Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2018-05-22 12:50:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Ms. Pam Goldsmith-Jones (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, Lib.)",
        "fr": "Mme Pam Goldsmith-Jones (secr\u00e9taire parlementaire du ministre du Commerce international, Lib.)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"5429185\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House today to talk about such an important issue. In the last election campaign, in my community and in communities right across the country, many concerns were raised about how we can ensure the integrity and inclusivity of the elections modernization act.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429186\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Things that came up were that parties must protect personal information. We need to reduce barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from voting and participating. We need to reverse changes made by the previous government, including reintroducing the voter card, reintroducing vouching, and safeguarding the independence of the commissioner of Canada Elections, who ensures compliance with the act. We need to ensure greater flexibility for the Chief Electoral Officer. We can expand the franchise to Canadians living abroad. We need to target the malicious use of technology like political bots, which have been seen to interfere with the integrity of our elections.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429187\" data-originallang=\"en\">I rise today to focus more on the important opportunity we have to address spending by political parties and other entities before the writ period. With the implementation of fixed date elections, political parties and third parties may use the time before an election period to spend money without limit. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429188\" data-originallang=\"en\">The <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> gave the <a data-HoCid=\"229218\" href=\"/politicians/karina-gould/\" title=\"Karina Gould\">Minister of Democratic Institutions</a> a mandate to review the limits on the amounts political parties and third parties can spend during elections, and to propose measures to ensure that spending between elections is subject to reasonable limits as well.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429189\" data-originallang=\"en\">Since the introduction of fixed election dates in 2007, the Canada Elections Act has stipulated that an election should be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth year following the previous general election. In the interests of fairness and transparency, and in keeping with the fact of fixed election dates, this bill defines a pre-election period for federal elections as beginning on June 30 of the fixed election year. This anticipates that the House will have risen, so that there will be no interference with a parliamentary session.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429190\" data-originallang=\"en\">Defining the pre-election period from the end of June provides a window of two to two and a half months before the mid-October election, in which partisan spending would be regulated. New pre-election spending rules will affect registered political parties and third parties. However, it is the latter group that I would like to raise in the House today.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429191\" data-originallang=\"en\"> During the 2015 election, a spending limit of about $211,000 was imposed on third parties. Only 19 of over 100 third party contributors spent over $100,000. Thirteen of those were unions. The median spending by third parties was about $8,500. New spending limits for both pre-election and election periods will therefore not directly affect most third parties, but are essential to prevent those with deep pockets from potentially exerting undue influence.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429192\" data-originallang=\"en\">Under this bill, for the first time, all partisan activities by third parties that support or oppose a political actor, like rallies, phone campaigns, and door-to-door canvassing, will be included in the spending limits. For this reason, the limits for third parties will be increased to approximately $500,000 for the election period in 2019, with no more than $4,000 permitted to be spent on a single electoral district. For the pre-election period, the bill sets a spending limit for third party partisan advertising, partisan activities, and election surveys. The limit for the upcoming election in 2019 will be $1 million, with no more than $10,000 spent on a single electoral district. Since the pre-election period could be twice the length of the election period, the limits need to be higher.