Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Oct. 17th, 2018

[Philippe Méla]

The bill is adopted at second reading by the House based on the number of concepts they want to add to the act, so those are the parameters that you have to stand by basically, the frame, if you will.

In this case, there are two problems, if you want to put it that way. There's the concept in itself that you are adding some criteria to something that's not envisioned within the frame, and the other problem is you're amending a section of the act that's not amended by the bill. That is the problem that Mr. Nater has been raising all day.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you for the explanation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Because of Mr. Nater, Mr. Cullen is ruled out, is inadmissible.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Clause 277.1 is inadmissible, so it's not added to the act.

There are no amendments on clauses 278 and 279.

(Clauses 278 and 279 inclusive agreed to)

(On clause 280)

There's CPC-133.

Mr. Nater, could you introduce CPC-133, please.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Chair, this would require the Chief Electoral Officer to publish the nomination expense limits both in the Canada Gazette and on the website of Elections Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Bittle.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

The CEO already publishes the nomination campaign expense limits. I don't feel there's a need to legislate this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

You're saying they're already doing it, so you don't have to legislate it.

Do the witnesses have any comments?

[Trevor Knight]

We do publish them, yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

You already publish them. Okay.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 280 agreed to)

(Clauses 281 to 291 inclusive agreed to)

There was a big high-five by Mr. Reid. We'll note that.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

I like those kinds of clauses.

(On clause 292)

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

There's amendment CPC-134.

Mr. Nater, would you present that amendment, please.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Chair, earlier we discussed the pro-rated spending limits for longer campaigns. This deals with a similar concept. This specifically applies to longer campaigns where the election day has been postponed for whatever reason, a natural disaster or the death of a candidate, for example. I think this one is important and eminently supportable, and I can't imagine anyone voting against this one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We'll find out if that's true.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

I'll wait and see the results.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 292 agreed to on division)

(Clauses 293 to 296 inclusive agreed to)

(On clause 297)

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

I think there's an outstanding amendment, CPC-135.

Mr. Nater talked about this.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

You said outstanding. That's a great amendment, right?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

There are several meanings of that word.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Yes.

This refers to members who have not filed their expense reports stemming from the election, of which the Speaker is informed. We are making an amendment that the Speaker would also inform the House very quickly, before adjournment of the next sitting. When a member isn't entitled to sit because of a failure to file, the House should be informed, not just the Speaker.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Is there any debate on CPC-135?

Mr. Longfield.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

We're telling the Speaker how to do his job. He already does his job well, so it shouldn't be in the act. It's up to the Speaker to call out members who need to be called out.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

I have a premonition that Mr. Nater may want to speak again.

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Actually, believe it or not—

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I don't believe it.