Mr. Speaker, when Canadians demanded changes to the Canada Elections Act, they were wanting to ensure that there would not be a repeat of the Conservatives's fraudulent calls, the in and out scheme and the sectoral financing schemes in Quebec.
Elections Canada needed more power, not less. The government was supposed to encourage more voter participation, not try to suppress it. It should have encouraged young people and the first nations to vote, not try to suppress their right to vote.
The Conservatives chose to introduce an election bill tailor made to help and protect the Conservative Party. Now, investigations on Canada Elections Act infractions will be dealt with by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who reports to a Conservative minister.
Election rules are not like a plant that can be uprooted whenever they want.
Canadians deserve better than a government that attacks the Chief Electoral Officer just because he took the Conservatives to court. Electoral legislation is not meant to make cheating easier.