Speech (committee meeting)

{
    "time": "2018-09-25 12:40:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Ms. Ruby Sahota",
        "fr": "Mme Ruby Sahota"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"5544531\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Thank you. I appreciate that.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544532\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bill <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a> has revised a lot of Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>, which was passed in 2014. I will give some context regarding why we are up against some opposition.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544533\" data-originallang=\"en\">The Chief Electoral Officer at the time when Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a> was passed was quoted as saying, \u201cI certainly can\u2019t endorse a bill that disenfranchises electors.\u201d The government was encouraged, through the many recommendations, to improve and modernize its election law so that more people could vote.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544534\" data-originallang=\"en\">There are many reasons why this legislation has been brought forward, and we've done so in a way where we've continued to work with the Chief Electoral Officer. A lot of the recommendations that have come from the experience of the 2015 election have been inserted into this legislation.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544535\" data-originallang=\"en\">In order to repeal and improve laws to modernize our elections, it was necessary to bring Bill <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a> forward. I know the NDP has been quite eager, like us, to move this legislation through, but many obstacles have gotten in our way. Perhaps some members don't want those disenfranchised by the previous bill, Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>, to participate in this election.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544536\" data-originallang=\"en\">However, I have to point out that although we have a strong democracy, one of the most stable in the world, we have seen, through the recommendations brought forward to us, that there are a lot of improvements to make. A lot of damage was done through Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>, the so-called Fair Elections Act, which has to be corrected.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544537\" data-originallang=\"en\">After the 2015 election, the Chief Electoral Officer made about 130 recommendations on ways to improve how our democracy functions. We did a careful study of those recommendations through consideration by this parliamentary committee and by both houses. We also received input from several experts across the country. After all of that work, the government proposed Bill <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a>, the elections modernization act.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544538\" data-originallang=\"en\">As we just heard from the Chief Electoral Officer, this act is really necessary. It's essential that they have this in their hands come October.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544539\" data-originallang=\"en\">Although certain people around this table may feel that the motion I'm bringing forward is halting democracy, I would argue that it's the complete opposite. There is a vital need to modernize our Elections Act and repeal some of the things that have disenfranchised people from voting and completely participating in our democracy. We need to do this as soon as possible so that it can take effect for the next election. To the point that Nathan brought up, the longer we take, the more we lose and the more Canadians lose.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544540\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bill <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a> would make it easier for Canadians to vote, and it would make elections easier to administer and protect. It would also protect Canadians from organizations and individuals seeking to unduly influence their vote. However, as Nathan discussed, we know there are forces beyond this act that we need to further discuss and study. I would propose that at a future date we do all of that and bring all of the necessary actors to help make our democracy even safer. But this bill is a really good start toward doing the things the Chief Electoral Officer has found to be necessary.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544541\" data-originallang=\"en\">One party has stalled us time and time again. We've seen it for several months now. There is an unwillingness to move forward. The government has been given a mandate by the people to move legislation, and although I'm not saying by any means that the committee process is not important, we have seen practices such as this in the past, and in particular when it came to Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544542\" data-originallang=\"en\"> If I may remind the committee\u2014some of the members are here, actually. Scott Reid is here, and <a data-HoCid=\"214873\" href=\"/politicians/blake-richards/\" title=\"Blake Richards\">Blake Richards</a> used to be here, before the House rose for the summer. They were both involved with this committee when Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a> was passed. At that time\u2014I believe it was in the spring of 2014\u2014a very similar motion was brought forward in order to pass Bill C-23 through committee. There was a start date proposed; there was an end date proposed. