Thank you, Tom.
The Chief Electoral Officer was clear. He said that if the election was held over three days, it would cause problems with polling stations and that it would be difficult to find available locations for the entire voting period. This would result in people being further away from their polling stations, which would make the situation raised by Ms. Vecchio worse.
Let me come back to the availability of staff. If we opt for a two-day period, Saturday and Sunday, people who work during the week and students could work on the weekend. We raised this idea in the past, as did the Chief Electoral Officer. He said it was a way for him to maximize recruitment.
The Chief Electoral Officer told us that he saw two possibilities, either to do it on Saturday and Sunday or on Monday. He also said that a three-day period, i.e., Saturday, Sunday and Monday, was a no‑go. I don't have as much experience as he does, but I can tell you that it's important, because he has come back to this. Indeed, he told us so when he first visited us in October. He also wrote it in his report. Following our recommendations and the drafting of our report, he came back to the committee, looked at the bill, told us that it was not adequate and that he was presenting us with an amendment. Clearly, we need to listen to the Chief Electoral Officer, and the vote should be held either on Saturday and Sunday or on Monday. His amendment proposes Saturday and Sunday.
That is why I am tabling this amendment, which spans five clauses. I think they are clauses 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. This is perhaps the most important part of Bill C‑19. I can't imagine that we not listen to the person who is responsible for managing elections in Canada and in Quebec.