Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 5th, 2026

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you for being here, Minister. I appreciate this.

In your opening remarks—and we've had this discussion before—you emphasized consensus. Mr. Jackson used the word “collaboration” in developing this legislation. I know that recommendations came from the public inquiry into foreign interference, the Chief Electoral Officer, the commissioner of Canada elections and, indeed, this committee's studies.

Why is this broad support particularly important right now and that Canadians see these as non-partisan electoral measures that we're taking?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Gatineau, QC]

I find, in a happy way, the contrast between having this debate and this discussion where you, members of the committee, are seeking to shape the provisions and details of this bill, and the fact that no one in our society seriously challenges the essence of the Canada Elections Act or its validity. No one questions that. No one throws the results of elections into doubt.

I would add that no one has found a more perfect system than the paper ballot—the pencil and the blind behind which people get to vote. Canada's democracy is an incredibly strong one. That is not to say it's perfect, which is why we need to make these adjustments from time to time.

I find that debating further improvements to a pretty good system to be a striking contrast with debates that go on elsewhere and seek to, in some cases, deny the franchise or at least impede the ability of people to participate in the election system and to alter boundaries in ways that political actors find appealing for themselves. That is a much different debate than the one we're having here today. I think all of us should be very proud of that.

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Is it fair to say, then, that the collaboration you referred to lets us focus on more targeted measures rather than broader, sweeping changes?

Are there translation issues?

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

He can't hear. Can you maybe speak a little louder, Mr. Louis?

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I can do that. I'll lean into it.

I wanted to know if that level of collaboration would let us focus in on—

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

Hang on, Mr. Louis. We're going to do a check. We'll pause your time. Can you talk into the mic?

[Tim Louis, Liberal, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Check one, two, three.

Is there nothing yet?

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

We're not getting anything. We're going to suspend for a minute.

[The Chair, Liberal, Chris Bittle]

This committee stands adjourned.