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.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
It doesn't look as if November 30 is a problem. What if the writ were issued during December? That wouldn't be a problem because it would be too far out. Right.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
It's a situation in which you would potentially have polling days on Boxing Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and that type of thing.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I already see two weeks of flexibility in this. It's not as if you have to go 50 days—that's the upper limit, not the lower limit. I don't see what we're getting out of this at all.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Are you saying that if they just called it on the short end of the stick, it would be early December, mid-December?
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Yes, you have your time. If you have to go longer, you have two extra weeks. You can go past Christmas and New Year's.
I don't see the advantage for that situation, which would happen once in three generations.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
There are other dates, as well: the nomination deadline date and dates that have to be complied with. If you're doing it over the Christmas season, there are going to be days that are going to be problematic for Elections Canada to find staff and to have offices open.
I recall that in 2005-2006, Elections Canada's offices were open on Christmas Day. It's problematic when you have to find people to staff those offices at that point in time. It's a range, an extra seven days, and I think it provides some flexibility when those situations happen in minority parliaments, and there could well be minority parliaments in the future.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Is there any further discussion on CPC-15?
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
CPC-16 is relating also to adding seven days to the election period.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Mr. Chair, this is just extending the writ period up to a 57-day period, again giving some flexibility for timing at different points in time. It's an extra week added to the maximum, and it provides for the ability to—
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Not necessarily, but it's potentially related to the Christmas season, or to other significant—
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Exactly. It provides some flexibility for significant dates in the calendar that could be proven problematic, depending on the timing, such as holidays or significant religious observances.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Isn't it redundant? It really it can't go that long anyway.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Well, we'll vote anyway.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
There was NDP-4, but that was lost with NDP-1.
Shall clause 47—
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
(Clause 47 agreed to: yeas 6; nays 3 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(On clause 48)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
We're going on to CPC-17, which I can't find. If CPC-17 is adopted, then CPC-18 and CPC-19 cannot be moved, because they amend the same line.
Can we have an introduction of CPC-17?
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
I believe it's just essentially opposing the 50-day maximum writ period, which I would expect the government would be in support of, considering how well it worked for them in the last election. In fact, I remember being at Mercedes Stephenson's wedding when the election was called, and thinking, “Federal election—day one”. It was a sad day. It was a day in August.
That's just to say that you should support this amendment. This is something that has historically worked in the government's favour.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Just to clarify as well, this specific clause 48 applies to elections that have been rescheduled based on a candidate's death or a natural disaster, so that is the differentiation in these ones.