PROC Committee Report

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE FIFTEENTH REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS

Voting is the primary way for Canadians to participate in the democratic process.  An essential part of a well-functioning democracy is the willingness to make needed reforms to the administration and oversight of elections to ensure the continued vitality of the electoral system and to promote and maintain accessibility, trust and public confidence.  In pursuing its democratic reform agenda, the Government has focused on enhancing the accountability, fairness and integrity of our electoral system.

The passage of the Federal Accountability Act strengthened Canada’s political financing regime by introducing measures to ensure the integrity, fairness and transparency of the electoral process, including new limits on contributions from individuals, a ban on contributions from unions and corporations, and tightened rules on gifts and trust funds.  The Government continued its efforts to enhance the integrity and transparency of the political financing regime with the introduction of the Political Loans Accountability Act, which will ensure that political loans cannot be used to circumvent the contribution limits established in the Federal Accountability Act. New voter identification requirements have also been implemented, in response to the Procedure and House Affairs Committee’s report in the 39th Parliament.  Through Budget 2011, the Government is implementing the four-year phasing-out of the per vote subsidy to political parties.  In January 2012, the Government also committed to repeal section 329 of the Canada Elections Act, the ban on the early transmission of electoral results.

While Canadians have been well served by the electoral process, we should always strive to ensure our electoral system meets the needs of voters.  The recommendations in the Fifteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs respond to recommendations made by the Chief Electoral Officer following the 40th general election in his report entitled Responding to Changing Needs. The Committee considered the 50 recommendations made in the Chief Electoral Officer’s report and endorsed 44 of the recommendations, either in full or with amendments.  All but three of these recommendations received unanimous support.  The recommendations focus on measures to improve further the integrity and consistency of the electoral system and to provide Elections Canada with more flexibility in administering the electoral process, while preserving the trust of Canadians in the process and improving accessibility.

Ensuring the continued vitality of the electoral system is essential to promoting and maintaining the trust and confidence of Canadians.  An essential part of a well-functioning democracy is the willingness to make reforms to the administration of elections when needed.  However, it is important to consider legislative changes in the broader context of reform.  In undertaking a broader review of the Canada Elections Act, the Government will take the time to study carefully the recommendations of the Committee.  The Government will also review further recommendations of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada that may be forthcoming. 

The Government would like to thank the Committee for its hard work and its commitment to improving the electoral system.  The Government looks forward to working with Committee members and all parties on further reforms to the electoral process.