Procedure and House Affairs Committee on April 30th, 2014

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

I mean it to be 180 days ahead.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right.

Shall we go ahead with that since we all know that now?

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

We can change that by unanimous consent.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

That's very kind of you, because there is a difference between the English and the French.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right.

We're voting on amendment PV-27, with us all knowing it means 180 days.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Shall clause 44 carry?

[An hon. member]

On division.

[An hon. member]

I just like to be cooperative.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

You let me down.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

A recorded vote, Mr. Chair.

(Clause 44 negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Now, where were we? There was another clause that we had to go back to.

I'm being told that we have to do amendment NDP-18.

He wanted to withdraw it.

Do we have to vote on clause 18?

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Now I have to find a mover. That's what I said before.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Right. But we haven't finished the clause.

Shall clause 18 carry?

[An hon. member]

On division.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

(Clause 18 agreed to on division)

Is that correct? Clause 18 is carried on division?

[A voice]

Oui.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right. Now we're caught up to clause 45.

(Clause 45 agreed to on division)

(On clause 46)

We're at amendment LIB-16.

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Chair, I so move. Very simply, this allows not just the leader of a party to be subject to a barrage of photographs or the media, but also each and every other candidate. I think this goes to the freedom of the press. Please do not mistake that as my being so particularly vain as to want my picture taken.

It's as simple as that. All candidates can be exposed to—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

In a polling station?

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Okay.

Mr. Scott, on that issue.

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I should know this, but I don't. I don't have the act in front of me. Because this is a sidebarred provision, is what's in there now a change from the previous act? Are we changing it back to what it was or to something entirely different?

[Marc Chénier]

Currently there's nothing in the act allowing for media representatives to be at the polls. This was a recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer, that for ridings where there's a party leader, media be allowed. The bill provides that in ridings where a party leader is the candidate the media can have access to the polling station to film the leader and the other candidates voting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

In that polling division.

Are you asking for it to be at all polls, or for all candidates?

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Yes, all candidates.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Is there any further discussion?