Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, honourable members, it's a privilege to appear before the committee once again. Thank you. I believe that I understand the objectives set out in the bill, in light of the court's decision in Frank. I have read the presentation of the Chief Electoral Officer and reviewed members' input, all of which I appreciate.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Well, in point of fact I'm trying to address the perception that has been brought forth, which is in my view nothing but a perception, that there are problems with vouching by utilizing other sections of the bill, where it says that in these cases—impersonation, someone else having voted in someone's place—you will now have to sign that oath, as opposed to only taking it orally.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I return to 307 others. All the leaders had the option, through all the people sitting in the House, to say no to any returning officer, and I just accepted that. I did not question it. If one leader said “no,” that returning officer was replaced.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, sir. I appreciated this.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Obviously, if a document is not available, is not reported on, then one cannot verify it, one cannot audit it. It is not part of what is to be...because this is what the bill proposes at this time, that this be excluded and not reported on; not only excluded, but not reported on.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Obviously, under the bill there's an additional week that the Chief Electoral Officer shall have at his disposal in order to start recruitment. In other words, candidates of the first and second party of the previous election will have one week less to nominate people. I think it has to be recognized by Canadians we're now at the stage where only 30% of those positions are filled by the nominees who you provide, only 30%, and 10% in the western provinces.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There is no gain, and it is a perpetuation of an unfortunate decision that was made in 2006, which really was not at all the issue that was debated at your predecessor committee, even though I reported on it. To me, it's ball game over on that one, and the change really does not affect anything except cost-effectiveness and the timeliness of prosecutions, in other words, the time it takes between the investigation and the laying of charges.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In that particular context, yes it would.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  If one is able to design a system whereby these people are entitled to vote simply because they are there and they've been enumerated or revised onto the list during the very election, if one can devise such a system, then it handles that part of the matter.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It would help if the institution were to be compelled. I know some of them are hesitant, too busy, or whatever the reason. There's always a good reason for not doing the right thing in the minds of some people. They are part of the targeted revision, all the mobile poll areas, All of those institutions are targeted for targeted revision during the election period.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I rated the bill. You saw the positive elements that I've underlined.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That is a judgment I shall have to reserve until I see what the changes are that you as a committee succeed in convincing the government about.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Then I will not hesitate to pronounce myself—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There is no way I can visualize any limitation on the Chief Electoral Officer's capacity to express himself or herself to Canadians about any matter which he or she considers important.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That is what I did. Insofar as any other rating, I'm waiting, because the minister has clearly stated that he wishes to move it up to A plus. Let us see what is done to move it up to A plus by the government and by the minister.