Evidence of meeting #81 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was election.
A video is available from Parliament.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
I'm pleased to hear that, because it's not necessarily what I've been hearing at the other level, but—.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
—I will look into it in more detail and let you know, because then it becomes an issue of resources: do you have adequate resources pre-writ to be able to deal with the number of questions and the requests you're getting in the office? Obviously you have a high sense of independence in terms of access to resources, but what I'm hearing is yes to that.
Mr. Lukiwski made reference to a 36-day campaign. If the Prime Minister does not call the election on September 13, Elections Canada will automatically call it. Is that correct?
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Voices
Oh, oh!
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
The election still requires a royal proclamation.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
What happens on September 13 if you don't get a call from the Governor General?
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
That may something for Parliament or the courts to look into.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
What we know is that it's a minimum 36-day campaign. What is a maximum campaign in a general election?
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
There's no limit per se on the duration of campaigns.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
So we could have the announcement of an election campaign on June 24 for October 19?
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
If someone asks how to get on the voters list, how simple is it to get on the voters list today?
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
With the online service, it's relatively easy. I would invite you to check it out. You go to the Elections Canada website and check the box for registration services, which will take you to the online service. You will be asked a few questions. If you are registered, you can confirm that you are registered and that it's your correct address. If you have moved recently, you can easily change your address.
If you're registering for the first time—if you've just reached 18, for example, and you want to register for the first time—additional questions will be asked of you, but generally you will be able to register online.
If for whatever reason the online services cannot accommodate your circumstances, you will be guided as to how you can proceed to alternatives to get on the registry.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Generally speaking, 95% of the population would be able to register online, if they so choose, with no real issues.
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
Close to that, yes, because 93% of Canadians are already registered. If they change their address, they could do that relatively easily online.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
How confident are you of the accuracy of the list to date?
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
Again, we did a recent quality study. As a member, I think you should have received a copy of the release—
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
—describing the quality measures. I believe the coverage was that 93% of Canadians are registered, and they are registered at the correct address at a rate of 90%.
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Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Finally, if someone does move, if they go online and three or five minutes later they are...?
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Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
It's a very short transaction, yes. They'll need their date of birth if they are already registered.
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Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Thank you, Mr. Lamoureux.
We'll move to Mr. MacKenzie for a four-minute round.