Evidence of meeting #32 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clause.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I would like to move G-3. It's a motion that I think stems very clearly from a suggestion that was made by Daniel Blaikie. I thank him for that.
I think the intention here is to improve access to special ballots through Canada Post offices. This amendment facilitates that happening. We feel strongly that this will help many electors be able to access registration for special ballots in a much easier fashion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay.
There are some hands up.
It will be Ms. Vecchio and then Mr. Blaikie.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Thanks very much.
I do really appreciate this. I just want to clarify that it is with regard to getting the ballot. It's not that they would have the ballots available as well. Canada Post would not have access to ballots or anything like that. It would be a special application.
As well, have we spoken to Canada Post on this? Perhaps the officials can tell us whether or not this has already been discussed.
Liberal
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Events and Innovation, Elections Canada
Thank you, Madam Chair.
We have had conversations with Canada Post informally on the possibility of offering application forms at post offices in remote communities where electors are away from the office of the returning officers, or wherever it would be easier to get there and apply to vote by special ballot on site. In remote communities, that could be useful.
We've had conversations with Canada Post. I can't speak for Canada Post, but this is something that we've been looking at.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I just want to recognize that I think this is part of that mission to really ensure that voting is as accessible as possible to all Canadians during the context of a pandemic, in particular where mail-in ballots will be more important than ever. I might have preferred to also see something to the effect that Canada Post employees who daily are checking people's IDs for important purposes, including quite expensive packages, would be able to do that part of it right at the desk and have it mailed in.
I think this is a step in the right direction in terms of getting ballots into the hands of people who want to vote by mail during a pandemic election. I'm glad to make some progress. Of course, I recognize that I'm not in a position to make progress alone at this committee. I will be supporting this proposal.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Could we have a vote on amendment G-3?
(Amendment agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Next is NDP-9.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
In consequence of the previous discussion and the vote on that amendment, I will decline to move NDP-9.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Thank you very much.
This amendment would remove the ability of an elector provided with a special ballot to vote at an advance poll or regular poll if the elector makes a solemn declaration or if the returning officer otherwise permits it. One of the things we had a lot of discussion about was just the logistics, the in-and-out process. I understand the importance of everybody voting, but we also want to ensure that democracy is upheld. What do these lists look like? How well-informed and up-to-date are they? That's what we're looking at.
The bottom line is that it's about the special ballot and when they can and cannot vote. I'll leave it there.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Yes. Maybe just a quick clarification from Elections Canada.... This issue would likely be a moot point if we were able to go to the electronic voters list. That would be my understanding. If we're at the point...and my understanding is that we're not at that point yet and, hopefully, perhaps by the next general election, we could be at the point where there's an electronic polling list.
I know we've talked in the past about a “vote at any table” model, but just to clarify, this would basically be a stopgap to ensure that there's no double voting and no opportunity to do that, unless, obviously, there was a solemn declaration or maybe some discretion for permission otherwise.
I think we all know family members, friends and colleagues who misplace things, us included sometimes, or we accidentally put things through shredders that shouldn't have been put through shredders. I think this is kind of that ability to ensure that there's one ballot but also it provides a stopgap as well that, if something happens, there is an opportunity to get a ballot. That's where that is coming from, Madam Chair.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
On behalf of my husband, I thank you, because he will lose his. Thank you.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Just very quickly, I think C‑19 already, if I'm not mistaken, has within it that flexibility. If someone had registered for a special ballot and then wants to go in and physically vote at a polling location, it is already included. At least in the kit that was provided to us, it does require that an elector must attest that they have not already voted, sign a declaration to that effect or return their special ballot kit in person at their polling station or returning office. If I'm not mistaken, that's already in there. I think that provides the reassurance that the members opposite are looking for.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Very briefly, because I don't want to draw this out, this also covers the cases where the ballot no longer exists, where there's no possibility for the elector to return the ballot, whether it's been lost, misplaced, shredded, left out in the rain, etc. That's where that is coming from, again, provided that a solemn declaration or some permission from the returning officer will allow that.
Again, I don't want to prolong discussion further on this, but again, in the future, this will all be rendered moot when we are able to get to the point of electronic voters lists. Dealing with it in that way may require some additional rural broadband investments in places like Perth—Wellington, but I think that's where we can all hope we can get to in the longer term.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The question is on amendment CPC‑15.
(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We are on G‑4.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I'll speak to this one very briefly. I would like to move this one and also acknowledge the incredible input and leadership of Mr. Blaikie and the NDP in working on this one. I think the main thrust of it came from them, but I think, as Mr. Blaikie mentioned earlier, that the drafting of it was a little bit more specific in this version, so I think we can just go to a vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Can we carry it on division?
Ms. Vecchio, do you have objections to that?
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
I think we do have some questions on this one.
I'm just looking at the special ballots. This is something that you guys are looking at putting forward. Is it going to have the same scrutiny as every other station, including those advance polls? I think that has been one of our greatest concerns. It's just to make sure that it all sits in the same thing. We support voting in the universities, but I just want to ensure that it has all of the rigorous work that's being done as at some of the advanced polls. That's the beginning of the question there.