Evidence of meeting #3 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 election.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Thank you very much.
I do have time for one short one.
Madame Picard.
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Kingsley, could you tell me who has the authority to relieve returning officers of their duties? How many recommendations have you made with respect to removing returning officers? And how many were removed during the last election?
12:50 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Only the Governor in council has the authority to relieve a returning officer of his or her duties.
In the past, I have made a certain number of recommendations. I made one during the last elections, and when I noted that no changes were being made, I stopped doing that. I learn quickly.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Thank you.
Mr. Kingsley, I want to thank you very much. We did have a conversation, and I suggested this would be a bit more of a general meeting, but you fielded some pretty detailed questions. It's clear to me that we will get you back, and I understand you're more than willing to do that.
Did you want to make a final comment? Please do.
12:50 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Yes. I really appreciate this opportunity, and I hope that the next time we meet I will get some tough questions.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
We'll start preparing right now just so that you will be happy.
Again, thank you very much.
And, Diane, thank you very much for being here.
Members, before you go, I'd like to remind you that the next meeting, on May 4, is in camera with the Sergeant-at-Arms. It's in camera because we are discussing security. However, I would like to take five minutes prior to going in camera to have a public meeting to discuss the membership lists for Bill C-2. One party is still outstanding.
Also, after listening to the conversations today, it appears to me that we may want to have the Chief Electoral Officer back, as well as the commissioner of elections. We might want to decide whether we want to do that in two separate meetings or in one meeting together. So if it is the will of the committee, we will take an additional few minutes to make a decision on that. I just wanted to plant that seed.
As there is no other business, the meeting is adjourned.