Thank you.
I appreciate both of you being here and also you, Mr. Beyene, by video conference.
I would like to focus on you, Ms. Barr, and Ms. Remund.
You both have organizations that deal with homeless or those who are nearly in that situation. When we look at these issues that you're here to talk about today I think everyone in this room would share the goal that we all want to make, which is that every Canadian who seeks to vote has the opportunity to vote. I think we also share the goal of seeking to ensure that those votes are seen by all Canadians to be done in a fair process. Some of the concerns that have come in about the vouching, for example.... I also think it's important that we ensure that we are giving everyone who wants to vote the opportunity to do that.
I'd like to go through some possibilities with you and ask some questions about the process you've used in the past to help those clients you serve to be able to use their right to vote. I understand that vouching is one of the things you have used in the past.
First, let me ask, because when I was doing a little bit of research into this I discovered that in many cases shelters will in fact serve their resident with more than just providing a roof over their head.... Obviously, you're doing a lot more for them. You're trying to help them find a way to get back on their feet. That's something you should be commended for.
One of the things you do is to try to help them get to a situation where they have some ID and proof of who they are because they require it for a lot of things. Even to be able to help find employment and these kinds of things.... What I have been told by many of the provincial governments is that in many cases shelters will help someone get a birth certificate. That's the first and most basic form of ID that allow for some of the other IDs to be had. You did mention, Ms. Remund, the 39 pieces of ID. It is 39. There's a number of them that must be used. Some of them can prove identity and others can prove address. Some can prove all of course. So there are number of options.
You did go through some that wouldn't apply. You're absolutely right that in many of the cases that you indicated, for the clients you talk about it wouldn't probably apply. Certainly, the service that shelters do provide for getting the birth certificate for someone, that would obviously provide the first piece of ID that's required. They would then require something to prove the address.
I assume that you're aware that one of those pieces that can be used as identity to prove address is an attestation of residence from a shelter or a soup kitchen. Obviously, if you were able to provide that in addition to the service you already provide for obtaining a birth certificate, it would give the necessary two pieces of ID. The reason I point that out is because I think the vouching process would be a far simpler way for you to be able to help clients...to serve in the vouching process. The reason for the vouching process, as I'm sure you're aware what's required there, is someone who lives in the same poll can only vouch once for an individual. Obviously that becomes, I would assume, complicated for you because if you had, say, employees vouching, they would have to live in the poll where the shelter is located. Second, you can only vouch for one person per employee. I'm aware of some volunteer programs that exist to do that, however those probably are in a bit of a grey area because we don't know in fact whether there is that relationship. On Elections Canada's website the examples they use is a neighbour or a roommate. Obviously, that shows an ongoing relationship with somebody to prove who they are.
I'm curious about your thoughts because of the fact that many shelters do provide that birth certificate and are paying for that for them. Also, there's the availability of the attestation of residence. Whether that is something you feel might better facilitate enabling you to help your clients to be able to vote in an election....
What are your thoughts on that?