Evidence of meeting #24 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was candidate.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Mr. Christopherson, a couple of quick questions. Then we'll get in anybody who needs an individual question and then we will move on to our committee business.
Mr. Christopherson.
12:35 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'll do one and then someone else can pick up on that time, if there is any.
In your remarks on page 7, you asked “that the Chief Electoral Officer be granted the authority to commit transferred funds, at the request of the Government of Canada, for such activities”, talking about helping other jurisdictions, which I think is an important thing that Canada does in the world, and I would support it.
I'm just trying to get a sense of does this mean that those kinds of activities would come out of existing funds that are set aside for election purposes only, or does your reference to “commit transferred funds” mean that the government would say, “We want you to do something to help out country X. It looks as if it's going to cost $25,000. We'll transfer that in.”? You have the authorization to act on it and the money's there.
What I'm asking about is the money. Is there any circumstance under which you would be spending money for international relations that are meant to be just for the functioning of your office and the support of running elections?
12:35 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
Sorry, no. All our activities on the international scene are in response to government initiatives, mostly through CIDA or the Department of Foreign Affairs. The most current example I can give you is that we've been asked by Haiti to assist in certain aspects of their ongoing elections, and that request has come through CIDA, which is going to fund our help there. The amendments being proposed here are to clarify that I have the authority to spend the money that's transferred.
12:35 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
But only if it's transferred money. That's what I wanted to know.
I'll share that question with someone else and give someone else a chance to speak who hasn't yet.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
That does finish that round, if that's the case. We'll have a couple of quick one-offs here, but let's make sure they have to do with the recommendations of the Chief Electoral Officer.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Just one question. It has to do with identification for veterans.
We had an example in the last election in my riding when a gentlemen in his nineties went in using his veteran's card, and of course it wasn't considered to be proper identification. He was told he couldn't vote unless he came back with his address, and no one could vouch for him because he lives alone. He was with his caregiver, who happened to be his granddaughter, but she couldn't vouch for him.
Is there any consideration at all being given to someone in that circumstance? He's now 92 years old and he was highly offended. For him to have to go back again—I think it's probably a way of discouraging people from voting.
12:35 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
There are a number of things. The granddaughter lives with him?
12:35 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
So my recommendation on vouching would not help.
October 7th, 2010 / 12:35 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
One thing we're doing, and we're going to test that in the upcoming byelections, is allowing the voter information card to be used as a piece of identity. So if the gentleman had received his voter information card at home, that would present his name and address right there. He could likely use that in combination with the Veterans Affairs card. I would have to double-check that. I assume he doesn't have a driver's licence, but those two pieces would have allowed him to vote.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Mayrand, I am obviously in favour of your recommendations involving increased amounts for election staff and auditors.
With respect to election advertising by third parties or riding associations, do you consider the latter to be third parties? No. When you talk about third parties, you are referring to a national association, for example, that might not support a specific party or candidate.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
In your explanation, you say that the act should: “Prohibit electoral district associations from transmitting election advertising during an election period, even when the expenses were incurred before the election was called.”
That means that whatever is used during the election period has to be accounted for during the election. However, if the association paid for advertising prior to the campaign, that would not be included in campaign expenses.
12:35 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
No. It would be the same thing as for the parties. So, if that advertising was used during the election campaign, it would have to be accounted for.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I understand. It's the same as for candidates. If they advertise before the campaign begins, that is before the campaign.
12:40 p.m.
Bloc
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC
If the candidate has been selected, the election has been called at the beginning of the month, say, and he files his return with the Chief Electoral Officer on the 8th day of the same month, and receives his answer on the 10th indicating that he is fully compliant with the regulations but that his riding association transferred an amount of $50,000 between the 1st and the 8th, is he considered to have contravened the act?
12:40 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
Yes, but there is a recommendation to correct that.
12:40 p.m.
Bloc
Louis Plamondon Bloc Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC
To correct it? Which would mean that as soon as an election is called, that sort of thing could be done?
12:40 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
Yes. We are even suggesting that an association be authorized to make a transfer pretty well any time.