Evidence of meeting #125 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

Trevor Knight  Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Elections Canada
Jean-François Morin  Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office
Anne Lawson  Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Regulatory Affairs, Elections Canada
Stephanie Kusie  Calgary Midnapore, CPC
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Lauzon
Jennifer O'Connell  Pickering—Uxbridge, Lib.
Linda Lapointe  Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Lib.
Manon Paquet  Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office
Philippe Méla  Legislative Clerk

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Good afternoon. Welcome to the 125th meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Emmanuel Dubourg and Vance Badawey, welcome back.

Martin Shields, welcome to PROC.

In addition to the officials from the Privy Council, Jean-François Morin and Manon Paquet, we have Elections Canada officials with us on very short notice: Anne Lawson, who is the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Regulatory Affairs, who's been here many times during the discussions; and Trevor Knight, Senior Counsel, Legal Services.

Thank you both for being here on such short notice. It's amazing. You're always helpful here. I'm sure we'll have some technical questions for you.

In a moment, we will continue with clause-by-clause study on Bill C-76, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other acts and to make certain consequential amendments, but first we're going to deal with something regarding clause 331.

Mr. Nater.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Chair, I just want to advise the committee that based on the decisions we made this morning, we will be withdrawing amendments CPC-145 and CPC-189.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Amendments CPC-145 and CPC-189 are withdrawn.

Ms. Lawson, just for curiosity's sake, while people are making their notes, this has nothing to do with anything we're going to debate now, but have we ever had a polling station with more than 10 polling divisions in it?

3:35 p.m.

Trevor Knight Senior Counsel, Legal Services, Elections Canada

It's not very common, but yes, we have.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Thank you.

(On clause 191)

We're going to start by having John Nater introduce one of the new Conservative clauses, reference number 10008652.

Can you explain this to us?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

This basically clarifies accounting procedures after the election has closed in terms of the ballot boxes.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

In what way?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

It's a housekeeping amendment.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

What does it do?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Basically, each ballot box is closed and then you do the counting. It's just a clarification. When you have multiple polls at a single station, each box gets closed individually and carried off.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Are there any comments from anyone not in the Conservative Party? I'm including the officials.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

I'm sorry I'm late. Can I get an update on which number we're on?

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

We're on clause 191.

We've also withdrawn amendments CPC-145 and CPC-189 because of decisions we made this morning.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Okay, CPC-189 is much further down the list. I'm following now.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Do the officials have any comment on this proposed amendment?

Mr. Nater, while people are thinking, do you want to say again what this amendment does that's not done already in the act?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Sure. Basically, when you have multiple ballot boxes or multiple stations at a single location, it just clarifies “Immediately after the close of a polling station”, in respect of “each ballot box”. It's just clarified in that measure. On page 100, line 16, of the actual bill, we're adding that in.

Currently it says:

Immediately after the close of a polling station, an election officer who is assigned to the polling station shall count the votes

We're just saying, at the close of “each ballot box”.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

This is a technical amendment, so Elections Canada, feel free to make any comments.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Chair, this is through you to Elections Canada.

First of all, thank you for making yourselves available. Some of these are, obviously, policy debates that we're dealing with as a committee, which we're not asking you or the Privy Council officials to weigh in on. Some of them are just logistical questions. Many of us have been involved in many elections, but not on your side of things, managing the election.

My question on this one, in terms of what John has suggested, is about the practical ability to do what's being proposed under this amendment. Again, I'm not passing judgment as to its merit but its functionality.

Do you understand what's being proposed, and if so, is it practical?

Maybe Mr. Morin wants to comment as well.

3:35 p.m.

Lieutenant-Commander Jean-François Morin Senior Policy Advisor, Privy Council Office

I have a question for Mr. Nater.

I'm sorry. I know it's not usual for witnesses to ask questions.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Go ahead. He needs the practice.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

3:35 p.m.

LCdr Jean-François Morin

I need a clarification on the amendment.

Am I correct in understanding that the effect of this amendment would be to require that, in the absence of candidates or representatives, at least two electors attend each ballot box?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

No, that's the next one, amendment CPC-69.

Why don't I read what it says in the bill now and what is being proposed?

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Yes, go ahead.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON

Currently, the bill says:

283(1) Immediately after the close of a polling station, an election officer who is assigned to the polling station shall count the votes in the presence of

We're proposing that it read:

283(1) Immediately after the close of a polling station, in respect of each ballot box established at the polling station, an election officer who is assigned to the polling station shall count the votes in the presence of

We are just clarifying that where there is a polling location with multiple polls, each box shall—