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544543\" data-originallang=\"en\">If I may, I will read an excerpt from the committee blues at that time. It was moved by the member <a data-HoCid=\"216494\" href=\"/politicians/tom-lukiwski/\" title=\"Tom Lukiwski\">Tom Lukiwski</a> and the motion that was moved at that time was:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"5544544\" data-originallang=\"en\"> That the Committee, in relation to its Order of Reference from the House concerning C-23, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts, initiate a study on this legislation, which will include the following: </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544545\" data-originallang=\"en\"> That the Committee, as per its usual practice, hear witnesses to be determined by the Committee at a later date; </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544546\" data-originallang=\"en\"> That the Committee shall only proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of this bill after these hearings have been completed, provided that clause-by-clause consideration shall be concluded no later than Thursday, May 1, 2014 and, if required, at 5:00 p.m., on that day, all remaining amendments shall be deemed moved, and the Chair shall put the question, forthwith and successively, without further debate, on all remaining clauses and amendments submitted to the Committee, as well as each and every question necessary (i) to dispose of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, (ii) to report the Bill to the House, and (iii) to order the Chair to report the Bill to the House as early as possible. </p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"5544547\" data-originallang=\"en\">It's interesting. At that point, all of the Conservative members, including Scott Reid and <a data-HoCid=\"214873\" href=\"/politicians/blake-richards/\" title=\"Blake Richards\">Blake Richards</a>, who used to be on this committee, voted in favour of this motion. Right now, in the last few meetings, I've heard some outrage that we can't possibly be thinking about a start date or an end date by any means, that this is not fair and we need to give the committee time. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544548\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would argue that this committee has been given a lot of time. We have essentially adopted a lot of what the CEO has said, and we have spent several meetings on that previously in this committee, not to mention the 53 witnesses we've heard from already, after the legislation was brought to this committee. We've given it ample consideration, so I think it's time that we pass this legislation and allow Canadians to access their right to vote. We need to make sure that we bring forward the important amendments, and the Conservatives have definitely done so. They've brought hundreds of amendments forward. We'd like to get to work on those amendments and begin the clause-by-clause.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544549\" data-originallang=\"en\">Just to reiterate, my motion was that we start the clause-by-clause on October 2. May I also remind the Conservatives that at the meeting we had last Thursday, there was a commitment made that we would start clause-by-clause earlier than that. September 27 was the commitment that was made at that time, so we're allowing for even more flexibility, in order to start by October 2 and then have everything completed by October 16. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544550\" data-originallang=\"en\">Hopefully, when I give up my spot as a speaker after this, I'm not going to hear the type of outrage that we heard last time, because the Conservatives in this committee are quite familiar with this and did exactly the same thing when they brought their so-called Fair Elections Act. </p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"5544531\" data-originallang=\"en\">Merci. Je vous en suis reconnaissante.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544532\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a> apporte de nombreuses modifications aux mesures pr\u00e9vues dans le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a> qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 adopt\u00e9 en 2014. Je vais vous donner un aper\u00e7u des \u00e9l\u00e9ments au sujet desquels nous ne sommes pas n\u00e9cessairement d'accord.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544533\" data-originallang=\"en\">Au moment de l'adoption du projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>, le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections de l'\u00e9poque avait d\u00e9clar\u00e9 qu'il lui \u00e9tait impossible d'appuyer un projet de loi qui priverait des \u00e9lecteurs de leur droit de vote. Ses nombreuses recommandations ont ensuite incit\u00e9 le gouvernement \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer et moderniser sa loi \u00e9lectorale de telle sorte qu'un plus grand nombre d'\u00e9lecteurs puissent exercer leur droit.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544534\" data-originallang=\"en\">De nombreux facteurs nous ont donc amen\u00e9s \u00e0 proposer cette nouvelle loi, le tout, en collaboration constante avec le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections. Bon nombre des recommandations d\u00e9coulant de l'exp\u00e9rience des \u00e9lections de 2015 ont \u00e9t\u00e9 int\u00e9gr\u00e9es \u00e0 ce projet de loi.