Evidence of meeting #124 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 election.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jean-François Morin  Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office
Manon Paquet  Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office
Philippe Méla  Legislative Clerk

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Go ahead, Ruby.

Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON

I just want to say that I have faith that Elections Canada would like to facilitate this and provide enough time for any given area to vote. In passing this amendment, I wouldn't want to limit their ability and their accessibility to get to other voters so that they can vote, essentially. That's the whole purpose. I want to leave it in their hands to make sure that as many people can vote as possible as they see fit.

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Yes, I can imagine some of the smaller communities having a nine-to-12 slot and then the next village down the road going from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and people.... I'd rather leave it to Elections Canada. Again, I haven't seen this as a problem.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

We can probably have one last intervention from Stephanie, and then we'll vote.

Did you have anything more you wanted to add?

11:30 a.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

This is a new system, as I understand it, that is occurring in terms of the itinerant polls. I've never heard of that word. I wonder what other instances it is used in.

Anyway, I think we just wanted to provide some structure for this system in an effort to keep it as simple as possible and perhaps have more assured success with this new system.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay. We will vote on CPC-41.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 115 agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 116)

On clause 116, we start with CPC-42. Again, it's the transfer certificate.

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

Yes, CPC-42 and CPC-43 are the same. I'll move both, and we can go to the vote right away, because we've had the debates.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay. We are voting on CPC-42.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

All in favour of CPC-43?

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 116 agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 117)

Just before we discuss clause 117, CPC-44 is, again, removing declaration of vouching, and this vote also applies to CPC-46 on page 80, as they are related by the concept of identification. We've sort of had a discussion on vouching.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

Yes, we have. Amendments CPC-44 through 46 are kind of a repeat performance.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

We will vote on CPC-44.

(Amendment negatived: [See Minutes of Proceedings])

CPC-46 is also then defeated.

CPC-45 is again on declaration, so we'll just go to the vote.

(Amendment negatived: [See Minutes of Proceedings])

NDP-11 was consequential to NDP-8. LIB-15 is consequential to LIB-9.

Shall clause 117 as amended pass?

(Clause 117 as amended agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 118)

We had CPC-46, and the vote was applied to it.

(Clause 118 agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings)

We're at NDP-12, which was consequential to NDP-1, which was defeated.

(Clause 119 agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings)

(On clause 120)

NDP-13 was consequential to NDP-1.

Then we have CPC-47. This is about having to count the votes right away at each advance polling division.

Does someone want to present this?

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

I think CPC-47 applies to providing notice of itinerant polls, the mobile polls.

Basically, it's the full notice of all mobile polls, the schedule to go with them. It's to provide that information in advance.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay.

11:35 a.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

It's so that voters will know when these mobile polls are happening and where they're happening and so on—the more information, the better.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Do the officials have any comments on this amendment?

11:40 a.m.

Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

It doesn't matter whether or not it passes?

11:40 a.m.

Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office

Manon Paquet

The only thing we could say is that the Chief Electoral Officer or returning officers are already obliged to provide the information on all advance polls, and that would include mobile polls. They have to provide information for all advance polling stations, and since the mobile polls are advance polling stations, that information would need to be provided.

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

If it's redundant, Chair....

I know my electors sometimes are unaware of things that are going on, but if we require Elections Canada to let people know when the mobile polls are happening, there's no harm in that. If it's redundant, then that's okay too. We'll have to let them know twice.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Is there further discussion?

Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON

If it's redundant, it's not about letting people know, but about letting the candidates know, so I don't see the advantage to having this. We trust Elections Canada, and I don't think this amendment is necessary.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Elections Canada is saying they have to give this information to everyone; this amendment is saying give it to the candidate. Is that what you're saying?

Go ahead, Mr. Morin.

11:40 a.m.

Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office

Jean-François Morin

I also wish to bring to the attention of the committee that this motion will delete subparagraph 172(a)(iv).

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

If you're eliminating those items, that will have some consequences.

What are you eliminating, Mr. Nater?

11:40 a.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

I don't know.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

You don't know. Okay.