moved for leave to introduce Bill C-279, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act (length of election period).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that will amend the Canada Elections Act to limit the length of our elections.
As we examine changes to our electoral process, it is not enough to change the way we elect our representatives, we must also ensure there is fairness in the system and that all parties compete on a level playing field.
Money distorts the ability for all people to have an equal voice in an election. My bill seeks to remedy this by placing a reasonable limit on election campaigns. The current minimum length for a campaign is 36 days, and there is no explicit maximum length, which was a loophole exploited by the previous Conservative government when it allowed spending limits to increase each day that a campaign exceeded 37 days.
Canadians do not need or want long elections to make their choice, which is something I heard constantly over the previous 78-day marathon campaign. It was a campaign that cost $443 million.
I invite all members to join with me and support this bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)