Procedure and House Affairs committee  If they don't make any changes is a theoretical question. I will address it when it is a reality.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm afraid I don't know exactly the context of what you're quoting, so it's very difficult. I would not want to react artificially or superficially to something. I don't understand the context in which the remark was made.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I don't want to comment about the process that was followed to bring the bill forward, because my successor has done that. That is obviously the perspective of the Chief Electoral Officer in position, and I don't want to be commenting on that for the simple reason that he stated what he had to say about that.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The short answer is yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I would submit to you that even with those powers, it'll be very difficult. There are people who want to cheat. It's as simple as that. They are few and far between, but they are there. Obviously, it would help if those two powers were included, and that's what the gist of my remarks was in my recommendation to this committee, to consider them seriously if we're not including them.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Please, please do not get rid of it. Some 120,000 Canadians—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm saying that vouching is an essential ingredient of our system; it is very well protected under our present system. One can easily understand why there are concerns—the lacking documentation. Solve the lacking documentation issue. Deputy returning officers are very busy on election day.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I have no problem whatsoever with vouching the way it is structured under the Canada Elections Act at the present time. I am suggesting that if the committee wishes to go further, the oaths that are taken should be in writing as opposed to oral, with documentary evidence only being filled out by deputy returning officers and clerks.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I've categorically stated that proposed section 18, in my view, must be totally repealed from the proposed legislation. If I may, I'm very pleased that you're raising the whole issue of aboriginal electors. A Canadian population that had been slowly reducing to 60% participation actually went to 64% at that election.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's far too short.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Those are the two matters that I raised that your committee should consider very seriously introducing into this bill; especially the prolongation to hold records for one year simply does not do it. If you consider that parties take six months to file their reports, Elections Canada then must do its audits.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Only a financial institution will establish the risk and determine what it thinks is a reasonable loan to make, or individuals. But individuals can only make a loan or offer a loan guarantee up to the limit of $1,500 for that year, which is what they are entitled to. This will obviate the need and remove the capacity for individuals or corporations or others, except for financial institutions, from making any kind of substantial loan to a candidate or to a leadership candidate.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm sure that Canadians who follow this are aware of this. Essentially the issue is, especially when there are leadership campaigns or other candidacies just to be elected to the House, one can obtain loans, and the regime for reimbursement has not been clear under the statute, and therefore some of those loans have remained unpaid over time.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The bill will require that people who offer the services that are called robocall services or automated calls must register with the CRTC and they must file their names. People who retain their services must also be known and the messages must be kept, under the present bill, for one year.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, they would.