Sheila Fraser: changes would 'infringe' on Elections Canada

Yes but she's employed by Elections Canada and they are obviously biased against the Conservatives, so she's just another hack out to discredit this fine govt.

You forgot the sarcasm tag.

Funny how when she was non-partisan and uncovering Liberal Scandals, she was the Conservative darling. But when her non-partisanship isn't in their favour, she's a paid shill.

Conservatives are playing with fire here, Canadians like her quite a bit and hostility toward her won't go in their favour.

I recall hearing that neither Ontario nor Quebec allow vouching in provincial elections. Well now, I suppose both provinces suffer a sizable deficit in democracy.

Do we really need the sarcasm tag anymore when we're talking about this discredited govt?
The elections act scandal to me is worse than anything else I can think of they've done wrong (and there's plenty). This is a direct attack on democracy and a response to having been caught with their hands in the robocalls cookie jar. Personally, I don't have a problem with people having to have good id to vote - I like that idea. But taking investigative powers away from the independent Electoral Officer who answers to parliament, and putting those powers under the authority of a minister of the govt, that stinks to high heavens. As does limiting the ability of the EO to communicate to the public, and refusing to allow the compelling of testimony in investigations.

Most of the other things they've done were just political shenanigans like any party will. But this seems like a real attempt to subvert democracy.

People are saying they will lose when they take on Sheila Fraser. I hope so.

No, but sometimes it gets tough.



I see it as part of the larger pattern. Have a big 'war chest'? Defund political per-vote pay, and go back to using Government advertising funds to push the party agenda. Want to push through environmentally risky projects? Limit the time assessments can take place. Don't like bad news on pollution, fisheries or the environment? Defund the scientists giving us the bad news.

Don't want the 'ethnic' vote going to lefties? Make voting tougher, because they aren't your demographic.

As Ms. Fraiser ponted out to the Committee, even her own daughter couldn't vote under the new regulations as she has no ID that has her address on it.

You left out muzzling the scientists that are still left talking about their studies without govt approval.

Making the assessment process less interminable I actually agree with. As long as it's not cut too short.

Why does Sheila's daughter not have a driver's license or provincial ID card? She's going to want that to buy booze for God's sake, if nothing else. I don't get how people go thru life without ID. I'm all for people having to prove they are who they say they are in voting. Just as I don't want them wearing veils for it either.

I could go on and on, but didn't want to stray too far off target.



Many people have no picture+address ID. They don't drive, but take transit. Perhaps she's too young to buy booze, but old enough to vote. (is it still 21 in Ontario?). What if you are from the North, where transport is only off road vehicles? Or the coast, where if you aren't on a boat then you are walking?

I'm all for having to ID yourself to vote too, but if the government wants voter ID to be presented they they can damn well provide it! Assuming everyone has photo ID with their address on it will only serve to deny people who don't drive (or whatever) the right to vote.

I could go on and on, but didn't want to stray too far off target.



Many people have no picture+address ID. They don't drive, but take transit. Perhaps she's too young to buy booze, but old enough to vote. (is it still 21 in Ontario?)18 to vote, 19 to drink. $35 fee for Age of Majority card, renewable every 5 years.

People should be encouraged to get an Age of Majority card as a form of identification if they don't have a drivers license or Passport.

The whole vouching system stinks and people don't want to readily admit that it's flawed, seriously flawed to have people "vouch" for one another.

What you won't hear is that members of campaigns find out names at polling stations of those who've yet to vote and drop in 'vouching' that this person is indeed the missing person on the voters list. You won't hear that people often vote numerous times, going from polling station to another.

People should be encouraged to get an Age of Majority card as a form of identification if they don't have a drivers license or Passport.

Or the government should provide voter cards that meet the requirements to vote. Most 'ID' cards require that you go to a government or registry office to get one, and provide ID showing who you are and a large number of Canadians are out of reach of such offices and have no such ID.



Mom used to always tell us how she'd go to vote in her Montreal riding, and more often than not would be crossed off the list as having voted already.

ALWAYS vote! Even if it's to spoil the ballot.

Is democracy important to people? Do we need to deliver everything to people at their door or should we expect them to take some onus upon themselves to get the documents they require in order to exercise their right....the right that some people would die for?

This 'large number' of Canadians, how many would be effected? I suspect this number is quite small as a percentage....and those who don't have proper ID are likely new to Canada and live in an urban area and have full access to facilities to get the documents they require.




Exactly why some of these changes are needed. Show ID or go home!

Last time I voted in a general election I forgot my ID stuff.

Was still allowed to vote, my wife vouched for me. Nobody knew us as we had just moved to the area. Sort of a little lackadaisical, no?

Is democracy important to people? Do we need to deliver everything to people at their door or should we expect them to take some onus upon themselves to get the documents they require in order to exercise their right....the right that some people would die for?

It is a Constitutional right to vote, there is no cost involved to vote. The homeless man, or the guy who hunts and traps in Kugluktuk both have this right. But the guy in Kugluktuk has never had the need for ID, because everyone knows him. In order to get ID, he has to go to Yellowknife to a Service Canada office, with ID that he's never had. How does he get ID for ID without ID? How does he pay for a flight to Yellowknife in the first place?

Is democracy important? But don't you finish that paragraph reminding us that people die for that right?

This legislation will deny people who have the right to vote this right!



Irrelevant! Citizens have the right to vote! Denying even one person of their constitutional rights should be seen as an injustice to us all. If one right can be denied to anyone for arbitrary reasons, it can be denied to any of us.

I wonder how they managed an election in 1867, before we had gummint ID. Nobody voted I guess.