Site MenuMeeting Summary – Semi-Annual Meeting June 3, 2014
1. Update from the Chief Electoral Officer
Presentation
Following up on suggestions made by the board in the December 2013 inaugural meeting, Elections Canada met with the directors of three registered political parties regarding the possibility of establishing a code of conduct. Those meetings were positive; however, the introduction of Bill C-23 suspended the discussions until a clearer understanding of the implications of the legislation could be established. Elections Canada plans to resume these meetings with the registered political parties.
The redistribution of electoral districts was completed by independent commissions in the fall of 2013. The new boundaries will be applied for the general election planned for October 2015.
Over the next few months, the main focus of the agency will be election readiness. The readiness date for the 2015 election has been advanced to March 1, 2015. Election readiness includes, among many other activities, the preparation and distribution of forms, record-keeping books and instructions to be used during the election period. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is concerned that additional administrative controls at polling sites and increased process complexity for all participants may actually lead to more record-keeping errors.
The CEO plans to engage Parliament in fall 2014, through the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, to discuss an implementation plan and preliminary costing for the next general election. The input of the Advisory Board will be instrumental in this regard.
Discussion
Members discussed the timing and method for engaging Parliament with an implementation plan for the 42nd general election. They expressed particular interest in the section of Bill C-23 that deals with post-election audits and discussed the importance for the CEO to engage Parliament on the parameters of the audit. Members also advised the CEO on some of their ideas for what such an audit should consist of, including the opportunity to build evidence-based performance evaluations to assist the agency in making changes and improvements as a result of the audit findings. Additionally, members expressed concern about the cost efficiency of such an audit and how audits may pave the way for a more litigious environment in future elections.
Members also expressed support for Elections Canada's efforts to foster the adoption of a code of conduct by political parties. The CEO was encouraged to continue discussions of a code with the parties.