Evidence of meeting #13 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was privacy.
Conservative
Joe Preston Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Finding accessible polling stations is the real answer to this.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Are we okay? Thank you.
On section 1.12, provision of transfer certificates:
The Chief Electoral Officer recommends that the Canada Elections Act be amended to permit the issuance of a transfer certificate to any elector who presents at the wrong polling station owing to a change in the assignment of polling stations or advance polls that occurred after the issuance of the original voting card to the elector.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
I think we've all agreed to that. Yes.
On section 1.13, establishment of mobile polling stations, I think we were pretty much in agreement with that. Can I just have a--
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Except that we had a question that we didn't get to pose to him yesterday, because we weren't lined up on our B list, but you lined us up on our A list. We ran out of time.
This is the situation where we had questioned the fact that he could decide to set up a mobile poll for homeless people, or something.
Conservative
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
We are not satisfied with the proposal as it is. We do not agree, especially with regard to persons who have difficulties travelling to regular polls due to age.
There are seniors who are 82 years old but are independent and who live in large apartment buildings for independent and semi-independent retirees. They have their own car and often do their own grocery shopping. I am sure they would like a mobile polling station to come to their building. Where it says, “Due to poor health or age“, these are totally subjective criteria.
It used to be a crazy situation in establishments were people were hospitalized. Before mobile polling stations were created, political parties literally carried people out on stretchers and with oxygen masks. The Liberal Party always has been very efficient in this regard. Today, mobile polls go to these people.
In my view, this is a subjective concept. From what age onwards do we consider that a person has difficulty moving around? We have seniors who are 82 years old who are independent and still have a driver's licence.
Conservative
Conservative
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
I would just say that because of the dynamic argument just put forward by my colleague Mr. Guimond, I'm totally in agreement with his argument opposed to this.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Okay, then I think we've been thoroughly convinced.
No? Okay. Let's keep going.
Mr. Godin, and then Mr. Simard.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I understand what my colleague Mr. Guimond means when he talks about age. I noticed that polling stations had been established in homes for senior citizens. These seniors have worked hard all their lives. This helped them to cast their vote.
There are people of a very advanced age. We should trust Elections Canada: its employees are not going to set up polling stations just anywhere. There is a difference between somebody who lives in a condominium and somebody who is in a nursing home in a very advanced state of dependency. I myself have visited a seniors' residence where hundreds of people lived and I can guarantee you that this helped them to vote. Many people in this home could not have voted otherwise.
Liberal
Raymond Simard Liberal Saint Boniface, MB
Mr. Chairman, this is exactly what I wanted to talk about. In my riding, the returning officer has been very innovative. He went to a seniors' residence and made sure that people who would not have travelled to the polling station could vote.
I would like to know what the difference is between what we have now and what Mr. Kingsley proposes.
What is the difference? What is he proposing that is different from what we have now?
Conservative
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
He wants more power. He wants it broader--"any institution". It's up to his discretion.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Yes. He wants to be able to make the decision himself.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I am specifically questioning where he says “may have difficulties travelling to regular polls due to poor health,”--that's fine--“age”--I can appreciate that--“or other circumstances.” The “other circumstances” is--
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I think that's too open, too broad. Poor health and age.... There's a bit of a problem in the translation in the sense that in French we're talking of un “établissement” and in English we're talking of an “institution”. The word “institution” in English is much closer to hospitals, seniors homes, and so on than un “établissement” in French.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I would like to reply to Mr. Godin. I am not opposed to having mobile polling stations for people who are in a nursing home, who have reached a certain age and have reduced mobility. These are often people in wheelchairs. I do not want to take away their right to a mobile polling station because it is normal to go to them. I agree with this. These are people who would not have gone to vote otherwise.
However, I do not agree with having mobile polling stations in luxury condominiums, condominiums for independent retirees who all have their car at the door. They go grocery shopping but now they want to give them mobile polling stations supposedly because they would not go out and vote because they are too old. This does not make sense in this case. They can just go to vote like they go to the bank!
