No doubt that was referring to previous speakers and not to me. My reputation for laconic statements is by this time the stuff of legend.
I just want to say that I think there is a problem with this particular proposal in that the Chief Electoral Officer is an officer of Parliament. He reports to Parliament. He reports specifically to this committee as his avenue to Parliament. This ought to be the spot to which he makes his recommendations. He is in fact by statute required to make recommendations regarding his views as to what changes ought to be made. He is in no position to make independent recommendations to the ministry, even if asked, other than those that he has made to this committee.
As I said before in this committee when this issue of consultation was raised, I would have been very upset with the minister if he had disclosed anything about what he was considering to the CEO. After all, ministers are supposed to first reveal the legislation to the House. I would have been upset with the CEO had he made recommendations to the minister other than those he'd made to the committee. If asked, he ought to have said, “You can find out what my recommendations are by consulting my report to the House of Commons on proposed legislation; for that matter, if you want to find out what the House thinks about it, you can read their response to my report.”
I actually think that's exactly what did happen. The minister did consult that report.