Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2015-02-18 17:50:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC)",
        "fr": "M. Paul Calandra (secr\u00e9taire parlementaire du premier ministre et pour les Affaires intergouvernementales, PCC)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"3976638\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in the debate today on Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6507421\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-586/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (candidacy and caucus reforms)\">C-586, Reform Act, 2014</a>. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976639\" data-originallang=\"en\">I, too, would like to echo the comments of previous speakers by acknowledging the member for <a data-HoCid=\"170497\" href=\"/politicians/michael-chong/\" title=\"Michael Chong\">Wellington\u2014Halton Hills</a> for the hard work, dedication and spirit of collaboration he has brought to this process on the bill. The spirit of collaboration is a major reason why we have reached this point today.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976640\" data-originallang=\"en\">There have been a number of changes to the bill from its first iteration, Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6334941\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-559/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (reforms)\">C-559</a>, as amended, and is much different than the original version that was introduced. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976641\" data-originallang=\"en\">I believe the changes that were made are extremely important because they recognize that parties must have the freedom to organize themselves as they see fit. What works well for one party may not work well for another. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work, which is why I fully support the bill as amended by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976642\" data-originallang=\"en\">With my time, I will focus on some international examples that are relevant to the content of the reform act, 2014. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976643\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is clear that in developing this legislation the member for <a data-HoCid=\"170497\" href=\"/politicians/michael-chong/\" title=\"Michael Chong\">Wellington\u2014Halton Hills</a> looked at current practices in Canada and examples in other countries with a Westminster form of government.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976644\" data-originallang=\"en\">On the review of party leadership issue, the hon. member referenced the existence of rules in other countries to empower caucuses. If we examine the international examples, it is quite remarkable to note the number of different rules that exist in different countries and among different parties. In fact, there are about as many different approaches to issues such as leadership review as there are political parties.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976645\" data-originallang=\"en\">For example, in the United Kingdom, all of the major parties have different rules for leadership removal. For the United Kingdom Conservative Party, a vote by 15% of Tory MPs can trigger a leadership review and a leader can be dismissed upon a majority of those voting by secret ballot. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976646\" data-originallang=\"en\">For the Labour Party, a leadership contest can be triggered if a challenger collects nominations from 20% of Labour MPs. The party leader is replaced if the challenger receives a majority of votes using an alternative vote system in an electoral college consisting of Labour MPs, members of the European Parliament, party members and members of affiliate organizations. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976647\" data-originallang=\"en\">The Liberal Democrats take yet a different approach. A leadership contest can be triggered by a majority vote of Liberal Democratic MPs or if 75 local party organizations write to the party president calling for a leadership contest. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976648\" data-originallang=\"en\">Political parties in Australia and New Zealand also have rules that set out thresholds for the review of party leaders. However, as is the case with the United Kingdom, the rules are different from party to party.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976649\" data-originallang=\"en\">The rules of the Australian Labour Party, for example, require the support of 75% of caucus members to initiate a leadership review of a governing leader or 60% to initiate a review of a leader in opposition. These thresholds were increased in 2013 from the previous threshold of 30% because the party believed the threshold was too low and contributed to leadership instability.