Evidence of meeting #124 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ballots.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Good morning, everyone.
I just happened to walk into the room past President Macron, and I see we have mac and cheese for lunch today. That was a very appropriate choice made by the chef of Parliament. Merci.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Oh, come on, Luc. Give me that one, man.
Whether it was a good joke or not, we started the morning with a laugh, and that's what's important.
I'd like to welcome you all.
As you know, we have a couple of witnesses with us here this morning.
We welcome Stéphane Perrault, chief electoral officer.
Welcome, Mr. Perrault.
Also with us is Karine Morin, senior director, integrity, regulatory policy and Parliamentary affairs.
I noticed that we have Ms. Idlout with us this morning. Welcome. It's nice to see you. We sit together on the indigenous and northern affairs committee, but it's nice to see you in this context.
Ms. O'Connell, welcome to PROC, as well, this morning.
Colleagues, we will follow the usual format: six minutes in the first round, followed by five minutes, with a couple of two-and-a-half-minute slots.
Mr. Chief Electoral Officer, between you and Madame Morin, there will be 10 minutes for opening remarks. You don't need to use those 10 minutes, but they're yours should you feel you need them.
I'm sorry. I forgot to mention this: Before we begin, colleagues and witnesses who may not be in front of committee often, I have a reminder about the headsets. In order to avoid damaging audio feedback and other challenges that can pose a health issue for our interpreters—who work very hard on our behalf—please make sure that when they're not in use, they are placed on the sticker in front of you. Try to keep your phones away from the microphone when you are speaking. Of course, if it's in your ear, witnesses, that's fine.
With that, Monsieur Perrault, I will give you the floor.
Stéphane Perrault Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to speak with the committee this morning about Elections Canada's pilot project to include the Inuit language on federal election ballots in the electoral district of Nunavut.
I am accompanied by Karine Morin, who is responsible for the project at Elections Canada.
As it involves variations to several rules prescribed by the Canada Elections Act, this pilot requires approval under section 18.1 of the act, which provides for the Chief Electoral Officer to devise and test alternative voting processes with the prior approval of the committees of the House and Senate that normally consider electoral matters. I am therefore seeking approval from the committee today.
There are a few unique realities in Nunavut that support this pilot project. First, Inuktut is recognized as one of the official languages across the territory, which also constitutes one electoral district. Most of its population are Inuit, at 84% or a little more, and speak Inuktut as their mother tongue.
If approved by the committee, this project would help identify improvements to make the electoral process more inclusive and accessible to Inuktut speakers, while also identifying operational and legislative issues that would need to be addressed in order to implement this as a permanent service offering.
In addition, this pilot would complement Elections Canada's efforts to gradually offer more communication products in Inuktut in the electoral district of Nunavut. Committee members will recall that during the 2021 general election, new communication products included a ballot facsimile and a poster-sized version of the ballot that were provided in Inuktut at polling places.
When I appeared before this committee in March 2022 during its study of the inclusion of indigenous languages on federal election ballots, I provided different options for the committee's consideration for the inclusion of indigenous languages on federal ballots and explained some of the challenges for each.
In its report, the committee recommended that Elections Canada undertake a pilot project to include Inuktut on federal election ballots in the electoral district of Nunavut. Following your report, my office began developing a proposal for this pilot, informed by discussions with several Inuit representatives and organizations and aligned with the experience of Elections Nunavut. I would like to underline today that all those consulted have welcomed the initiative.
I would like to remind members that this is a pilot initiative that is unique to the electoral district of Nunavut. It is a new and exploratory initiative that forms part of Elections Canada's efforts to pursue gradual approaches to better reflect the linguistic reality of electors in Nunavut.
In brief, the pilot would allow candidates and political parties running in Nunavut to submit their names in Inuktut, whether in Inuktitut using syllabic symbols or in Inuinnaqtun using the Latin alphabet, as well as in English and in French, and to have those names appear on the regular ballot. This would also allow electors in Nunavut to write the name of a candidate in Inuktut on a special ballot when voting by mail or at the local Elections Canada office when using write-in ballots.
