Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to you and members of the committee for giving the Conservative Party and the other political parties the opportunity to appear before you today to speak to Bill C-16, which deals with fixed date elections. I suggest, Mr. Chair, we call it fixed-date elections rather than fixed election dates.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Currently, with the special ballot, you can fax in to Elections Canada as a way to prove your ID. I'm just suggesting that people should be able to do it at the returning office. There's enough time before polling day. Instead of the trouble of having to mail it to make it arrive, perhaps the returning officer can simply facilitate in getting it to the other riding or, in this case, Elections Canada.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I was asked that question in committee this morning. The new Accountability Act sets up some strict criteria for merit appointment. I would trust Mr. Kingsley and the Canada Elections Act people to do that. An open, public competition, I suppose.... I think being a returning officer is a particularly unique job, and the act, if it becomes law, will bring enough protection.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I think the photo ID should be the base. There may have to be some exceptions--you gave an example--but I think we should start from the base, the principle. Everybody should know that's the operating principle. Perhaps in the case of people who don't have them, as I say, an oath could be sworn at a registration table with representatives of all the parties there.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  On the improvement of the list, I think the specific ID number is a good one; it follows the voter. We should also be able to challenge the permanent list between elections. We could organize our parties at the ground level to do that. There isn't enough time during the normal 36 days--well, it was 55 this time.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm instinctively opposed. I think public voting should be public voting.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the record, Mr. Chair, the leadership of the Conservative Party in 2004 was not governed by Bill C-24. We had self-imposed limits, full disclosure, and I believe the expenditure limits were less than the current Liberal one. In fact, on the website of our party for over two years, every single leadership candidate had to post every single donation.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I wanted to put that on the record, Mr. Chair. As far as tabling his report, Mr. Kingsley consults with the parties two or three times a year, but he doesn't specifically ask us to review his reports before they're tabled. We don't get a complete look at them before he tables reports before Parliament, and I'm sometimes as surprised as honourable members at what shows up in the report, but not always.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  On the first question concerning the Canada Elections Act, having a handout during the course of the election day--who has voted--I would welcome that. That would reduce the resources the parties have to put to scrutineering. Most of the resources in scrutineering now are really to identify the vote.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Do you mean during the course of the campaign or--

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, I guess that's an issue of the ownership, the owner of the shopping mall. I am not sure of the answer. I have to think about that. It's something to consider.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Merci, monsieur le président. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee, for the opportunity for the political parties represented in the House of Commons to address your committee this morning. You've given each party five minutes, Mr. Chair. I'm just going to make a couple of remarks, and then I want Mr.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mike Donison, executive director of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  My only comment is that Elections Canada is a very competent agency of the Parliament of Canada, and I think I would leave it in the capable hands of Mr. Kingsley and his staff. They have a very rigorous recruitment process at Elections Canada now, and I'm sure that's what he will apply when he's given the authority to appoint the returning officers.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  The only thing I'd say, Mr. Chairman, is that there may be some issues that perhaps Elections Canada should be looking at, this whole issue of the loans. The particular matter Mr. Martin is referring to has I think been referred to the commissioner of Canada Elections. I would certainly be interested in seeing what the commissioner has to say about this whole issue of loans and so on.