Fair Election Act

Keepitsimple · April 2, 2014

Yes, Poilievre is opening up to possible changes on vouching and he must be getting flack from his own constituents and the senate for changes. Again, have a plastic vote card would get rid of this burden. BTW, who cuts Poilievre cut hair? He looks like a skinned-head, his sides are not even, terrible looking. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pierre-poilievre-open-to-changing-controversial-election-measure-1.2594721

So - you're in agreement that everyone - everyone - should have ID? Now, ask yourself - how do all these "did-enfranchised" people go about getting their Voter ID card - after all. there could be half a million of them out there <_< . Would that be by using any of 39 different pieces of ID to prove your identity? And what if these homeless and challenged Seniors lose their Voter ID cards? Nonetheless, it's refreshing to see that you're on the side of the government for a change.

On Guard for Thee · April 2, 2014

Yes, Poilievre is opening up to possible changes on vouching and he must be getting flack from his own constituents and the senate for changes. Again, have a plastic vote card would get rid of this burden. BTW, who cuts Poilievre cut hair? He looks like a skinned-head, his sides are not even, terrible looking. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pierre-poilievre-open-to-changing-controversial-election-measure-1.2594721

I tend to think you are correct on the internal flack idea. He has been such an arrogant twit up to now, not even hesitating to misquote Neufeld or pull select items from the report to make them say something they don't. Harper has probably seen a further drop in his polling numbers and attributed it to this gong show and has probably ordered Poiliever to back off a tad. After all I doubt Harper rolls over in bed at night w/o thinking about how to steal a few more votes. QP was a joke today. If you didn't know better you might have concluded Harper doesn't quite comprehend the English language yet.

Ditto on the haircut!

Bob Macadoo · April 2, 2014

Yes, Poilievre is opening up to possible changes on vouching and he must be getting flack from his own constituents and the senate for changes. Again, have a plastic vote card would get rid of this burden. BTW, who cuts Poilievre cut hair? He looks like a skinned-head, his sides are not even, terrible looking. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pierre-poilievre-open-to-changing-controversial-election-measure-1.2594721

The play all along...are we dropping the donation loophole clauses too? Thought not.

Topaz · April 2, 2014

As I said, its the cooperation of the Provinces and the Territories, and for those who have a drivers license, all the information is there to the provinces or the health care. The group that will be hard to fix, may be the disabled and that depends on what their is but I 'm sure that could be done too and other ideas of ways to fix this problem can be made simple. The only thing that e may have a harder thing correcting is a corrupt MP.

On Guard for Thee · April 3, 2014

Here's what I'm hoping. Poilevre shows up at his polling station in 2015 but forgets his wallet and can't vote. I think they call that "poetic justice"

Keepitsimple · April 3, 2014

Curious that no one had any comments on the fact that almost all European countries have Voter ID rules that are much more restrictive than what Canada is proposing. Most have National ID cards - otherwise, voters need another form of photo ID. Not a peep from these countries about dis-enfranchised voters - the homeless, the blind, the elderly. Why do you think they require a fairly strict voter ID? Voting is a right - but it's also a responsibility - and one that should be taken seriously. The Europeans get it - us, not so much.

PIK · April 3, 2014

Here's what I'm hoping. Poilevre shows up at his polling station in 2015 but forgets his wallet and can't vote. I think they call that "poetic justice"

Curious that no one had any comments on the fact that almost all European countries have Voter ID rules that are much more restrictive than what Canada is proposing. Most have National ID cards - otherwise, voters need another form of photo ID. Not a peep from these countries about dis-enfranchised voters - the homeless, the blind, the elderly. Why do you think they require a fairly strict voter ID? Voting is a right - but it's also a responsibility - and one that should be taken seriously. The Europeans get it - us, not so much.

Canada has become the most whinning country in the world.Even poor joe muffraw got canned. lol

eyeball · April 3, 2014

I wonder how much of the voter angst in Europe is spillover from immigration angst? When Europeans get it this way, it can sometimes get pretty ugly. Be careful what you wish for.

