Bill C-2 - The Canada Elections Act, An Act respecting the election of member to the House of Commons, repealing other Acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other Acts.

Senator Joyal made the following interventions on this bill in the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, April 5, 2000:

Hon. Serge Joyal: Mr. Bourgeois, in your presentation, you mentioned the status of women under the Elections Act. Apart from the issue of proportional representation in those countries where such a system has been put in place, the participation of women in elected assemblies has always been higher in those countries that have a different electoral system. Apart from this fundamental change, are there other elements in the present bill that should in your view be changed so as to enhance the participation of women both as candidates and as voters? This is an important objective being pursued by all parties.

I would like to ask Mr. Lepsoe if the bill in its present form gives sufficient guarantees as to the integrity of the identification of political parties? A decision was recently handed down. It brings out important aspects pertaining to the integrity of the electoral process because the bill aims to avoid the supposition of persons. The supposition of parties must also be avoided. Does the bill in its present form offer these guarantees to parties?

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Witnesses:

Louis-Philippe Bourgeois:

• Deputy Director General of Bloc Québécois

Paul Lepsoe

• Legal Counsel for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada

See also:
Complete Senate committee proceedings of the bill on the Parliamentary Internet site.