Information & Ethics committee  I must say that any allegation of this nature is very troubling for an institution like Elections Canada, which is anchored on the whole notion of impartiality. I did ask for a review within the organization as to what events took place, who had the information, and whether the

Information & Ethics committee  No. Indeed, as regards the transfers, as mentioned earlier, the act provides that resources may be transferred or moved between the entities of a single family. What the act does not allow, however, is the transfer of expenses. So you can transfer monies, assets, goods or service

Information & Ethics committee  The only decision I made was that I was not convinced that the expenses as filed had been incurred by those who claimed them, that is to say the candidates. I have made no decision to date concerning the allocation of those expenses.

Information & Ethics committee  As I mentioned in my presentation, there are decisions left to be made on this matter. One of them has to do with the attribution of the expense. I have not made that decision yet.

Information & Ethics committee  Again, there were transfers on the part of all parties.

Information & Ethics committee  Please repeat the question.

Information & Ethics committee  As I mentioned in my presentation, we looked at all the returns for the 38th and 39th general elections. We have not seen any group of transactions that conforms to all the factors I mentioned in my presentation.

Information & Ethics committee  Yes.

Information & Ethics committee  I have a small statement on public office holders, but I can hold on to it.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chairman, in my capacity as Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, I was requested to appear before the committee today in relation to its study of the review and treatment of financial returns and the key considerations at play in the review of returns. I have provided the comm

Information & Ethics committee  Advertising content is not one of the five factors that led to my decision. Candidates are free to choose the best way to promote their campaigns and to secure the support of electors. Elections Canada does not intervene with regard to advertisement content.

Information & Ethics committee  Okay.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you requested, I will now make a statement on the decision I made in the spring of last year in relation to transactions reported in the returns of a number of Conservative Party of Canada candidates in the 39th general election. In doing so, it is impo

Information & Ethics committee  That's right, they are electoral district associations. I apologize.

Information & Ethics committee  Now, regarding reporting requirements for candidates, slide 18 indicates that in support of the principle of fairness and transparency, the act sets out a number of standards and requirements touching on disclosure, reporting, and publication of financial affairs of political ent