PROC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 10:37 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Hon. Don Boudria, presiding.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

At 10:52 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:05 a.m., the Committee resumed sitting in public.

On motion of Dale Johnston, it was agreed, — That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

On motion of Judi Longfield, it was agreed, — That the Chair, Clerk and researchers be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

On motion of Dale Johnston, it was agreed, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

The Minister made a statement and answered questions.

The Chair called Clause 1.

The Minister made a statement and answered questions.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

On Clause 1,

“by means of an external appointment process for which eligibility is limited to persons who are qualified under this Act and who are

(a) resident in the electoral district for which the appointment is being made; or

(b) resident in an adjacent electoral district but able to perform the functions of a returning officer as satisfactorily as if they were resident in the electoral district for”

The question was put on the amendment of Pauline Picard and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

The Chair ruled that the following three (3) amendments were consequential to a previous amendment and therefore they were also adopted:

““external appointment process” has the same meaning as”

That Bill C-312, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing line 25 on page 1 with the following:

“(1.3) The external appointment process shall be”

That Bill C-312, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing line 6 on page 2 with the following:

“publish the notice of external appointment process so as to”

“hold office for a term expiring six months after polling day at the general election next following his or her appointment,”

The question was put on the amendment of Scott Reid and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 6.

“hold office for a term of ten years,”

The question was put on the amendment of Pauline Picard and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 4.

“to hold office for a reason set out in paragraph (4.2)(b) or (c).”

The Chair ruled that the following amendment was consequential to the previous amendment and therefore it was also adopted:

« (4.2) La charge de directeur du scrutin devient vacante uniquement, selon le cas :

a) à l'expiration du mandat;

b) au décès, à la démission ou à la révocation de celui-ci, si celui-ci cesse de résider dans la circonscription;

c) si les limites de la circonscription sont modifiées en raison d'un décret de représentation électorale pris au titre de l'article 25 de la Loi sur la révision des limites des circonscriptions électorales. »

“2. Section 25 of the Act is replaced by the following:

25. Between the 1st and 20th days of January in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a list in the Canada Gazette of the name, address and occupation of the returning officer for each electoral district in Canada.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 654 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

“3. Subsection 28(2) of the Act is repealed.

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 654 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

“3. Subsection 28(4) of the Act is replaced by the folowing:

(4) Within 60 days after the date on which the Chief Electoral Officer has been notified of a vacancy in the office of a returning officer or accepts the resignation of a returning officer, the Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint a new returning officer.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 654 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

Clause 1, as amended, carried.

The Title carried.

The Bill, as amended, carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

On Clause 1,

“Senate and of the House of Commons that normally considers electoral matters shall undertake a comprehensive review of the amendments made by this Act and submit a report to its House”

On motion of Karen Redman, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by replacing, in the English version, line 9, on page 1, with the following:

“force of this section, the committees of the”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Raymond Simard, as amended, and it was agreed to.

“27. The amendments made by this Act cease to have effect on the day that is three months after the day on which a report is submitted to Parliament under section 26 or on the day that is 27 months after the day on which this section comes into force, whichever is the earlier.”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was contrary to the principle of the Bill, as provided on page 654 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice.

Clause 1, as amended, carried on division.

The Title, as amended, carried on division.

The Bill, as amended, carried on division.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

At 1:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.