Bob Bromley

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to enable returning officers to strike names from the preliminary list of electors in cases where the returning officer is certain a person is no longer a resident in the electoral district; and to require the returning officer to post the names of persons struck from the list and to update it daily during the revision period. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer undertake research on the relationship between voter turnout and the day of the week on which elections take place, and report back to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures with the results of that research. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer undertake research on voter identification requirements, and report back to the committee with options for amending the current requirements to make them more appropriate for NWT communities.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Earlier today the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures reported on its review of the Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Administration of the 2011 General Election. The report contained recommendations from the committee which we would like to introduce now.

Thank you, committee.

By way of conclusion, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures will return with additional recommendations after its review of additional research and recommendations from the Chief Electoral Officer on the following topics:

voter identification requirements;

polling day;

the definition of “broadcasting”;

options for new special voting opportunities for communities with no resident returning officer and with populations of fewer than 500;

campaign financing provisions; and

additional enforcement powers.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Elections and Plebiscites Act be amended to add candidate nomination papers to the list of public records that may be inspected during office hours at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s remarks. I can’t say I’ve got much comfort yet, but I’ll look forward to that statement.

Another statement from the Minister in his letter, “The GNWT will be promoting the use of northern tools for any future areas.” This sounds like a unilateral decision to me and ignores the partners and considerable work done. I wonder, does this mean there is no support for the National Wildlife Areas in the federal dollars that are available now, but will disappear if we don’t take them up on this? It sounds like the Minister will not support National...

Sorry, I don’t have a response to that right off hand, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The Minister has told me by letter that the GNWT will work with Canada to conclude Edehzhie, which I appreciate, but then with respect to all of the other areas, National Wildlife Areas proposed, the GNWT appreciates the significant work undertaken. What does that statement mean? Thank you.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Chief Electoral Officer proceed to develop restructured Tariff of Fees Regulations and provide the draft regulations to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures for comment before recommending them to the Commissioner. Thank you, Madam Chair.