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429193\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would like to make it clear that in the bill we are distinguishing between partisan and issue advertising. Partisan advertising and activities are those that directly support or oppose a political party or candidate in an election. Issue advertising and activities, on the other hand, encompass a broad range of issues on which third party organizations advocate as part of their regular business. This, of course, is very welcome. Provided they do not mention a party or a candidate, these would not be regulated in the pre-election period.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429194\" data-originallang=\"en\">Third parties that spend $500 or more on partisan advertising or activities during the pre-election period would need to register with Elections Canada. This is already the case during the election period. Third parties that have spent more than $10,000 or received contributions of over $10,000 for partisan purposes will be required to report, upon registration and again on September 15, the contributions received and expenses incurred in the pre-election period.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429195\" data-originallang=\"en\">It is exciting to think about the transparency of all of this, and the help in the investigation of potential allegations of the use of foreign funds. However, the $10,000 threshold will limit the administrative burden to larger third parties that are receiving and spending a significant amount of money to influence an election. Third parties are currently prohibited from using foreign funds on election advertising. This prohibition would be expanded to forbid foreign funding during the pre-writ period for partisan advertising, other partisan activities, and elections surveys.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429196\" data-originallang=\"en\">During both the pre-writ and election periods, tag lines on advertisements would need to identify the third-party sponsor, as is required for a political party. This requirement will now be applied to both the pre-writ and election periods. Previously, it was the case only during the election period.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429197\" data-originallang=\"en\">To facilitate the tracking of financial involvement in these periods, a third party would be required to open a dedicated bank account. This must happen as soon as it receives contributions or incurs an expense with respect to partisan activities. Currently, third parties report on contributions for election advertising received within six months of the writ. As recommended by the Chief Electoral Officer, this time restriction would be removed. Third parties would now report on all contributions received at any time and used for election advertising and partisan activities. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429198\" data-originallang=\"en\">These measures are required because the fixed election dates have changed the way in which partisan activities are conducted in Canada. Parties and third parties know that an election will occur mid-October 2019. Without the new measures included in the bill, those with the most money could dominate the conversation in the pre-election period and could avoid the transparency measures that exist during the election period. This bill would rectify the situation, maintain a level playing field, and ensure transparency in political financing in Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429199\" data-originallang=\"en\">I look forward to the support of hon. members in putting forth this important legislation. It is certainly what Canadians have told us and what Canadians expect us to deliver on.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"5429185\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, c'est un honneur de prendre la parole aujourd'hui \u00e0 la Chambre sur un sujet extr\u00eamement important. Pendant la derni\u00e8re campagne \u00e9lectorale, dans ma r\u00e9gion et partout au pays, les gens ont exprim\u00e9 de nombreuses inqui\u00e9tudes sur les fa\u00e7ons de garantir l'int\u00e9grit\u00e9 et le caract\u00e8re inclusif de la Loi sur la modernisation des \u00e9lections.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429186\" data-originallang=\"en\">Parmi les points soulev\u00e9s, on a parl\u00e9 du fait que les partis doivent prot\u00e9ger les renseignements personnels. Nous devons r\u00e9duire les obstacles \u00e0 la participation et au vote des personnes ayant une d\u00e9ficience. Nous devons annuler les changements que le gouvernement pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent a introduits, y compris en r\u00e9tablissant l'utilisation de la carte de l'\u00e9lecteur et du recours \u00e0 un r\u00e9pondant, en plus de pr\u00e9server l'ind\u00e9pendance du commissaire aux \u00e9lections f\u00e9d\u00e9rales, qui veille au respect de la Loi. Nous devons accro\u00eetre la marge de manoeuvre du directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections. Nous pouvons \u00e9tendre le droit de vote aux Canadiens qui vivent \u00e0 l'\u00e9tranger. Nous devons cibler l'utilisation malveillante des technologies comme les robots politiques, qui ont port\u00e9 atteinte \u00e0 l'int\u00e9grit\u00e9 du processus \u00e9lectoral canadien.