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976650\" data-originallang=\"en\">To give an example from New Zealand, the rules of the New Zealand Labour Party provide that a leadership election is triggered upon a vote of 50% plus one of caucus members. The party also has an automatic leadership review by caucus after three months of a general election, where the votes of 60% of caucus members are required to endorse the leader.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976651\" data-originallang=\"en\">The experiences in Australia and New Zealand, like the U.K., show that a one-size-fits-all solution does not work. It is important that parties have the flexibility to determine the rules that govern them.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976652\" data-originallang=\"en\">Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6507421\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-586/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (candidacy and caucus reforms)\">C-586</a>, as amended by the Procedure and House Affairs Standing Committee, respects that important principle.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976653\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, I believe there are important lessons that can be taken from the international examples. First, there is the simple fact that while rules do exist in other Westminster systems, they differ quite a lot from party to party. The example of all parties in the U.K. shows us just how varied approaches can be to the same issue in the same country.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976654\" data-originallang=\"en\">In some cases, the votes on leadership reviews are taken only amongst MPs, while in other cases parties involve the wider party membership in these decisions. There are also considerable differences in how those votes are conducted. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976655\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is also important to note that the rules that govern the parties have changed over time and I suspect they will continue to evolve in the future. This is best exemplified by the dramatic differences in the threshold for party leader review made by the Australian Labour Party in 2013.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976656\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is important that political parties have the freedom to make their decisions about what type of approach they would like to pursue. Bill <a data-HoCid=\"6507421\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-586/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (candidacy and caucus reforms)\">C-586</a>, as amended, would do this.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976657\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would like to take a moment to turn to our government's strong, democratic reform record. We walk the walk when it comes to empowering members of Parliament to bring forward ideas and issues important to them and to their constituents. For instance, the <em>Globe and Mail</em> analyzed 162,000 votes over almost two years which showed that members on this side of the House were far more likely to vote independently from their party than were opposition MPs. As well, more backbench MPs have passed bills into law through this majority Conservative Parliament than in over 100 years, the time for which such records are available. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976658\" data-originallang=\"en\">The bill of the member for <a data-HoCid=\"170497\" href=\"/politicians/michael-chong/\" title=\"Michael Chong\">Wellington\u2014Halton Hills</a> has precipitated important discussion and debate on matters that affect us all. I have listened carefully to the views of my colleagues on both sides of the House regarding the changes that have been made to the reform act, 2014. In my opinion, the changes that were made have improved the bill and take into account concerns that have been raised.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976659\" data-originallang=\"en\"> For this reason, I urge all my colleagues to support the bill.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"3976638\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, je suis heureux de participer au d\u00e9bat sur le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6507421\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-586/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (candidacy and caucus reforms)\">C-586, Loi de 2014 instituant des r\u00e9formes</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976639\" data-originallang=\"en\">\u00c0 l'instar d'autres intervenants, je tiens, moi aussi, \u00e0 f\u00e9liciter le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"170497\" href=\"/politicians/michael-chong/\" title=\"Michael Chong\">Wellington\u2014Halton Hills</a> pour son travail acharn\u00e9, pour son d\u00e9vouement et pour son esprit de collaboration dans le pr\u00e9sent dossier. C'est en grande partie gr\u00e2ce au climat de collaboration que nous en sommes l\u00e0.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976640\" data-originallang=\"en\">La mesure l\u00e9gislative a \u00e9t\u00e9 amend\u00e9e \u00e0 maintes reprises depuis sa premi\u00e8re version. