Absolutely.
I think vouching is as critical today as it was last week. We've come a long way for Canadians to vote, and yet we're turning around and saying that they must come with ID. There's no question that some people have ID, but I can tell you right now that when someone vouches, it gives someone hope, whether that person is vouching or not. If you're talking about secret ballots, that person can also be the neutral person helping them as well.
This act should not just be about ID. It shouldn't be about saying, “You know what? You're entitled, as a Canadian citizen, to vote in a democracy, but we are going to make some barriers to that happening”. That's not what we want to see. That's not what Canadians want to see. Canadians want to see a commitment from all parties and governments to turn around and say, “We're not taking democracy away because you have to come up with this ID.”
I can tell you right now that not everybody has a CNIB card; not everybody has a membership card to their organization; not everybody has a photo ID. I have photo ID, but I can tell you right now that a lot of our members don't have that ID.
The question is whether this act is about turning people away from voting in a democracy or about encouraging people. Having barriers does affect people's lives each and every day. People with disabilities face enough challenges in Canada. They don't need a government or a party to create barriers, or to turn around and say, “Guess what? You're now not going to vote, but you already have challenges, so it's okay.” There needs to be more leeway.
The experts involved in this should be people with disabilities, because they're the ones who can talk with experience. I can talk about the experiences I've gone through growing up and the challenges. Many can. I think it's shameful about the vouching, and I think it needs to be looked at more seriously moving forward.