Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Oct. 9th, 2025

Evidence of meeting #6 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was candidates.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Actions of the "Longest Ballot Committee" in Recent Canadian Elections

Members speaking

Before the committee

Moscrop As an Individual

Davies Northern Perspective

Pammett Distinguished Research Professor, Political Science, Carleton University, As an Individual

Ann Garnett Class of 1965 Professor in Leadership, Royal Military College of Canada, As an Individual

12:55 p.m.

Bloc

Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC

What I would like to know is whether subjecting candidates who put forward their names to fines or more consequences is something to consider. I'm talking about candidates who violate the Canada Elections Act, as is assumed to be the case. Maybe we need to put a bit of fear into candidates wishing to put their name forward for the longest ballot. It could result in fewer people wanting their name on the ballot, so we wouldn't see these record-breaking ballots.

12:55 p.m.

Class of 1965 Professor in Leadership, Royal Military College of Canada, As an Individual

Holly Ann Garnett

What we have to be very clear about is what kind of violation is being made. In many respects, simply putting your name forward shouldn't be something that.... People shouldn't fear that maybe they're not a legitimate candidate and they're going to get charged for that or whatnot.

One thing that could be helpful is for Elections Canada to make it very clear to individuals seeking to protest using the ballot where the parameters are and what the consequences would be, to ensure that they're going into this following the correct procedures.

Other than that, I'm afraid I don't have more suggestions in terms of penalties or consequences.

October 9th, 2025 / 12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle

There seems to have been a little bit of loss in translation. If you'd like to ask another question before we adjourn for today, that would be acceptable.

12:55 p.m.

Bloc

Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have the same question for Professor Pammett.

Should we hold candidates more accountable and make them more aware of the consequences? If they realize they are violating the Canada Elections Act, it could deter them from putting their name forward for the longest ballot. Some may not even be aware. It could be a deterrent in terms of the number of people wanting to put their name on the ballot.

12:55 p.m.

Distinguished Research Professor, Political Science, Carleton University, As an Individual

Jon Pammett

My initial reaction to that is that it's probably not necessary to go that far. I would have thought that the other two reforms that are being talked about—the unique signatures and agents—would solve the problem. I'm not a lawyer. I don't know whether trying to prove prior knowledge might be more trouble than it's worth in the legal sense.

That's just a response off the top of my head.

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle

Thank you so much.

I'd like to thank our witnesses.

I did not welcome Mr. Kram to our meeting, so I will say hello as we're about to adjourn.

Happy Thanksgiving. We'll see you on the other side of the constituency week.

This meeting is adjourned.