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6334941\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-559/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (reforms)\">C-559</a>, tel qu'il a \u00e9t\u00e9 amend\u00e9, est tr\u00e8s diff\u00e9rent de sa version initiale.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976641\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je crois que les amendements apport\u00e9s sont extr\u00eamement importants, parce qu'il est d\u00e9sormais admis que les partis doivent avoir la marge de manoeuvre n\u00e9cessaire pour s'administrer comme bon leur semble; une formule universelle ne fonctionnerait pas. Voil\u00e0 pourquoi j'appuie sans r\u00e9serve le projet de loi tel que le Comit\u00e9 permanent de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre l'a amend\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976642\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je tiens aujourd'hui \u00e0 parler de ce qui se fait \u00e0 l'international; j'ai quelques exemples judicieux qui \u00e9claireront le d\u00e9bat sur le fond de la Loi de 2014 instituant des r\u00e9formes.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976643\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il est clair que le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"170497\" href=\"/politicians/michael-chong/\" title=\"Michael Chong\">Wellington\u2014Halton Hills</a>, lorsqu'il a \u00e9labor\u00e9 sa mesure l\u00e9gislative, s'est inspir\u00e9 de certaines pratiques qui sont en vigueur ici m\u00eame au Canada et qui ont court dans d'autres pays o\u00f9 le syst\u00e8me de Westminster a \u00e9t\u00e9 adopt\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976644\" data-originallang=\"en\">Quand il a parl\u00e9 de l'examen de la direction, le d\u00e9put\u00e9 a mentionn\u00e9 les r\u00e8gles qui habilitent les caucus dans divers pays. Il existe en fait, \u00e0 l'\u00e9chelle internationale, une multitude de r\u00e8gles selon les partis et les pays. Dans le cas d'enjeux comme l'examen de la direction, il existe probablement autant de strat\u00e9gies qu'il y a de partis politiques.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976645\" data-originallang=\"en\">Au Royaume-Uni, par exemple, chaque parti a ses propres r\u00e8gles pour la destitution du chef. Au Parti conservateur du Royaume-Uni, l'examen de la direction peut \u00eatre d\u00e9clench\u00e9 si 15 % des d\u00e9put\u00e9s conservateurs votent en ce sens. Le chef peut \u00eatre destitu\u00e9 \u00e0 la suite d'un vote secret majoritaire.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976646\" data-originallang=\"en\">Au Parti travailliste, une course \u00e0 la direction peut \u00eatre d\u00e9clench\u00e9e si un adversaire du chef recueille l'appui de 20 % des d\u00e9put\u00e9s travaillistes. Le chef du parti est remplac\u00e9 si son adversaire obtient la majorit\u00e9 des voix pendant un scrutin pr\u00e9f\u00e9rentiel auquel participe un coll\u00e8ge \u00e9lectoral compos\u00e9 de d\u00e9put\u00e9s travaillistes, de membres du Parlement europ\u00e9en, de membres du parti et de membres d'organismes affili\u00e9s. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976647\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les lib\u00e9raux d\u00e9mocrates ont eux aussi leur fa\u00e7on de faire. Une course \u00e0 la direction peut \u00eatre d\u00e9clench\u00e9e \u00e0 la suite d'un vote majoritaire des d\u00e9put\u00e9s lib\u00e9raux d\u00e9mocrates, ou si 75 regroupements locaux du parti \u00e9crivent au pr\u00e9sident du parti pour demander une course \u00e0 la direction.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976648\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les partis politiques de l'Australie et de la Nouvelle-Z\u00e9lande ont aussi des crit\u00e8res pour le d\u00e9clenchement d'un examen de la direction. Comme au Royaume-Uni, ces r\u00e8gles varient selon les partis.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976649\" data-originallang=\"en\">Par exemple, selon les r\u00e8gles du parti travailliste australien, il faut l'appui de 75 % des membres du caucus pour proc\u00e9der \u00e0 un examen de la direction d'un chef au pouvoir ou de 60 % lorsqu'il s'agit d'un chef de l'opposition. Ces seuils \u00e9taient auparavant fix\u00e9s \u00e0 30 %, mais ils ont \u00e9t\u00e9 hauss\u00e9s en 2013 parce que le parti croyait qu'ils \u00e9taient trop bas et qu'ils cr\u00e9aient de l'instabilit\u00e9 au sein de la direction du parti.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976650\" data-originallang=\"en\">Tournons-nous maintenant vers la Nouvelle-Z\u00e9lande. Selon les r\u00e8gles de son parti travailliste, pour d\u00e9clencher des \u00e9lections visant \u00e0 d\u00e9signer le chef d'un parti, il faut que 50 % plus un des membres du caucus se prononcent en faveur. De plus, le parti proc\u00e8de automatiquement \u00e0 un examen de la direction trois mois apr\u00e8s des \u00e9lections g\u00e9n\u00e9rales; le chef du parti doit alors recevoir l'appui de 60 % des membres de son caucus.