Candidates and political parties would be invited to provide their names in Inuktut. Elections Canada would not translate or transliterate candidate or party names and would not require identification documents to verify candidate names in Inuktut. This is the same approach currently used by Elections Nunavut.
As we plan for the implementation of this pilot, there are a number of challenges and limitations that we are aware of. One of those challenges is ensuring quality control of the regular ballot in Inuktut, within the very short time frame between the close of nominations and the printing and shipping of the ballots so that they arrive in time for advance voting in the different communities in Nunavut. We have retained the services of readers of Inuktut to assist us with this task.
Another challenge arises from the fact that we are not planning any IT system changes as part of the pilot. This means that while Inuktut names will be reflected on the ballots, it will not be possible to fully incorporate Inuktut into all electoral information products, such as election results on our website on election night.
To ensure the integrity of the counting process for special or write-in ballots, the pilot will also rely on hiring readers of Inuktut at the local Elections Canada office in Iqaluit and at the counting facility here in Ottawa. Election workers who read Inuktut would assist in recording the intentions of voters who used Inuktut when filling out special ballots. It's important to be aware that Inuktitut is not a fixed language and that different symbols can be used to express a similar sound, so the name may vary. We need people who read the language, to be able to make sure that they are not unduly rejected if they're written in a different manner. Political parties would also be invited to send observers who can read Inuktut to maintain the integrity of the counting process during the pilot.
With respect to next steps, I have also written to the Senate committee and hope to meet with them later this fall. If we receive approval for the pilot project from both committees, we will invite the political parties to submit their proposed party names in Inuktut as part of our first implementation phase.
I plan to write to both committees after the pilot to report on operational and legislative issues that would need to be considered should Parliament wish to make this a permanent service offering, as I think is certainly the objective.
Before I conclude, I will point out to members that I have provided a table of the variations to the Canada Elections Act. There are not many, but they are required to carry out the pilot project. If it's approved, I hope they will be included in the committee's report.
I appreciate the committee's invitation and interest in this project. I would be pleased to answer your questions.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Thank you very much, Mr. Perrault.
Thank you for that.
Thank you for the very clear and instructive materials that you've provided. I am looking forward to the conversation today.
With that, we will turn to our first line of questioning, which goes to the Conservatives.
Mr. Cooper, the floor is yours for six minutes.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Let me say, at the outset, that this is a worthwhile pilot project, and I want to congratulate you, Mr. Perrault, for putting it forward.
You stated that the pilot project would allow candidates and political parties to submit their names in Inuktut, whether using syllabic symbols or using the Latin alphabet, as well as in English and in French. From the standpoint of what a ballot would look like, hypothetically, there could be four different versions of a candidate's name and political affiliation. Is that correct?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
There are more likely three versions of the candidates' names—usually French and English are identical—and possibly two variations of the party name.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
When you appeared at this committee in March 2022, you stated:
The use of printed ballots with more than two languages raises important questions regarding accessibility and design. Putting the names of parties and candidates in multiple languages on a ballot risks making a crowded, busy text that may be difficult for some voters to comprehend, especially voters with low literacy levels or an intellectual disability, as well as voters with a visual impairment.
Do you still share those concerns? If so, what measures is Elections Canada planning to undertake, pursuant to the pilot project, to mitigate these concerns?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
I will put my comments in context. At the time, the committee was discussing the possibility of a broader use of indigenous languages on the ballot, including in electoral districts where there could be, with the 1% threshold, up to five indigenous languages in addition to French and English.
That was a very serious concern, in my opinion. I am much less concerned with that here, because we are talking about two or possibly three languages. I don't see that as a major issue. I think it's something that we will have to measure and appreciate as part of this pilot project.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Thank you for that.
In the briefing material prepared by Elections Canada with respect to the pilot project, last updated on July 29 of this year, the following was noted: “Special ballots are being considered but further analysis is required at this time to ensure the integrity of the process is maintained and the operational requirements are met.”
You mentioned that special ballots will be included in the pilot project. I think we have a sample of a special ballot. Has that analysis been completed?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
We have made the decision that we need to absolutely have readers of the language in order to be sure that the ballots are not unduly rejected. Based on consultations and discussions that we've had, it's very clear that we should have people who speak the language in order to ensure that they're not unduly rejected.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Maybe you could elaborate a little bit on what specific concerns there were with respect to the integrity of the process as it concerns special ballots.
