]

It is the prerogative of provincial premiers to decide when an election is to be called, except in those provinces with fixed election dates. To my knowledge, there is no rule. It is the prerogative of the province.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

We are talking about elections on the same day. If elections overlap, there would not necessarily be any cooperation.

[Marc Mayrand]

No, it's for holding joint events.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I was told that the single transferable vote system is widely accepted. I don't know whether that's true, but I would like you to tell me whether there are any studies on this. The STV system tends to disadvantage those perceived as being the frontrunners in an election race.

Could you check to see whether that is the case? Are there any studies on this?

[Marc Mayrand]

I am not aware of any such study. I could certainly ask that some research be done and then share that information with the Committee.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

It's a phenomenon that…

[Marc Mayrand]

It is not something that I have heard before.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I have heard it because certain political parties apply it, including my own. Indeed, the phenomenon whereby people perceived as being in the lead are at a disadvantage does enter into it and can influence the results. I simply want to be certain, if we were to pass this, that the system will be neutral and not give any one candidate in the race an advantage over the other.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Albina Guarnieri]

Do you have a comment? No? Thank you.

I believe the bells are about to start ringing, so that will be the last question.

I'd like to thank the Chief Electoral Officer and his team for tallying up the facts for us. I have a feeling we're going to have you back for a recount. The bill is very complex, as you can see by the questions.

Thank you very much.

I'd like to thank all our members for their cooperation today. We'll see you at the next meeting.

The meeting is adjourned.