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544535\" data-originallang=\"en\">Pour abroger certaines mesures l\u00e9gislatives et en am\u00e9liorer d'autres afin de moderniser notre processus \u00e9lectoral, il a fallu proposer le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a>. Je sais que le NPD est tout \u00e0 fait d\u00e9termin\u00e9, tout comme nous le sommes, \u00e0 progresser vers l'adoption de cette mesure l\u00e9gislative, mais nous nous heurtons \u00e0 de nombreux obstacles. Il est possible que certains membres du Comit\u00e9 ne souhaitent pas voir ceux qui ont \u00e9t\u00e9 priv\u00e9s de leur droit de vote par le projet de loi pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent, le <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>, le retrouver gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 celui-ci.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544536\" data-originallang=\"en\">Quoi qu'il en soit, il y a un constat que je me dois de faire. Bien que nous puissions compter sur une d\u00e9mocratie en sant\u00e9, parmi les plus stables de la plan\u00e8te, nous avons pu constater, \u00e0 la faveur des recommandations qui nous ont \u00e9t\u00e9 adress\u00e9es, que bien des choses peuvent \u00eatre am\u00e9lior\u00e9es. Une grande partie des dommages ont \u00e9t\u00e9 caus\u00e9s par le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>, la pr\u00e9tendue Loi sur l'int\u00e9grit\u00e9 des \u00e9lections, et il faut apporter les correctifs n\u00e9cessaires.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544537\" data-originallang=\"en\">Apr\u00e8s les \u00e9lections de 2015, le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections a formul\u00e9 quelque 130 recommandations quant aux moyens \u00e0 prendre pour am\u00e9liorer le fonctionnement de notre d\u00e9mocratie. Nous avons \u00e9tudi\u00e9 avec soin ces recommandations dans le cadre des travaux de ce comit\u00e9 parlementaire et des deux chambres. Plusieurs experts canadiens nous ont, en outre, fait part de leurs observations. C'est \u00e0 l'issue de tout ce processus que le gouvernement a pu proposer le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a>, la Loi sur la modernisation des \u00e9lections.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544538\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections vient de nous le dire, cette loi est vraiment n\u00e9cessaire. Il est en outre essentiel que l'on puisse amorcer sa mise en oeuvre d\u00e8s le mois d'octobre.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544539\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bien que certaines personnes ici pr\u00e9sentes puissent croire que ma motion va \u00e0 l'encontre de la d\u00e9mocratie, je dirais que c'est tout \u00e0 fait le contraire. Il est primordial de moderniser notre loi \u00e9lectorale en abrogeant certaines des dispositions qui emp\u00eachent les gens d'exercer leur droit de vote et de participer ainsi pleinement \u00e0 notre d\u00e9mocratie. Nous devons agir aussi rapidement que possible de telle sorte que les nouvelles mesures puissent entrer en vigueur \u00e0 temps pour les prochaines \u00e9lections. Comme le disait Nathan, plus nous y mettons de temps, plus nous risquons d'en sortir perdants, et il en ira de m\u00eame pour tous les Canadiens.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544540\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"9808070\" href=\"/bills/42-1/C-76/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make certain consequential amendments\">C-76</a> fera en sorte que les Canadiens pourront voter plus facilement et que l'administration et la protection de notre processus \u00e9lectoral deviendront plus faciles. On mettra en outre les Canadiens \u00e0 l'abri des organisations et des individus qui s'efforcent d'influencer ind\u00fbment leur vote. Malgr\u00e9 tout, comme Nathan le soulignait, il y a des forces qui s'exercent au-del\u00e0 du champ d'application de cette loi et qui n\u00e9cessiteront une \u00e9tude plus approfondie. Je proposerais donc que nous proc\u00e9dions \u00e9ventuellement \u00e0 une \u00e9tude de la sorte en nous assurant le concours de tous les intervenants requis pour rendre notre processus d\u00e9mocratique encore plus s\u00fbr. Reste quand m\u00eame que ce projet de loi est un excellent point de d\u00e9part pour apporter les am\u00e9liorations jug\u00e9es n\u00e9cessaires par le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544541\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il y a un parti qui s'emploie \u00e0 faire de l'obstruction syst\u00e9matique. Voil\u00e0 plusieurs mois d\u00e9j\u00e0 que nous pouvons observer ce ph\u00e9nom\u00e8ne. On veut emp\u00eacher le dossier de progresser. Le gouvernement a re\u00e7u des citoyens le mandat d'adopter une nouvelle loi et, sans vouloir affirmer, d'aucune mani\u00e8re que le processus d'examen en comit\u00e9 n'a pas son importance, je vous dirais que ce n'est pas la premi\u00e8re fois que nous sommes t\u00e9moins de manoeuvres semblables. Ce fut le cas notamment lors de l'\u00e9tude du projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544542\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'aimerais rafra\u00eechir la m\u00e9moire de certains de mes coll\u00e8gues. Je pense notamment \u00e0 Scott Reid qui est des n\u00f4tres aujourd'hui ainsi qu'\u00e0 <a data-HoCid=\"214873\" href=\"/politicians/blake-richards/\" title=\"Blake Richards\">Blake Richards</a> qui si\u00e9geait avant l'ajournement d'\u00e9t\u00e9. Ils \u00e9taient tous deux membres de ce comit\u00e9 lors de l'adoption du projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6398775\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-23/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts\">C-23</a>. \u00c0 l'\u00e9poque \u2014 je crois que c'\u00e9tait le printemps 2014 \u2014 une motion tr\u00e8s semblable a \u00e9t\u00e9 propos\u00e9e pour permettre l'adoption du projet de loi C-23 en comit\u00e9. On pr\u00e9voyait une date de d\u00e9but et une date de fin pour l'\u00e9tude article par article.