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976651\" data-originallang=\"en\">La situation en Australie, en Nouvelle-Z\u00e9lande, de m\u00eame qu'au Royaume-Uni, montre qu'une solution universelle ne fonctionne pas. Il est important que les partis puissent d\u00e9terminer eux-m\u00eames les r\u00e8gles qui les gouvernent.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976652\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6507421\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-586/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (candidacy and caucus reforms)\">C-586</a>, tel qu'il a \u00e9t\u00e9 amend\u00e9 par le Comit\u00e9 permanent de la proc\u00e9dure et des affaires de la Chambre, respecte ce principe important.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976653\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, je crois que d'importantes le\u00e7ons peuvent \u00eatre tir\u00e9es de ces exemples internationaux. Premi\u00e8rement, m\u00eame si d'autres r\u00e9gimes reposant sur le mod\u00e8le de Westminster sont gouvern\u00e9s par des r\u00e8gles, ces r\u00e8gles diff\u00e8rent grandement d'un parti \u00e0 l'autre. Les pratiques employ\u00e9es par les partis du Royaume-Uni, par exemple, montrent qu'il existe plusieurs fa\u00e7ons d'aborder une m\u00eame question dans le m\u00eame pays.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976654\" data-originallang=\"en\">Dans certains cas, seuls les d\u00e9put\u00e9s peuvent participer aux votes sur les examens de la direction alors que, dans d'autres, tous les membres du parti peuvent participer \u00e0 ces d\u00e9cisions. On observe \u00e9galement des diff\u00e9rences consid\u00e9rables dans la mani\u00e8re dont les votes se d\u00e9roulent.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976655\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il est \u00e9galement important de souligner que les r\u00e8gles gouvernant les partis ont chang\u00e9 au fil du temps, et je crois qu'elles continueront \u00e0 \u00e9voluer \u00e0 l'avenir. Nous n'avons qu'\u00e0 penser \u00e0 la d\u00e9cision prise en 2013 par le parti travailliste australien d'augmenter consid\u00e9rablement le seuil requis pour un examen de la direction.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976656\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il est important que les partis politiques soient libres de d\u00e9terminer l'approche qu'ils pr\u00e9conisent. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"6507421\" href=\"/bills/41-2/C-586/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (candidacy and caucus reforms)\">C-586</a>, amend\u00e9, leur accorderait cette libert\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976657\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'aimerais prendre un instant pour parler du bilan solide du gouvernement en mati\u00e8re de r\u00e9forme d\u00e9mocratique. Nous joignons le geste \u00e0 la parole lorsqu'il s'agit d'habiliter les d\u00e9put\u00e9s \u00e0 pr\u00e9senter des id\u00e9es et des questions importantes pour eux et les citoyens qu'ils repr\u00e9sentent. Par exemple, l'analyse de 162 000 votes sur une p\u00e9riode d'un peu plus de deux ans r\u00e9alis\u00e9e par le <em>Globe and Mail</em> montre que les minist\u00e9riels sont beaucoup plus libres de voter selon leur conscience que les d\u00e9put\u00e9s de l'opposition. En outre, plus de d\u00e9put\u00e9s de l'arri\u00e8re-ban ont vu leur projet de loi adopt\u00e9 au cours des mandats majoritaires du gouvernement conservateur que jamais en plus de 100 ans de donn\u00e9es consign\u00e9es.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976658\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le projet de loi du d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"170497\" href=\"/politicians/michael-chong/\" title=\"Michael Chong\">Wellington\u2014Halton Hills</a> a donn\u00e9 lieu \u00e0 une importante discussion et \u00e0 un important d\u00e9bat sur des questions qui nous touchent tous. J'ai \u00e9cout\u00e9 attentivement les points de vue de mes coll\u00e8gues de part et d'autre de la Chambre concernant les amendements apport\u00e9s \u00e0 la loi de 2014 instituant des r\u00e9formes. \u00c0 mon avis, ils am\u00e9liorent le projet de loi et tiennent compte des pr\u00e9occupations qui ont \u00e9t\u00e9 soulev\u00e9es.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3976659\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Pour cette raison, j'exhorte mes coll\u00e8gues \u00e0 appuyer le projet de loi.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2015/2/18/paul-calandra-4/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/paul-calandra/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/979/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "8584098",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Private Members' Business",
        "fr": "Initiatives parlementaires"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Reform Act, 2014",
        "fr": "Loi de 2014 instituant des r\u00e9formes"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2015/2/18/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2015%2F2%2F18%2F"
    }
}