Procedure and House Affairs committee  I was made aware of issues as they existed, and we took action as they came to the fore. One example is someone turning back somebody from voting because the person looked inebriated. Well, looking inebriated does not pre-empt your right to vote in this country. If you act in a

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I've always felt that they had a little bit more to produce than Canadians living here where their addresses are updated automatically from the drivers' files, from the income tax department, and from other electoral lists from other jurisdictions. I've often felt that it doesn't

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, the government wants to appeal. I've not yet seen the documents that sustain the appeal. It is being prepared by the government at this stage. The stay was not granted. The court said that this was too pressing a matter, the grounds that the government put forward were ins

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I wouldn't go that far. As a matter of fact, if one goes that far, then one has to go that far for all Canadians. Because you're the spouse of, does not mean, you know.... What I was trying to say is that the committee should be aware of this. It's going to create problems. I re

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, I can tell you that when you've been the Chief Electoral Officer, you're sympathetic with the existing Chief Electoral Officer, your successor. I agree; I have no reason to disagree with what he said on that front. If he's concerned, I think you should listen very carefully

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In my initial remarks, I said I understood why this is being brought forward. There's a preoccupation with the Frank decision.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  What am I supposed to say? Is it, “the matter is before the courts”?

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Obviously my concern is that the “fairness” that is being reintroduced is too stringent in terms of its requirements. What I proposed to you are ways of meeting those objectives but simplifying the process. So I agree, yes okay, let us require people to register every time, but w

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, and there is international experience. The minister was kind enough to highlight it. In Great Britain, I think it's 15 or 20 years. They go way beyond five years. I'm not saying to do that. I'm saying lift it entirely. Someone may have been outside the country.... I'm think

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The Chief Electoral Officer mails out and that's his cost, but the return is the person's cost. I felt that was—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes. I was the affiant for the Frank....

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I can see the validity of that. I'm trying to propose a system that I think is workable. If you did that, then you would have to decide what the best date is to do that annually in light of the move dates of Canadians, because I think you should take that into account. Now, it ma

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It could be something more than 30 days, and I did say the initiative of the Chief Electoral Officer could be invoked when it's a minority. You might say you can do it only once a year or something, but it's something where a judgment comes in. When you're the Chief Electoral Of

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I think so.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's when we gave that interpretation, which may have been stretching it a bit, but that's what the committee wanted at the time. It's that person that I have in mind. He or she may not be a missionary; he or she may just be an ordinary Canadian who still wants to vote after 25