Procedure and House Affairs

The committee met to begin clause-by-clause study of Bill C-25, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact an act to change the name of certain electoral districts, 2026. Appearing were Trevor Knight and Karolyn Savard from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, and Rachel Pereira from the Privy Council Office.

Trevor Knight and Karolyn Savard provided technical advice on several amendments. Knight clarified that nomination signatures can be collected before the writ period, and that filing earlier would not necessarily require returning officer offices to open sooner, though Savard noted operational challenges if offices had to open early. Knight also explained that under the bill as drafted, a candidate cannot be refused based on an elector signing multiple nomination papers, and that the current ballot box sealing rules are set by Chief Electoral Officer instructions rather than legislation. On the 10% exemption for third-party funds, Knight said Elections Canada could not predict how many third parties would use it, but expected corporations and unions would likely qualify.

Rachel Pereira explained that the 10% threshold for third-party own funds was recommended by the Chief Electoral Officer, is used by the Canada Revenue Agency, and is practical for calculations. She noted that third parties meeting the threshold could use only their own funds generated in Canada, not foreign donations, and would need to submit financial statements to demonstrate compliance. She acknowledged the regime is not perfect but balances keeping foreign funds out with charter considerations.

The committee debated and voted on several amendments. Elizabeth May’s PV-1 to reduce nomination signatures to 75 was defeated 10-1. Her PV-2 to allow filing nomination papers from the start of the pre-election period was opposed by the Liberals as out of scope and by others citing cost and operational concerns; it was defeated. A Bloc Québécois amendment to remove the prohibition on electors signing multiple nomination papers was defeated, with members arguing it would undermine the bill’s goal of preventing ballot abuse. Michael Cooper’s CPC-1 requiring ballot boxes to be stored under lock and key with video surveillance was opposed by the Liberals and Bloc, who cited technological obsolescence and preferred CEO flexibility; it was defeated. A Bloc amendment to allow electors to be removed from the voters list for safety was defeated, with the Liberals noting no circumstances were specified. Bloc amendments to end vouching were not moved after the chair ruled them out of scope. The Liberal G-0.1 codifying existing CEO instructions on ballot box sealing was adopted. Cooper’s CPC-2 to require all third parties to set up separate bank accounts for regulated activities, removing the 10% exemption, was defeated after the Liberals cited charter risks and witness testimony; Cooper withdrew related CPC-3 and CPC-4. Bloc amendments to restore public funding for parties and to capture potential candidates in fundraising rules were defeated, with the Liberals arguing redundancy. Cooper’s CPC-5 to limit publication of donor postal codes was defeated, with the Liberals noting Elections Canada already limits such information. A Bloc subamendment to NDP-3 requiring return of funds for non-compliant fundraising events was defeated, with the Liberals saying violations are already treated consistently. A Bloc amendment to subject federal parties to provincial privacy laws was not moved after a related amendment failed. Cooper’s CPC-6 adding “knowingly” to the prohibition on providing false or misleading information about personal information collection was defeated, with the Liberals and Bloc arguing it would complicate enforcement.