Procedure and House Affairs Committee on June 17th, 2021

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

I had looked quite seriously at this one in the context of a two-day voting period, but my concern particularly is just to make sure that electors can access polling stations in a way that doesn't interfere with important obligations in their lives. I think with the Monday still established, I'm quite comfortable maintaining regular voting hours on the weekend.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

This just affects the weekend.

Mr. Clerk, I'm sorry about that. Go ahead.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you.

We're on CPC-10.

This does have implications for NDP-7, BQ-4 and G-2. Amendments NDP-7, BQ-4 and G-2 would not be movable due to line conflicts.

Mrs. Vecchio, are you going to be moving this amendment and explaining it?

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Yes. This amendment would remove the ability for special ballots that are postmarked before the polls close but received on the Tuesday after the election, when the election ends on a holiday Monday. This is probably exactly why.... The whole idea of not wanting an election on a holiday Monday ties into this.

I think one of the most important things is the ability to count the votes and for an election to almost be over, unless you're in one of those extremely tight ridings where they're going to count those 100 ballots that are between two people. I just think this is something that's so important. If we are allowing it...and I would especially like to thank the Chief Electoral Officer for having those ballot boxes sitting at those doors. When you're going to vote on the election day and you have an election ballot that you have not been able to send in, this is an opportunity. This is just something I see that....

If Canadians want to pull their hair out, then count election day as on the Tuesday for counting ballots. I look at this as a time that just will cause so much uncertainty for Canadians. It may be a very big win for one party or a very small win for one party. We don't know, and that's why I think we should be very actively thinking about how we can create something so people understand that this is the way the election works, this is how it's going.

If it's a holiday Monday and people are getting their ballots and they find out the election was this weekend, but we're still not over it.... I think we saw what happened in Newfoundland. It's pretty obvious that there could be some major complications.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mr. Blaikie.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

For my own part, having participated in a recount, I don't always share the same sense of urgency that some people may have with respect to getting everything counted on election night. I think what matters is that every vote is counted, that as many Canadians as possible are able to get their ballot in and the count is accurate.

I think if we have to wait a day or in some cases.... In other countries, very well-functioning democracies, there are places where they wait quite a long time, depending on their voting system. It can be up to a week or more in order to get the tally of the votes.

To me, very little hinges on getting the result that night as long as you have a good process. For my part, I think having a little bit of an extension on when ballots come in will make sure that more votes get counted. To me, that's the most important thing, which is why I will not be supporting this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you, Mr. Blaikie.

Would you like a recorded vote?

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Yes.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

We have a little less than half an hour to get through the rest. I'm just giving you a heads-up.

NDP-7 can be moved now. If adopted, BQ-4 and G-2 cannot be moved due to a line conflict.

Mr. Blaikie, you have the floor.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I think I have a pretty good sense of the will of the committee overall with respect to the content of our particular amendment, so I'll decline to move it in the interest of time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you.

Go ahead with BQ-4.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Madam Chair, this amendment would change the deadline for receiving ballots. It calls for ballots to be received up to the day of the vote, not the next day.

Ballots would be received until 6 p.m. on polling day, not the day after the vote, for several reasons. Among other things, it would eliminate having to wait until the next day to count the votes and get the results. I don't see why it would be problematic for people to ensure that ballots are cast on the day.

This law provides a lot of opportunities for voters. So I think it's reasonable to believe that they will have enough time to vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Ms. Vecchio.

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Thanks very much.

Thank you very much for putting this through, Mr. Therrien. I am concerned about some of the exact same things, so thank you very much. I think this is something that we have to look at.

I recognize that Daniel says there is not an urgency. In many ridings there is not that urgency, but among Canadians right now, there seems to be an urgency with many things. I truly believe there needs to be the feeling that.... Canadians need to feel good about our elections. They need to feel that they're trusted. Although we understand how it all works, and that includes the Chief Electoral Officer, I don't know if the public does. I don't know if they understand what we're trying to do. We are changing our legislation specifically for a pandemic election. There have to be good, strong communications. We have seen crappy communications for the last 16 months when it comes to a lot of government programs. Why do we think we're going to do it better now?

I really appreciate clause 4 with BQ‑4 in there. I feel that we'll be walking in blindly if we don't think it will be an issue.

Thanks very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Maybe Elections Canada will do a better job than the government, I guess, in your view.

Mr. Lukiwski.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Thank you, Chair.

I'm not sure if any other member of the committee went through the same experience I had. Back in 2004, my results were known on election night, even though I won by a massive majority of only 122 votes. It necessitated, of course, a recount, which happened a week or so later. The point is that we knew the results on election night. I was declared the victor on election night. Albeit it was not until close to midnight, it was the same evening.

I think it's extremely important that every Canadian has confidence in the fact that they will know the results of their candidate's election the evening of the election itself—not a day later, not a week later, but that evening. If there are discrepancies or if there are close elections, like mine was, that's when the normal process kicks in for recounts. We also have the ability, of course, to count special ballots, mail-in ballots, military ballots and the rest later than that.

The key point is that I believe it's absolutely imperative that Canadians know the results of the election on election night. That's why I will firmly state that we must have the results on the Monday, if there is a Monday election day, and not deviate from that in any way, shape or form.

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

There's lots of support for this.

Let's have a recorded vote for BQ‑4.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

I'm sorry about that.

We are moving on to G‑2. There is a spelling error in this as well.

Mr. Méla, is it just the word “period”? No. It's regarding lines 6 to 7.

[Philippe Méla]

Madam Chair, perhaps you can give me a second to check. It's probably because it's at the end of the line.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Mr. Turnbull, are you moving this?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Yes. This is to correct a drafting error in the English version.

If you look at the language on page 27 of our package, it says, “riod and is received at the office of that returning officer no later than 6:00”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay.

Is everyone in favour of fixing this drafting error?

Ms. Vecchio.

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I'll just say, way to go. This was a great find. I'm glad we're moving forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay.

Is there a consensus to move forward with G-2 as it's just drafting?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We go to CPC-11.

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

This amendment would require the Chief Electoral Officer to have support of the recognized parties in the House to exercise the proposed authority to vary most deadlines set by the act.

This is something that we're looking at, recognizing there will be many things, but also we do want to make sure there's confidence in the elections, so I am moving this as our amendment.