On new Clause 40.1,
Stephen Owen moved, — That Bill C-2 be amended by adding after line 33 on page 55 the following new clause:“40.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 318:
PART 15.1
RECALL PROCEDURE
318.1 (1) A person may apply to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issuance of a petition to recall a member of the House of Commons if
(a) within thirty days before the application, the member became a member of
a registered party that did not endorse the member in the last election; and
(b) the person was included in the final list of electors for the electoral district of the member in the last election of the member.
(2) The application shall include $5,000 and the following information in writing:
(a) the name, telephone number and civic and mailing addresses of the applicant;
(b) the name of the member; and
(c) a statement of 200 words or less setting out why, in the opinion of the person, the member should be recalled.
(3) If the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the conditions set out in subsections(1) and (2) have been met, the Chief Electoral Officer shall
(a) submit a copy of the application to the member and to the Speaker of the House of Commons and inform them in writing that a petition for the recall of the member will be issued in seven days; and
(b) issue the prescribed petition to the applicant seven days after the member and the Speaker have received the information referred to in paragraph (a).
318.2 The provisions of Parts 16 to 18 of the Canada Elections Act apply with respect to the recall procedure described in this Act, with any modifications that the circumstances require.
318.3 (1) The member ceases to hold office and the seat of the member becomes vacant if the petition for the recall of the member
(a) is returned to the Chief Electoral Officer within 60 days after it is issued;
(b) contains the signature and civic address of more than 50% of electors who voted in the electoral district of the member for the last election of the member; and
(c) contains the name and civic address of a witness to each signature.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, within 40 days after receiving the petition from the applicant, inform the applicant, the member and the Speaker of the House of Commons whether the petition meets the requirements set out in subsection (1).
(3) If the petition meets the requirements set out in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall, within seven days after informing the applicant, the member and the Speaker of the House of Commons under subsection (2),
(a) issue a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy; and
(b) reimburse $5,000 to the applicant.”