Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here today to assist us in our study of Bill C-23.
I'd like to raise a particular point about the powers of investigation, which hasn't yet been raised this evening. There's another provision that has been ignored in Bill C-23. The CEO and a number of experts have for a long time been calling for the power to require political parties to provide documentation on election spending in order to ensure compliance with the Canada Elections Act.
Currently, Elections Canada can require this documentation from the candidates of political parties, nomination contestants and leadership contestants. However, they cannot require it from political parties.
It has been shown that something along the lines of what a number of experts are calling for could really help Elections Canada to combat fraud and, in general, to investigate various situations.
Do you have any idea why this provision is not in Bill C-23?