Just to remind everybody, this is restarted and probably came up earlier than it should have, so we stood it. It's to add a final subsection to section 18 that would be another “for greater certainty” clause. The government has one. The amendment states:
For greater certainty, the Chief Electoral Officer may communicate publicly on whatever subject she or he considers appropriate.
There are two things. The record is very clear from the government's side that this is unnecessary, and what the minister had to say on Friday is the case, and this doesn't need to be said. At the same time I'm a firm believer in “for greater certainty” clauses when there has been a controversy and there have been concerns.
I would still move it even though I believe I now agree with the government that the power to communicate publicly as he considers appropriate has not been touched.