Mr. Speaker, I have listened carefully all day to this debate on the funding of the electoral system in Canada. I really regret that the members opposite, in the heat of the moment no doubt, seem to have forgotten that we are debating one of the foundations of one of the most successful democracies in the world, Canada.
As this is a Bloc motion, I know that the Bloc has no interest in the future of this great country, but I do believe that the members of the other parties opposite, like ourselves, do believe in the future of Canada and do believe that Canada is successful because of the strength of its democratic institutions.
At this point in the debate I would like to ask all members to take a step back and think calmly about the strength and integrity of the electoral process here in Canada. Let us consider some of the many facets of our electoral system that give it the reputation it so richly deserves.
As in so many other fields, Canada is internationally acknowledged as a leader in electoral management. This acknowledgement is also evident here at home at the provincial and municipal levels. Our electoral system serves Canadians well as they exercise their democratic right to vote.
I will touch on some specific illustrations to support this point. First, I point to the independent and non-partisan nature of the office of the chief electoral officer. We consciously set this officer apart to ensure the electoral process is fair and non-partisan.
This is the case, as members know. For example, in the last two general elections there have been no election scandals reported to the commissioner of Elections Canada. Canadians elections are not tainted by the machinations we so often see in other countries, machinations which rob the citizens of those countries of their vote.
Furthermore, should there be any complaints they would be considered and prosecuted if necessary by an independent commissioner. Every system set up by human beings has its limitations and every good human system, if it is well designed, has to have a mechanism for dealing with problems as they arise, and that is the case here. We have an independent commissioner.
Equally fundamental to the strength of our democracy are the principles and key elements which imbue the Canada Elections Act and speak to excellent elections management in this country. The principles of the act are fairness to candidates and electors, participation to encourage candidates to come forward and electors to vote, and transparency in financial contributions and elections costs.
I submit no election system in the world is more transparent than that of this country. The four key elements of the electoral regime further support the lofty but for Canadians attainable objective of fair and effectively managed elections.
The first element is spending limits to ensure an equal playing field among candidates. The second is public funding, that is to say partial reimbursement of expenses and tax deductions to enhance participation. This has been discussed today. This public funding is a balance of private support and public support.
The third element is public disclosure of expenses to enhance transparency. The fourth is access to broadcasting to ensure that all parties' messages are heard.
I stress among those the spending limits. In my mind these are very special elements of our system. Even if you have the money, even if you are very wealthy in this country because of the spending limits you cannot buy your way to elected office.
These principles and key elements are reflected throughout the Canada Elections Act and give us a system we can all be proud of, one that works well for Canadian democracy.
We can look at the interest of many other countries in our election process as a reflection of our own ability to manage elections. Elections Canada has worked with over 80 countries providing expertise and advice in electoral management. In some instances Canadian election officials travel to these other countries to provide on the spot expertise. Russia is one good example of that.
In other cases our ability to manage elections has led to our providing operational support for actual elections. We remember Bosnia and South Africa as good examples of that. As well, Elections Canada is engaged with the Mexican and Czechoslovakian governments in electoral management questions at the present time.
I think hon. members will agree that this is a most worthwhile facet of our foreign policy, helping other countries to better manage their elections at the same time as exchanging election management information and gaining ideas from those other countries.
Another dimension of this international reputation that we have is the frequency with which Canada is asked to provide observers to elections in other countries. Often we see countries coming out of long periods of strife anxious to develop a sound electoral process.
Canada is frequently there as part of an international observer team to provide a measure of reassurance to voters and to advise the national government. As we speak, a team of members from this House is doing exactly that, supervising elections in Romania.
Our ability to manage elections is also acknowledged closer to home by a number of provincial governments. They reached agreements with Elections Canada that provide for elections management co-operation that will save taxpayers money and provide for more effective elections.
These agreements exist, for example, with the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and, dare I mention, with the province of Quebec where we help conduct elections and where we have been asked to conduct elections.
These agreements with the provinces flow from important changes that Elections Canada discussed with this House last fall and which were voted into law in the last general election.
Chief among these further modernizations in election management was the national register of voters. Drawing on voter information gathered during the last ever federal door to door enumeration and information gathered by other federal and provincial sources, Elections Canada can now provide a list of electors at very short notice for general or byelections.
This means no more costly door to door enumerations, faster access to lists for all parties once an election is called and a shorter, less costly elections period.
This election, too, which was carefully reviewed in this House by the last Parliament is of great interest to the provinces that I mentioned. By agreeing to share voter information with Elections Canada, they will have access to the register for their own electoral purposes. This saves them the cost of door to door enumerations.
The co-operation does not stop at the provincial level. Under the Canada Elections Act, voter information exchanges can take place with municipal governments, as they do, and even with school boards on condition that they use the register data for electoral purposes only.
We have a clear indication of approval of federal elections management from provincial governments. This is an unheralded example of the kind of intergovernmental co-operation Canadians expect in this era of tight budgets and technological opportunities.
Members need only consider their own experiences last summer in earning the trust of their constituents to know how well elections are managed in Canada. Despite the many changes and improvements introduced at very short notice, the election was a success. Thousands of people were recruited and trained to provide parties, candidates and electors with advice and assistance which contributed to the success of the election.
Among those thousands were the couple of thousand volunteers who helped me in Peterborough riding. I want to thank them for their contributions of all sorts to my campaign and their contributions to the elections process in Canada.
I remind members that they do have and will play an important part in ensuring that Canada's elections are well managed. Through debate and committee work we will be able to contribute to the electoral system, as have our predecessors as recently as last year.
The principles of the Canada Elections Act are to be emulated. The central elements of the act provide the foundation for a quality electoral regime. Our electoral process serves the needs of Canadians, parties and legislators.
We have the best electoral system in the world but, as I said, no human system is perfect. That is why all good systems have fail safe mechanisms and review mechanisms built into them. That is so with our fine electoral system.
For example, we have built in the referral of problems to an independent commissioner and, if necessary, to the police and the courts. Also we have public review of elections matters following elections, between elections here in this House and in its committees.
I urge opposition members engaged in this debate not to be so carried away with the heat of the moment that they seriously damage the finest electoral system in the world.