That said, the ideological angst from which North American voter angst spills over from often borders pretty close to the same sentiment too.

guyser · April 3, 2014

Canada has become the most whinning country in the world.Even poor joe muffraw got canned. lol

NOt sure if you meant winning or whining?

Kind of funny if you stop and think about it. Apparently someone really likes to whine about a Liberal leader , thinks women are stupid and vote w their va-jay-jay....among a huge list of other whinings.

Big Joe Mufferaw did not get canned. His name was amended, for good reason too !

Topaz · April 3, 2014

Here's what I'm hoping. Poilevre shows up at his polling station in 2015 but forgets his wallet and can't vote. I think they call that "poetic justice"

LOL!!!!

Topaz · April 3, 2014

This guy is having too much fun, especially when in goes on the two 5 o'clock new shows. He laughs and smirks and keeps saying he's right, after all, he's the youngest MP, 30, owned a IT business, so he's at the very young age of "I know everything, YOU know nothing". IF he has many FORMER fed workers in his riding, which I think he does, lets see who has the last laugh. Of course, noticed how this has made life for Harper in QP a little easier from the drill of his knowing of the senate scandal?? Yip, they've changed the channel. Canadians should be concern about the changes to the head of EC and the commissioner, parties will be able to cheat and no one can tells us about.

On Guard for Thee · April 4, 2014

And noone can be forced to tell us anything. Yhe act removes the ability to compel testimony. Poilievre said the other day that the current investigations into Robocalls last time would be "grandfathered" in to be able to continue, but I smell a rat. I also heard a recent interview with a conservative senator (who's name a can't recall just now) who doesn't like the bill and she said if it wasn't amended, especially with regard to vouching, that they could tie it up literally for months and also send it back if they deem it unconstitutional. The old "sober second thought" may be the silver lining here.

Keepitsimple · April 4, 2014

And noone can be forced to tell us anything. Yhe act removes the ability to compel testimony. Poilievre said the other day that the current investigations into Robocalls last time would be "grandfathered" in to be able to continue, but I smell a rat. I also heard a recent interview with a conservative senator (who's name a can't recall just now) who doesn't like the bill and she said if it wasn't amended, especially with regard to vouching, that they could tie it up literally for months and also send it back if they deem it unconstitutional. The old "sober second thought" may be the silver lining here.

Nonsense...there never was the ability to compel testimony so the Act is not removing it. Some would like that ability added, similar to other regulatory agencies.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Keepitsimple

Big Guy · April 4, 2014

Most lay people who follow and try to understand politics tend to use surrogates to help them take an informed position on a topic. The more the surrogate is perceived to be impartial, the more credible becomes the position. Sheila Fraser has become the latest into this battle. Her complete denunciation of this bill and her opinion that this is an "attack on democracy" is what convinced me that this bill is not a good idea for our form of government. She knows a lot more about the inner workings of this government and the possible effects of this new law- if passed the way it is. She does not have a "horse in this race". I trust her opinion more than any talking heads representing any political party.

ironstone · April 5, 2014

I feel bad for students living in residences and seniors in retirement homes. This new law is going to make it incredibly difficult for each of those groups to vote. Also, it's a bit insulting that the Conservatives are muzzling the Chief Electoral Officer, instead of expanding his ability to investigate and charge people behind voter fraud, particularly with the outstanding investigations from the last election still underway. You would think the Conservatives, who have claimed repeatedly that they're innocent, would want to find the culprits to clear their name. This legislation makes it pretty clear that they're not as innocent as they claim.

According to this column by Brian Lilley,the practice of vouching is not allowed in Ontario and Quebec for provincial elections.Why do you suppose Trudeau and Mulcair have not complained about this?

