Evidence of meeting #123 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clause.
A video is available from Parliament.
LCdr Jean-François Morin
At that point, returning officers were still appointed by the Governor in Council, but the Canada Elections Act was amended a few years ago to provide that returning officers are now appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer following a fair recruitment process.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
I note that Mr. Cullen has been re-elected since then and knows that information.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Well, that was despite the best efforts of some of those returning officers and some voters, but I understand that.
LCdr Jean-François Morin
Also, returning officers are now subject to a code of conduct that prevents them from acting in a partisan manner.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Okay. I've not read their code of conduct. I'm a bad democrat that way.
Again, to go back to this amendment, what is being attempted is to limit it so that in any group of returning officers, no more than 50% can be named by one party. Have I got that right?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
If there is no further discussion, we will now vote.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clauses 29 and 30 agreed to)
(On clause 31)
CPC-11 is related to when you have merged parties and you need to know the number of votes in the previous election. The present proposal refers to the biggest of the merged parties, and the CPC proposal is for the total of the merged parties.
I would like to ask the witnesses about the reason you need these numbers of electors. The title of this section in the act is “Appointments”. What appointments is that talking about?
LCdr Jean-François Morin
As we just mentioned a few minutes ago, political parties will still be able to recommend election officers to the attention of returning officers. The ratio that is assigned to each party is determined with reference to the results of the last general election.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
In the marginal notes on page 18 for section 42, it says “Attribution of votes for appointments”. I'm just curious as to what the “appointments” are.
LCdr Jean-François Morin
It is for the appointment of election officers. For example, in the 43rd general election, the parties will be able to recommend to returning officers the names of potential election officers in various electoral districts.
Had two major parties merged following the previous general election, the 42nd general election, this section deals with how these votes from the 42nd general election would be counted toward the attribution of names that can be recommended by each registered party.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Okay. Do you want to introduce your amendment? You're suggesting the number of votes for both parties that merged, whereas the present proposal is that the largest party of the—
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
It's on the best result, yes. This essentially just mirrors the party's allocation of broadcasting time. It's in coordination with that.
NDP
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
You were opposing?
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 31 agreed to)
(Clauses 32 to 35 inclusive agreed to)
(On clause 36)
We're on CPC-12. Right now you don't need to get parental consent to be on the pre-registered voters list. I think this CPC amendment is suggesting that if you're younger than 16, you need to get parental consent.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
I think we just recently got a paper from Elections Canada noting that they did research on this, and it included other countries.Where this was—
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
We have to get better break weeks planned for you, Chair.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
We're all looking shocked and incredulous that you got that report.
