Thank you, sir.
Thank you for the intervention, Mr. Reid.
I'm returning now to the quotes, to the news conference this morning supporting our motion. By the way, that support is not partisan; it's based on the substance of the.... I want to make that for their best interests. Again, I'm quoting in saying that “The crisis in Canadian democracy is voter turnout, not fraud by individual voters.” May I say that I thought the leader of the Green Party this morning was very effective at the news conference in making that very point, which is that it's not a question of people. I'm giving her attribution. This was her comment this morning, and it's an excellent point. The problem is not people voting too many times; it's not enough people getting out and voting once. It's an excellent point.
I will continue. “Yet not only does this bill actively suppress the vote of marginalized groups, it also appears to prevent Elections Canada from educating our youth on democracy or conducting innovative experiments to increase voter turnout.” Again, if I may, in departing from this, that is another one of our concerns: the muzzling of the Chief Electoral Officer. Elections Canada is not supposed to be out there promoting that people vote. This really has people scratching their heads and saying: “Really? If Elections Canada is not supposed to be promoting the notion that good citizenship involves voting, then whose mandate would it be?”
I digress. I'm just about done with my quotes, Chair, and that will end that controversy. “The reality is that with many Canadians turned off of both the political process and political parties”—ouch—“and the documented success of non-partisan voter engagement campaigns abroad, we need to give Elections Canada more resources, not less.”
“We could be having a conversation about bold strategies for increasing participation— like combining electronic and mandatory voting, or placing more polling stations in areas that would target lower-voting populations—instead this law forces Canadians to defend the democratic voting] rights we already have.”
“This is a bill that is fundamental to our democracy. If the Conservative government is serious about improving our democratic process, why are they so afraid about talking about their Act in communities across the country? Canadians nationwide should be given the time, and opportunity, to meaningfully participate in the creation of a new elections act.”
”I am now going to turn it over for one member from each party to make a short statement, starting with the Official Opposition Critic for Democratic Reform, Craig Scott.”