Procedure and House Affairs committee  It might very well be, but at the time dismissal wasn't available to the CEO. It was a matter for the Governor in Council. You've heard Mr. Kingsley say he wasn't getting anywhere with recommendations to the Governor in Council regarding returning officers. There's a procedure for dismissal set out in the act, and it's pretty strict.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm sorry, I don't have the documentation, but I can speak generally to this. The double vote cases involve persons voting twice or trying to vote twice. Many of them are essentially inadvertent. There are people who think they can vote at their cottage where they have a VIC card and at their home where they got a VIC card.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm sorry, you'll have to help me here. Is it page 10 of the materials?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Oh, yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  My letter is only two pages long.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Once again, as a matter of trying to deal with a case I know nothing about—I didn't take office until September, so I don't know this file particularly well—one of the changes I made immediately upon taking on my responsibilities was to develop the caution letter that my friend just referred to earlier, which can be used to warn somebody about conduct that may not need more than a strong warning.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's page 10 of—?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Then, Madame Picard, you may wish to send me a letter to that effect, that it was not properly carried out and would I mind reviewing it. I'd appreciate that, and I'd be prepared to do so.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm not in a position to debate particulars of the case you have described. The structure of the legislation gives the returning officer remarkable powers under the act to maintain peace at any polling station where there's a disturbance. The legislation is quite clear on what that person may do to rectify and resolve a situation on the spot.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  They're generally retired policemen with 20 to 30 years of experience. Most of them are former RCMP.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There are organizations of retired policemen. Individuals who are about to retire and who are looking for work can register with them. I believe we consult an organization that can provide us with names.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's correct. In some cases we perhaps copy it to the other party to a transaction.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  No, we wouldn't copy that to a complainant. For example, if there was a transfer of money to a candidate before the time...we might advise both parties. But otherwise, you're correct. It's not a publicly available document.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  We would advise that a caution letter had gone out, but not the letter itself.