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429187\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je prends la parole aujourd'hui pour insister sur l'occasion en or qui se pr\u00e9sente \u00e0 nous d'encadrer les d\u00e9penses des partis politiques et d'autres entit\u00e9s avant la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale. Depuis la mise en oeuvre des \u00e9lections \u00e0 date fixe, les partis politiques et des tiers peuvent d\u00e9penser sans limites juste avant la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429188\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> a confi\u00e9 \u00e0 la <a data-HoCid=\"229218\" href=\"/politicians/karina-gould/\" title=\"Karina Gould\">ministre des Institutions d\u00e9mocratiques</a> le mandat de passer en revue les limites des montants que les partis politiques et les tiers peuvent d\u00e9penser pendant les \u00e9lections, et de proposer des mesures pour assurer que les d\u00e9penses encourues entre les \u00e9lections soient \u00e9galement assujetties \u00e0 des limites raisonnables.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429189\" data-originallang=\"en\">\u00c0 la suite d'une modification apport\u00e9e en 2007, la Loi \u00e9lectorale du Canada pr\u00e9voit un processus d'\u00e9lections \u00e0 date fixe selon lequel une \u00e9lection g\u00e9n\u00e9rale doit avoir lieu le troisi\u00e8me lundi d'octobre de la quatri\u00e8me ann\u00e9e civile qui suit le jour du scrutin de la derni\u00e8re \u00e9lection g\u00e9n\u00e9rale. Par souci d'\u00e9quit\u00e9 et de transparence, et conform\u00e9ment au processus d'\u00e9lections \u00e0 date fixe, le projet de loi d\u00e9finit la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale pour les \u00e9lections f\u00e9d\u00e9rales comme la p\u00e9riode commen\u00e7ant le 30 juin de l'ann\u00e9e o\u00f9 a lieu l'\u00e9lection \u00e0 date fixe. Il est pr\u00e9vu que les travaux de la Chambre auront alors \u00e9t\u00e9 ajourn\u00e9s et qu'on ne perturbera pas la session parlementaire. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429190\" data-originallang=\"en\">Comme la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale commence \u00e0 la fin de juin, les d\u00e9penses partisanes seront r\u00e9glement\u00e9es durant une p\u00e9riode de deux mois \u00e0 deux mois et demi avant l'\u00e9lection pr\u00e9vue \u00e0 la mi-octobre. Les nouvelles r\u00e8gles en mati\u00e8re de d\u00e9penses pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorales toucheront les partis politiques enregistr\u00e9s et les tiers. C'est de ces derniers que je veux parler ici aujourd'hui. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429191\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Lors de la campagne \u00e9lectorale de 2015, un plafond de d\u00e9penses d'environ 211 000 $ a \u00e9t\u00e9 impos\u00e9 aux tiers. Parmi plus de 100 tiers contributeurs, seulement 19, dont 13 syndicats, ont d\u00e9pens\u00e9 plus de 100 000 $. La moyenne des d\u00e9penses par des tiers a \u00e9t\u00e9 de 8 500 $. Les nouveaux plafonds fix\u00e9s pour les p\u00e9riodes pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale et \u00e9lectorale ne toucheront donc pas directement la plupart des tiers, mais ils sont essentiels pour \u00e9viter que les riches n'exercent une influence indue.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429192\" data-originallang=\"en\">Pour la premi\u00e8re fois, aux termes de ce projet de loi, toutes les activit\u00e9s partisanes men\u00e9es par des tiers pour ou contre un acteur politique, telles que rassemblements, campagnes d\u2019appels t\u00e9l\u00e9phoniques et porte-\u00e0-porte, seront assujetties au plafonnement des d\u00e9penses. Pour cette raison, les plafonds impos\u00e9s aux tiers seront augment\u00e9s afin d\u2019atteindre environ 500 000 $ pour la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale en 2019, dont un maximum de 4 000 $ permis par circonscription. Pour la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale, le projet de loi \u00e9tablit un plafond de d\u00e9penses pour la publicit\u00e9 partisane, les activit\u00e9s partisanes et les sondages \u00e9lectoraux men\u00e9s par des tiers. Le plafond sera de 1 million de dollars pour l\u2019\u00e9lection qui aura lieu en 2019, pour un maximum de 10 000 $ par circonscription. \u00c9tant donn\u00e9 que la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale pourrait \u00eatre deux fois plus longue que la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale, les plafonds doivent \u00eatre plus \u00e9lev\u00e9s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429193\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je pr\u00e9cise que, dans le projet de loi, nous faisons une distinction entre la publicit\u00e9 partisane et la publicit\u00e9 li\u00e9e \u00e0 un enjeu particulier. La premi\u00e8re est directement men\u00e9e pour ou contre un parti politique ou un candidat; la seconde, en revanche, englobe un large \u00e9ventail de causes que peuvent faire valoir des tiers dans