Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Oct. 18th, 2018

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

I would like a recorded vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 3 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 350)

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We will go on to clause 350. Four CPC amendments are proposed, one of which has been withdrawn. We'll start with CPC-168.

Stephanie.

[Stephanie Kusie]

This removes the offences of multiple or ineligible voting from the administrative monetary penalties regime.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We'll come back to the stricter regime.

[Stephanie Kusie]

Yes, correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Graham.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Why do we want to restrict the commissioner's ability to have AMP, which is a great addition in this act?

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

Are you looking for rhetoric lines?

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Feel free.

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

I would, but I don't want to delay us beyond the necessary time.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

We might be done by one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Okay.

All in favour of CPC-168, which reduces the commissioner's scope in dealing with these particular offences.

(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])

CPC-169 is withdrawn, so we're on CPC-170.

Stephanie.

[Stephanie Kusie]

This adjusts the penalty, making it a minimum $1,000 fine, or administrative monetary penalty, for issues that previously led to a candidate's deposit being forfeited.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Do the officials have any comment?

[LCdr Jean-François Morin]

This is a policy decision.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Nater.

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

An interesting observation of why this is important is that recently an Alberta court struck down the provisions of the candidate deposit. This would provide at least a $1,000 monetary situation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Graham.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Doesn't this lower the maximum possible fine?

[LCdr Jean-François Morin]

No, it imposes a minimum administrative monetary penalty of $1,000. Currently, at section 500 of the act, which imposes the penalties for committing an offence, there is no minimum penalty.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Is there a maximum?

[LCdr Jean-François Morin]

Yes, of course. The act always establishes maximum penalties, but in this case, it would be a novel use of a minimum penalty in the act. Currently, at proposed subsection 508.5(2), the maximum AMP that can be imposed on a person is $1,500.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

This would change that to $1,000.

[LCdr Jean-François Morin]

It would limit the commissioner's ability to determine an appropriate amount for the AMP.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Whatever you do, it's $1,000 instead of the flexibility of one dollar to $1,500. Okay.

Thank you.