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544543\" data-originallang=\"en\">Si vous me le permettez, je vais vous lire un extrait des d\u00e9lib\u00e9rations du Comit\u00e9 \u00e0 l'\u00e9poque. C'est le d\u00e9put\u00e9 <a data-HoCid=\"216494\" href=\"/politicians/tom-lukiwski/\" title=\"Tom Lukiwski\">Tom Lukiwski</a> qui a alors propos\u00e9 la motion suivante:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"5544544\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Que, relativement \u00e0 son ordre de renvoi de la Chambre concernant le projet de loi C-23, Loi modifiant la Loi \u00e9lectorale du Canada et d'autres lois et modifiant certaines lois en cons\u00e9quence, le Comit\u00e9 entreprenne une \u00e9tude du projet de loi comportant ce qui suit: </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544545\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Que le Comit\u00e9, comme il en a l'habitude, entende des t\u00e9moins sur lesquels le Comit\u00e9 arr\u00eatera son choix ult\u00e9rieurement; </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544546\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Que le Comit\u00e9 ne proc\u00e8de \u00e0 l'\u00e9tude article par article qu'une fois la comparution des t\u00e9moins termin\u00e9e, et que l'\u00e9tude article par article ne se prolonge pas au-del\u00e0 du jeudi 1<sup>er</sup> mai 2014 et, s'il y a lieu, qu'\u00e0 17 heures ce jour-l\u00e0, le reste des amendements soient r\u00e9put\u00e9s \u00eatre propos\u00e9s et que le pr\u00e9sident mette aux voix sur-le-champ et successivement, sans autre d\u00e9bat, le reste des articles et amendements soumis au Comit\u00e9 ainsi que toute question n\u00e9cessaire pour (i) disposer de l'\u00e9tude article par article du projet de loi; (ii) faire rapport du projet de loi \u00e0 la Chambre et (iii) demander au pr\u00e9sident de faire rapport du projet de loi \u00e0 la Chambre le plus t\u00f4t possible. </p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"5544547\" data-originallang=\"en\">Voil\u00e0 qui est int\u00e9ressant. \u00c0 l'\u00e9poque, tous les membres conservateurs du Comit\u00e9, y compris Scott Reid et <a data-HoCid=\"214873\" href=\"/politicians/blake-richards/\" title=\"Blake Richards\">Blake Richards</a>, ont vot\u00e9 en faveur de cette motion. Voici maintenant que j'ai pu entendre au cours des derni\u00e8res s\u00e9ances certains exprimer leur indignation en affirmant qu'il \u00e9tait impossible d'imposer de quelque mani\u00e8re que ce soit une date de d\u00e9but ou une date butoir, que cela n'\u00e9tait pas \u00e9quitable et qu'il fallait accorder davantage de temps au Comit\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544548\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je dirais que ce comit\u00e9 a d\u00e9j\u00e0 eu amplement de temps. Nous avons adopt\u00e9 bon nombre des recommandations du directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections, et nous y avons consacr\u00e9 plusieurs s\u00e9ances, sans compter les 53 t\u00e9moins que nous avons entendus depuis que le Comit\u00e9 a \u00e9t\u00e9 saisi de ce projet de loi. Nous en avons d\u00e9j\u00e0 fait un examen approfondi, si bien que j'estime qu'il est grand temps que ce projet de loi soit adopt\u00e9 de telle sorte que les Canadiens aient pleinement acc\u00e8s \u00e0 leur droit de vote. Nous devons veiller \u00e0 faire en sorte que les amendements jug\u00e9s importants puissent \u00eatre propos\u00e9s, et les conservateurs n'ont certes pas manqu\u00e9 de le faire. Ils sont \u00e0 l'origine de centaines d'amendements. Nous aimerions pouvoir amorcer l'analyse de ces amendements et l'\u00e9tude article par article.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544549\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je vous rappelle que ma motion propose que l'on commence l'\u00e9tude article par article le 2 octobre. J'aimerais rappeler \u00e9galement aux conservateurs que nous nous \u00e9tions engag\u00e9s lors de la s\u00e9ance de jeudi dernier \u00e0 d\u00e9buter cette \u00e9tude encore plus t\u00f4t que cela, soit le 27 septembre. Nous nous montrons donc encore plus souples en proposant que l'on commence le 2 octobre pour que tout soit termin\u00e9 au plus tard le 16 octobre.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5544550\" data-originallang=\"en\">En c\u00e9dant la parole au prochain intervenant, j'esp\u00e8re bien que nous n'aurons pas droit aux m\u00eames propos indign\u00e9s que l'on nous a servis la derni\u00e8re fois, car je rappelle aux membres conservateurs de ce comit\u00e9 que c'est une fa\u00e7on de faire qu'ils connaissent tr\u00e8s bien, car ils ont agi exactement de la m\u00eame mani\u00e8re pour l'adoption de la pr\u00e9tendue Loi sur l'int\u00e9grit\u00e9 des \u00e9lections.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/committees/house-affairs/42-1/118/ruby-sahota-3/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/ruby-sahota/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4209/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "10259073",
    "document_url": "/committees/house-affairs/42-1/118/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fcommittees%2Fhouse-affairs%2F42-1%2F118%2F"
    }
}