le cadre de leurs activit\u00e9s habituelles. La seconde est \u00e9videmment encourag\u00e9e \u00e0 condition de ne pas mentionner de parti ni de candidat, et elle ne serait pas r\u00e9glement\u00e9e pendant la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429194\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les tiers qui d\u00e9pensent 500 $ ou plus pour de la publicit\u00e9 ou des activit\u00e9s partisanes pendant la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale devraient s\u2019inscrire aupr\u00e8s d\u2019\u00c9lections Canada. C\u2019est d\u00e9j\u00e0 le cas pendant la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale. Les tiers qui ont d\u00e9pens\u00e9 plus de 10 000 $ ou re\u00e7u des contributions de plus de 10 000 $ \u00e0 des fins partisanes seront tenus de d\u00e9clarer, au moment de l\u2019inscription, puis de nouveau le 15 septembre, les contributions re\u00e7ues et les d\u00e9penses engag\u00e9es pendant la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429195\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il est emballant de penser \u00e0 toute la transparence que cela suppose. Les enqu\u00eates sur les all\u00e9gations relatives au recours \u00e0 des fonds \u00e9trangers en seront facilit\u00e9es. Toutefois, le seuil de 10 000 $ limitera le fardeau administratif pour les tierces parties qui re\u00e7oivent et d\u00e9pensent d'importantes sommes d'argent dans le but d'influer sur les r\u00e9sultats des \u00e9lections. \u00c0 l'heure actuelle, les tiers n'ont pas le droit de financer des publicit\u00e9s \u00e9lectorales au moyen de capitaux \u00e9trangers. Cette interdiction s'appliquera \u00e9galement au financement \u00e0 m\u00eame des fonds \u00e9trangers de publicit\u00e9s partisanes, d'autres activit\u00e9s partisanes et de sondages \u00e9lectoraux durant la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429196\" data-originallang=\"en\">Pendant les p\u00e9riodes \u00e9lectorale et pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale, les tiers, tout comme les partis politiques, devront s'identifier dans les messages publicitaires qu'ils diffuseront. Cette exigence s'appliquera d\u00e9sormais \u00e0 la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale. Auparavant, c'\u00e9tait seulement obligatoire durant la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429197\" data-originallang=\"en\">Pour faciliter le suivi de la participation financi\u00e8re pendant ces p\u00e9riodes, une tierce partie devra ouvrir un compte bancaire r\u00e9serv\u00e9 \u00e0 cette fin aussit\u00f4t qu'elle re\u00e7oit des contributions ou qu'elle engage des d\u00e9penses en lien avec des activit\u00e9s partisanes. En ce moment, les tiers d\u00e9posent un rapport faisant \u00e9tat des contributions qu'elles ont re\u00e7ues \u00e0 des fins de publicit\u00e9 \u00e9lectorale au cours des six mois pr\u00e9c\u00e9dant le d\u00e9clenchement des \u00e9lections. Comme l'a recommand\u00e9 le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9lections, on ne fixera plus aucune limite de temps. Les tierces parties devront maintenant faire rapport sur toutes les contributions qu'elles re\u00e7oivent, \u00e0 n'importe quel moment, que ce soit aux fins de publicit\u00e9 \u00e9lectorale ou d'activit\u00e9s partisanes. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429198\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ces mesures sont n\u00e9cessaires, car les \u00e9lections \u00e0 date fixe ont chang\u00e9 la fa\u00e7on dont les activit\u00e9s partisanes sont men\u00e9es au Canada. Les partis politiques et les tiers savent que des \u00e9lections se tiendront \u00e0 la mi-octobre 2019. En l'absence des nouvelles mesures pr\u00e9vues dans le projet de loi, ceux qui ont le plus d'argent pourraient dominer le d\u00e9bat public au cours de la p\u00e9riode pr\u00e9\u00e9lectorale et faire fi des mesures de transparence qui s'appliquent durant la p\u00e9riode \u00e9lectorale. Ce projet de loi permettra de rem\u00e9dier \u00e0 la situation, de maintenir des r\u00e8gles du jeu \u00e9quitables et de rendre le financement politique plus transparent au Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"5429199\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je compte sur l'appui des d\u00e9put\u00e9s pour adopter cet important projet de loi. C'est certainement ce que les Canadiens nous ont demand\u00e9, et ils s'attendent \u00e0 ce que nous respections nos engagements.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2018/5/22/pam-goldsmith-jones-1/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/pam-goldsmith-jones/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4252/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "10136941",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": "Initiatives minist\u00e9rielles"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Elections Modernization Act",
        "fr": "Loi sur la modernisation des \u00e9lections"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2018/5/22/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2018%2F5%2F22%2F"
    }
}