moved for leave to introduce Bill C-362, an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and the Canada Elections Act (confidence votes).
Madam Speaker, this bill if enacted would amend the Parliament of Canada Act and the Canada Elections Act.
It would end the uncertainty over when our general elections would be called. Provisions in this bill would call for the general elections to be held every four years. This would in no way contravene our Constitution. No constitutional amendments are required because the Governor General still has the authority to determine whether or not that election shall be called.
There are also amendments to the Canada Elections Act that would clarify when a byelection would be called. It would ensure that in constituencies where members no longer represent their constituents because they have either been appointed to the Senate, as we have seen in the past, or they have passed away, timely byelections would be called on fixed dates.
Provisions in this bill would come into play if there was a crisis thus giving the bill the flexibility to be very usable.
I ask that all members of the House give serious consideration to this bill. If the bill passes, we would know that the next general election would be held on October 20, 1997.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)