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
The concern that we had in mind was the fact that, as I indicated, the written form of Inuktitut is not fixed. A person's name can be expressed using different symbols to indicate the same intent. Someone who is not familiar with the language may not be able to properly understand the voters' intentions. We do need people who are capable of reading the language fluently to make sure that ballots are not unduly rejected.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
Are there any other issues of quality control that you see? Certainly you've cited one example of that, but are there other concerns?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
I would say that, theoretically, when somebody submits a name, we need to make sure that the name is not fanciful or is not “vote for me”. Not being a reader of the language, I could not make that determination. That's why I indicated that we have retained the services of people who speak the language to make sure that there is no significant abuse or error in the construct of the ballot itself.
Now, we've had discussions with our colleagues at Elections Nunavut, and that is not something they have experienced, but we do need to make sure, because we do not have that linguistic capability.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
On that point, when you referenced Elections Nunavut, the process that is being proposed in the pilot with respect to candidates making a submission as to how their name would appear on the ballot is the same process that has been practised by Elections Nunavut. Is that correct? How long has that practice been in place in Nunavut?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
It is the process that they have in place. I cannot answer your second question as to how long. It's certainly been several electoral cycles. They have not encountered any issues with that, but they do not translate or transliterate the names. I understand that typically candidates do submit both in the Latin alphabet and in Inuktitut. There are linguistic variations. They have 25 communities with linguistic variations, but they have one writing for each of those communities. The candidates for those communities use the language as it is used in those communities, and that does not present a challenge.
At the federal level, with a single candidate for the district, they will use one variation of that language, and that will be it. There won't be 25 variations of that writing.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ben Carr
Thanks very much, Mr. Cooper.
It's over to Mrs. Romanado for six minutes.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Monsieur Perrault, it's a pleasure to see you again, and we're happy to have you back to present this study to us. I remember working with the PROC committee on this study, so I'm happy to have you back here today to give us an update.
I have three questions.
You mentioned that you're going to also be presenting to the Senate committee. Because we are in a minority Parliament and an election can happen at any time, are you prepared to launch this pilot project for the next election, should it be called before October 20, 2025?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
I can only launch the project with the approval of both committees.
That cannot happen because there are deviations from the act, which are recorded in the document that I've shared. There's a need for that. Once we have that.... We've translated all of the material; you have copies with you. There are other materials, as well. However, we have not produced them. We have to print them and put them in packages, so that they can be ready to be delivered. We do need to engage with parties to make sure they provide their names, should they wish to do that. Then, of course, we have to train the workers.
It would not be an instant implementation. The sooner I can get the approval, the sooner I can get working on making that happen.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
You mentioned that it wouldn't be possible to fully incorporate Inuktut in all electoral information products. You mentioned the website. If a candidate wants to learn more about how to put forward their candidacy to run in the next federal election, will that information be provided on the web to potential candidates?
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
I'd have to validate that, but certainly the local returning officer would be there to assist all the candidates who want to put in their nominations.
This is a process that, as I said, is very similar—apart from the party names—to the one used in territorial elections, so the candidates would not be unfamiliar with that process. We're following the same approach.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
This may sound like a bizarre question, but with respect to the size of the ballot.... We've just gone through two by-elections where one had the longest ballot. I believe that in the last election, there were 91 candidates on the ballot.
You mentioned the difficulty with the time between when someone submits their nomination package and becomes an official candidate and the time when you have to print the ballots or the special ballots and terms. Should this happen again when we have the election in Nunavut—if we had a similar situation with 91 candidates submitting their names—what challenge does that pose for you? I can't even imagine the size of the ballot, let alone your ability to quickly have that documentation printed.
Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
That's correct. We also have to validate the names.
Obviously, we haven't seen that in Nunavut. There are typically fewer candidates there, and we are not planning for a 91-candidate ballot in multiple Inuktut languages. If that were to happen, this could possibly be a roadblock to the implementation of this project.
I'm optimistic that this would not happen in Nunavut.
