Thank you, Mr. Chair, Mr. Kingsley and Ms. Davidson.
From the outset, I should say that we are currently compiling, once again, a list of the horror stories from the last election campaign. And I am deliberately calling them horror stories rather than mistakes. I know you will not take my remarks personally, because neither you nor the members of your team can be held responsible for the irregularities which have occurred. However, it is important nevertheless to inform you of them. That has been the Bloc Québécois' tradition since 1993. We are [Editor's Note: Technical Difficulties] a different tone.
I would simply like to ask you, for the purposes of this discussion, whether it is normal for a returning officer to give up to five voting kits to one single individual who has not even have had to identify himself. In other words, a person may leave with five kits or even a box full of kits. You have to ask yourself: is that desirable in a democratic process?
There were people on the voters' list who were registered under their accountant's address and not their real residential address. During advance polling in my riding, in Baie-Saint-Paul poll, a clerk appointed by the Liberals went right in the middle of the whole process and photocopied voters' lists at the local Jean Coutu pharmacy. We know that there are people appointed by the returning officer. Does that mean that the person acting as deputy returning officer has to wage war with the clerk appointed by the Liberals? Should she tell such a person that that should not be done? Should there be staff members responsible for telling others that that is completely forbidden? That does basically raise a number of issues, and we will have a lot of other issues to broach with you all as well. We are currently compiling the information.
We have before us what constitutes the main course: Bill C-2 on accountability, incorrectly named in French Loi fédérale sur l'imputabilité, which affects the Chief Electoral Officer and us. So, I need your comments.
My first question is about Bill C-2. In order to guide us in our work, and if the chair and other committee members are in agreement, could you perhaps give us a comprehensive analysis of the bill's provisions and give us your opinion on those which impact you?
A legislative committee was struck to consider this bill. As you know, it is lengthy and includes 317 sections, proposed amendments to 40 acts, as well as two new pieces of legislation. You will not be able to testify before our committee. However, to guide us in our work and to help me in the event that I am called to sit on this legislative committee, I would like to know what you think as Canada's Chief Electoral Officer.
Can you give me a short answer on this matter?