moved for leave to introduce Bill C-278, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act (appointment of election officers).
Mr. Speaker, one of the most distressing aspects of the present elections act, and frankly the new Bill C-2 which is presently before the House, is that most of the field officers for Elections Canada are political appointees of the parties. In other words, it is patronage ridden.
Elections Canada does not even advise emerging democracies or third world countries to work under such a system.
This bill, when adopted, would get rid of the patronage in Elections Canada and allow the chief electoral officer to select his own staff.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)