The “our way or the highway” has continued. For that reason alone, there is absolutely no chance of this bill being fixed anywhere near what would be needed for anybody, speaking for the official opposition, to support it. We'll get to the end of the process with many serious flaws. Voter information cards are still banned. The commissioner's power to seek a judicial order to compel testimony will not be permitted. The commissioner will have been moved to the Director of Public Prosecutions, a completely unnecessary move that also undermines the commissioner's capacity to investigate and the role he plays in the compliance structure of Elections Canada. The Chief Electoral Officer will have no access to campaign receipts from national parties. All public education and information programs will remain banned except for schools. Treasury Board will have a say on the temporary specialists, researchers, etc., that the Chief Electoral Officer can hire.
We tried. We moved to go into committee after first reading for everybody to be able to look at this bill fresh from the start. That was declined. So we have no choice but to withdraw and start afresh. With that, I move this motion to withdraw.