Do you not think that along with all those rights Canadians enjoy,we should have just a couple of responsibilities as well?Is it so bloody impossible to come up with one of thirty nine acceptable pieces of identification?

http://blogs.canoe.ca/lilleyspad/politics/column-lilley-end-voter-fraud-ill-vouch-for-that/

This is on the Elections Canada website:

http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=ids&document=index〈=e

Frankly,if anyone can't come up with at least one of these,they do not deserve to be voting.

Topaz · April 5, 2014

I think the First Nation may not have the right ID but not sure, although it has been said by others that they would have problems with this and it could be the one with having a ID with a picture. Not many ID's have your picture on it and as far as a drivers license, there are some people who don't have a license to drive and there are health cards that don't have pictures, so what does one use???? That's why I think Canada should a voter's plastic card for voting within Canada.

-TSS- · April 6, 2014

Here in Finland our PM announced yesterday that he will not seek another term as party-chairman of the National Coaltition party. So he will resign as PM as well. The party-conference which elects new party-leader and hence PM takes place in June. Until then our politics is in a state of limbo with a lame duck leading our government.

This raises some thoughts. Even though I am a fan of parliamentary democracy myself as opposed to the US-style strong presidential rule, when a PM resigns in the middle of a term there is an untenable situation that a new PM is not elected by the electorate but rather by a few hundred party-activists at a party-conference.

Therefore, there should be a post of deputy-PM for these kinds of loopholes in the system.

eyeball · April 6, 2014

...there is an untenable situation that a new PM is not elected by the electorate but rather by a few hundred party-activists at a party-conference.

It's like that all the time in Canada. It's a misleading perception that we actually elect our leaders. What's even even more misleading IMO is the notion that we can't possibly govern ourselves without doing so.

The electorate is the real lame duck.

-TSS- · April 6, 2014

If you vote for Harper's party in the election you know you'll get Harper as PM. Nothing wrong with that.

However, if Harper resigns in the middle of the term and someone else takes over as party-leader and PM. That someone may be someone that had you known that he/she would take over the party and become PM you wouldn't have voted for Harper's party.

eyeball · April 6, 2014

Yep, our democratic ways always leave lots of room for feeling dispossessed and disenfranchised. I guess it's how we use democracy more than why that causes that.

cybercoma · April 6, 2014

If you vote for Harper's party in the election you know you'll get Harper as PM. Nothing wrong with that.

However, if Harper resigns in the middle of the term and someone else takes over as party-leader and PM. That someone may be someone that had you known that he/she would take over the party and become PM you wouldn't have voted for Harper's party.

You don't vote for the party. You vote for a representative for your constituency. The problem is that MPs should be largely autonomous, but they've become whipped by the unelected PMO. Edited April 6, 2014 by cybercoma

Bryan · April 6, 2014

If you vote for Harper's party in the election you know you'll get Harper as PM. Nothing wrong with that.

However, if Harper resigns in the middle of the term and someone else takes over as party-leader and PM. That someone may be someone that had you known that he/she would take over the party and become PM you wouldn't have voted for Harper's party.

And we've had that happen on several occasions, including our previous PM. It often is followed by a large drop in support in the next election. Kim Campbell was soundly defeated, Paul Martin was reduced to a minority, then defeated.

You don't vote for the party.

YOU don't, most people do.

cybercoma · April 6, 2014

YOU don't, most people do.

So why bother putting the candidate's name on the ballot then, if you're electing a party?

People who vote for a party don't understand our electoral system.

Bryan · April 6, 2014

So why bother putting the candidate's name on the ballot then, if you're electing a party?

People who vote for a party don't understand our electoral system.

Both the party and the candidate's names are on the ballot. Different people cast their votes for different reasons.

If you think people don't vote for the party, YOU don't understand our electoral system. The number of seats for the party you want is the only thing that really matters. The names attached to most of those seats is almost irrelevant.

On Guard for Thee · April 6, 2014

I have found myself in the dilemma of how to vote with the moving around I've done over the years. Some substantial moves like from that right hand island all the way over to the left hand one and sometimes my preffered party is not my preffered candidate in the riding. I have always stuck to the notion that better to do what you think is best for the area.