Procedure and House Affairs committee  There has been no exchange between me and Elections Canada on this. I was invited as an individual who used to hold the office, but I would be willing to sit down with Elections Canada and share this further and see what can be developed. Obviously, since I did not share it wit

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, and this is what I've indicated as the second thrust of what I was proposing to you as a suggestion. On leadership campaigns, the parties already, if they wish, set a limit on how much can be spent by the contestants.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It can easily set the limit on what it will allow candidates to borrow, knowing that if the candidate doesn't own up to that debt, they will be on the hook. It will force the parties to be quite rational about what amounts should be spent and what amounts could be borrowed by dif

Procedure and House Affairs committee  No, not at all. The EDA could set a limit or the guarantee. If it provides a guarantee, in my view it would be entitled to say they'll guarantee up to a certain amount only, but if the candidate's campaign can go on its own without reference to the EDA—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In terms of loans, then one would have to think.... If one wants the EDA to wind up responsible, because this is essential to the scheme, then the EDA, at a moment in time, may well be involved in setting the limit. When there's a conflict between the two, as you described.... I

Procedure and House Affairs committee  By the way, the party could still provide that guarantee. The EDA may not wish to do it, but the party could still provide that guarantee, and that would work under what I've said.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, if I were a financial institution, I would still want to loan money, but I would say that we try to loan at the same rate to everybody so that we don't get into this political discussion about favouritism. That's what I would do, but I don't run a financial institution.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  If I were a financial institution, a credit union, or whatever, I would look at what the results were in the previous election, whether the person was elected or not. This is a fact of life now for independent candidates and it is a fact of life for people who represent parties t

Procedure and House Affairs committee  If I were an EDA, certainly I would not, for a nomination contestant, go beyond the 10% that they're authorized to. That is the limit in the law that one can spend for a nomination contest. Certainly, that cannot be exceeded.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  For election candidates, I don't see an EDA guaranteeing more than half of the limit, because that is going to be the extent of their exposure. This is how I view this scheme working that I'm proposing.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's entirely true. It would vary based on the party, based on the EDA, and some EDAs may not be able to afford anything.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I indicated that I shared the concerns that Mr. Mayrand brought forth to the committee. I wasn't specific about this one, but I am certainly in agreement with him. The workability of a scheme involving guarantees of up to $1,200 from individuals is very hard, especially when one

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, members of the committee, appearing before this committee is always a great pleasure for me. I see there is continuity, both in the chair and among certain members. I have had the opportunity to examine Bill C-21, mainly its object

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In my view, from my recollection of the statute--and I attended two redistributions, one in 1991 and the other in 2001--if your fellow committee members were doing their jobs, you wouldn't get away with that.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It was the committee that requested it, if I remember correctly, following representations made by Reform members of the committee.