Procedure and House Affairs committee  That would be completely acceptable.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, the provision found at subsection 349.3(1) was designed in an one-way stream for two reasons, one of them being that of course if it's only a matter of information and ideas, well, political parties are there to collect these ideas and represent a large segment of the population in their attempt to represent them.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  As a non-monetary contribution?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  If it's a product or service that fits the definition of a non-monetary contribution, then it would clearly be considered a non-monetary contribution. Of course only individuals can provide these contributions to registered entities, and only to the limit that is prescribed by part 18.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  This is civil society so to the extent that they are only reaching out to various political parties in an attempt to influence the parties' policies, I think it would probably be acceptable. Elections Canada's auditors would need to look into that. There is also a regime where political parties can ask for guidelines under the Canada Elections Act so that is clearly a question that could be clarified sometime in the future.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm sorry, I cannot answer that specific question.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  This is in fact the difficulty, and I think this explains why this period, during the pre-election period and entering the election period, was chosen. It's because surveys can be conducted at all times in between election periods and they are all potentially used for the preparation of the strategy towards the next election period.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It includes the day after the previous election period, potentially.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Potentially.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  If I may add, however, this specific provision applies to surveys conducted by third parties. It doesn't apply to political parties. During the pre-election period, only the partisan advertising expenses are being monitored for political parties, and of course, during the election period it's all election expenses.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm at page 94 of the bill, subsection 281.6(1), “Every person present at a polling station or at the counting of the votes shall maintain the secrecy of the vote.” I would posit that this secrecy obligation lasts a lifetime. Of course that's not to the extent that official results have been made public.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There's already also another prohibition at subsection 289(3) in the bill, page 104, line 10.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I would encourage you to look at page 94 of the bill, line 14, in English. There's already a prohibition related to the secrecy of the vote: “Every person present at a polling station or at the counting of the votes shall maintain the secrecy of the vote”. Then, on page 95, at line 1 in both English and French, it says, “No person shall, at the counting of the votes, attempt to obtain information or communicate information obtained at the counting as to the candidate for whom a vote is given in a particular ballot or special ballot.”

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Sorry. In the provision itself, which allows the counting of the vote at an advance polling station one hour before the close of the votes, there is already an obligation to make sure that the counting of the vote is done in a manner that ensures the integrity of the vote. I would think this provision is sufficient to cover this proposal.