Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Sept. 10th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Thank you.

Monsieur Poilievre and then Mr. Godin.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Before I commence my remarks, may I ask as a point of clarification that Mr. Guimond's motion be read one more time--the one that passed? I just want to clarify.

[The Clerk]

It reads as follows:

That the members of the committee call upon Elections Canada to reverse its decision to allow veiled individuals to vote.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

So for clarification, there is nothing in that motion that cancels Mr. Preston's call for a study. There is nothing whatsoever that cancels or supercedes the need for study on this issue. So for Mr. Guimond to assume that just because his remarks implied something, that would cancel a previous motion...is procedurally invalid. We don't know what the Chief Electoral Officer will say, but I think it's important for us to be clear that he will be held to account before this committee if he does not reverse his position. He got it wrong, and we want to communicate that very clearly to him.

What I would propose--and I know Mr. Godin has a motion on the floor, and I will offer this as a friendly amendment, which he can reject if he wishes--is that if the Chief Electoral Officer accepts the committee's desire for him to reverse his position on veiled voting, then the study on that subject be considered cancelled. So in other words, if he agrees with our decision, if he agrees with us that people must demonstrate their face before voting, then this whole study is done. We won't even proceed with the study at all. His motion was about more than just bringing forward the Chief Electoral Officer; it was about bringing forward witnesses, etc. What I'm saying is that if, as we hope, the Chief Electoral Officer reverses his position, then the whole matter is considered cancelled before this committee. Is that reasonable?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I'm not clear that that motion is any different from what Monsieur Godin--

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

It is, because Mr. Godin speaks only about bringing forward the Chief Electoral Officer. Mr. Preston's motion was for a whole study on the matter. So what I'm saying is that we cancel the whole study if the Chief Electoral Officer reverses his position.

Is that considered a friendly amendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Yes, that's very clear. That's clear to me. I appreciate that. We have the motion on the floor, and it is clear to me. Thank you, Monsieur Poilievre.

Do you believe that it's a friendly motion, Monsieur Godin?

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I believe it is. And I want to be clear. I normally don't vote on the phone. I don't presume. We are here to make decisions. I will go with the motion and will be clear, and I would like the amendment to take place.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Thank you. Just give us a second to write out what we believe is the correct interpretation of Mr. Poilievre's amendment.

Pierre, would you like to repeat your motion so we can get the wording?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Yes. It is that in the event that the Chief Electoral Officer reverses his position on veiled voting, this committee consider its study on that matter to be cancelled.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Can you read from the motion?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

I'm sorry. That might not be precisely how I said it last time, but--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I think it's clear.

Is there any further discussion on that motion? Mr. Preston.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I would like to speak to it. Although I understand and I'm in favour of what the now amended motion says, we're only talking about one little nuance of Bill C-31. I believe Elections Canada got it wrong on this one issue. I want to be prepared in case they get it wrong on something else on it too. This committee will always be able to study Bill C-31, so I will agree with this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Is there any further discussion, or is it time for the question on this motion? Do I need to read the motion again to members, or can we just vote?

[An hon. member]

You might as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Read it again, please.

[The Clerk]

The motion is “That in the event that the Chief Electoral Officer reverses his decision on veiled voting, this committee consider its study on that matter cancelled.”

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Obviously I'm getting permission from the committee, with the clerk's help, to draft a letter that presents the intent of this committee's discussion. The letter will be faxed and mailed, and I will call the Chief Electoral Officer and get back to you as soon as I can. I obviously have a lot of homework, but I promise the committee I will do my best to get in touch with the Chief Electoral Officer and hopefully have a decision or some response from him by tomorrow.

Is there any further business? Madam Redman, please.

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Can I ask for clarification on when the meeting tomorrow will occur and how long it will go for?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I'm open to the committee, but I'm thinking, after discussing with the analysts, that we will start at 3:30, and my guess is that we will proceed with a typical two-hour meeting. If we want to extend it longer, we can have the committee discuss that.

Is that reasonable for everybody?

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I'd be happy to start at 9 a.m., but I understand the chair needs to reflect and talk to Mr. Walsh.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Yes.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

What difference would it make to have it on Wednesday morning instead? Is there any problem?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

There is a lot of heat on me to make this decision pretty quickly. I'm open to the committee. If you want to go to Wednesday morning, let's hear from members.

Monsieur Proulx.