Mr. Lortie, I must say that I'm a very passionate person when it comes to our election laws. I can only imagine, given your history with the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing, and so forth, that you must be a man of very strong conviction with a passion for democracy in our election laws.
What offends me the most about this legislation is the fact that the government of the day, one political entity, has decided to change the laws. No consultation was done. No other political party supports what's being done. Elections Canada's current commissioner doesn't like what he is seeing. The past commissioner has raised serious concerns with regard to this. The Commissioner for Canada Elections is saying he should be staying within Elections Canada and not be taken out.
A hundred-plus political academics from coast to coast to coast are condemning the legislation, and this is a first. It seems to me no one is coming onside and saying this legislation should be passed.
I'm appealing to you to respond, and we'll put aside what's inside the legislation right now. When you want to change an election law, is this the way you should change it, or is there a better way to make the change? What should happen when it comes time to change an election law? In your opinion what should be done?