OTTAWA – If the prime minister does not succumb to the temptations of high popularity ratings and call an early election before next summer, the next federal vote likely will take place under some new rules.
The government last week announced plans to end pre-election enumeration through creation of a permanent voters’ list after one last national enumeration in the spring and to shorten the election campaign to 36 from 47 days.
Solicitor general Herb Gray held out the possibility that voting times might also be changed by the next election to deal with Prairie and British Columbia complaints about early election-night publication of results from Eastern Canada.
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A private member’s bill by Vancouver Liberal MP Anna Terrana would see hours staggered so eastern polls are open later and British Columbia polls close earlier.
Gray told a news conference last week he is sympathetic to the idea and he would be interested in a compromise that would help relieve feelings of alienation in the West without creating too much inconvenience for eastern voters and election workers.
He said “chances are very good” that Terrana’s bill will make it through Parliament this session.
Terrana’s bill would have polls open for 12 hours across the country, but staying open until 11:30 p.m. in Newfoundland, 10 p.m. in Eastern Canada and 7 p.m. in B.C.
That way, the votes would be counted at the same time across the country and westerners would not face the prospect of voting, turning on their televisions at 8 p.m. as local polls close but before their votes are counted, only to find out the election already has been decided because one party already has a majority from eastern ridings.
Negotiations during the next several months will determine if a version of her bill, perhaps modified to have eastern polls close a little earlier than proposed, will pass.
Not if spring vote
The new rules will take effect for the next vote only if there is not a spring election.
Elections Canada officials say a spring vote would not leave them enough time to complete the last enumeration needed to create a permanent voters’ list.
Chief electoral officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley told reporters the new rules, ending the need for a lengthy and costly enumeration before each election, will save at least $30 million per election.
If provincial and municipal jurisdictions also use the permanent voters’ list, the savings will be greater.
He said shaving 11 days off the election campaign will save money and reduce the aggravation voters sometimes feel. The longer campaign was required when traveling and communications were slower.
