Procedure and House Affairs committee  The motion is pretty straightforward. It's really a policy decision.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a few comments. First of all, I recognize that section 348 of the act currently provides what it does for broadcasting and published advertisement, and you are right in saying that this doesn't apply to social media. As I was explaining earlier, this is very media specific and therefore, it doesn't apply to the media that aren't included in that.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  My understanding of this motion is that really it would apply only to opinion polls for which the target population was located across provincial boundaries, between the maritime provinces and Quebec and then between British Columbia and the rest of the country, because if you look at section 128 of the Canada Elections Act....

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm sorry?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  When we state one rule for one specific media, and when we interpret the law in the aftermath, it always raises the question that if Parliament was that specific for a specific media, well, maybe they thought the others were not important, or that a different rule would apply to other media.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's the party.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes. Well, there are other amendments we will come to regarding third party advertisement tag line requirements. But in this case, in the case of proposed new section 320, that would be the candidate or the registered party or their agents who fail to identify themselves.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  No.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  For the sake of debate, I would just like to add that the definition of "online platform" that was just adopted following Ms. Sahota's amendment would not apply to this section here, because we are not using that exact expression. With regard to the risk that I was referring to earlier, this amendment would add the following proposed text to existing section 320: The authorization shall also be clearly visible in all election advertising messages transmitted by means of the Internet or any other digital network.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Section 320 of the act, which is not open in the bill, is the one being considered by the amendment now before us. Section 320 already requires that the candidate or registered party publishing election advertising insert a mention that the message has been authorized. To the extent possible, the Canada Elections Act and the bill before us have been drafted with the idea of technological neutrality.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Actually, the act doesn't allow for it currently. The Chief Electoral Officer used his power under section 17 of the Canada Elections Act to adapt the act for the last general election. Bill C-76 would make it an official rule that the counting of the vote for advance polling can begin one hour before the close of polling on polling day.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Exactly. This amendment would restrict it to cases where the number of votes cast is at least 500.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Under section 283 of the Canada Elections Act currently, the deputy returning officer shall establish the statement of the vote on the form that is prescribed by the chief electoral officer. Bill C-76 would remove the mention of the “deputy returning officer” and would change it to “election officer”, as we've discussed on a few occasions.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's actually in the Canada Elections Act itself. It's not in the bill. It's a provision that is not being affected by the bill.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I mean the requirement to publish the results by polling division.