Procedure and House Affairs committee  I want to emphasize that the act is clear: a parent cannot make a donation on behalf of his one-year-old child. It is very clear that the child's own funds must be used to make donations. That's already provided by the act. I don't know whether that addresses your concerns.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's a minor example of a technical problem. If we say that membership fees constitute a form of donation, that causes technical problems that have to be taken into consideration. In principle, I believe that, in all parties, a person 14 or 15 years of age may take part in the

Procedure and House Affairs committee  As regards the payments to candidates' representatives, I believe it's a special tradition in the Maritimes that I'm not very familiar with. It's something...

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Oh, that's nice. I thought it was unique to the Maritimes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I believe everyone will agree that the deputy returning officer, or the clerk, hands over completed bingo cards during the day. However, I think that the principle of the right of candidates' representatives to be there is important, for other reasons. Perhaps it would be enough

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The issue of donations made by youths is an example of the technical problems caused by Ms. McDonough's proposal. I don't know whether you were here, but the NDP is proposing that the purchase of a membership be considered a donation. Will we have to say that a person under 18 ye

Procedure and House Affairs committee  With respect to membership fees, I'm not sure we have strong views either way. I was in favour of the amendment in Bill C-24 that said there wouldn't be contributions. I think the idea was that membership fees would be taken right out of the act so you wouldn't get into the com

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. MacKinnon was talking about clarifying the right of candidates' representatives. That's what I said.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'll answer. I'm not sure we should go that far. I don't believe that the date of birth is the entire solution. However, I agree with Mr. MacKinnon: we should at least specify the right of candidates' representatives to ask questions. Perhaps we should also determine which piece

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to add a minor point that doesn't have anything to do with the report of the Chief Electoral Officer. Mr. Kingsley referred to allowances for auditors. I've distributed a small package that refers to a provision in the Manitoba act, which I'd l

Procedure and House Affairs committee  My name is Paul Lepsoe, and I'm legal counsel with the Conservative Party.