OTTAWA – Despite Reform party objections, the House of Commons last week approved new election rules that will create a permanent voters’ list and have the polls closing earlier in Western Canada.
Assuming the Senate approves the bill and the next election is not called before the end of April 1997, the next campaign will be cut from 47 days to 36 days.
Polls will close later in Atlantic and Eastern Canada, at 8:30 p.m. in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, at 7:30 p.m. in Alberta and at 7 p.m. in British Columbia.
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It was an attempt, pushed by Vancouver MP Anna Terrana and accepted by the government, to deal with western complaints that by the time they voted in the past, results from Eastern Canada already had determined which party would form the next government.
“This amendment strikes a sensible and a practical balance on voting hours in a country that spans six time zones,” said government house leader Herb Gray.
Reform MPs disagreed.
They opposed the bill because the government forced it through quickly by cutting off debate and because they say it does nothing to end western alienation.
Calgary MP Stephen Harper said by closing the polls earlier, western voters will be denied the right to vote during the busiest evening hours.
“In other words, the West will pay for the solution to the problems of the electoral system.”
Power with population
Harper said the fundamental problem is that in the parliamentary system, the power rests with the populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec without adequate protection for the less-populous regions.
B.C. Reform MP Bill Gilmour said the government solution actually compounds the problem.
With polls not open later in the evening, fewer westerners will be able to vote, he complained. “If the western vote did not count much before, our vote now counts even less.”
Gray said the shorter campaigns and the permanent voters list will be more convenient and will save $30 million for each election.
The last general enumeration of voters will take place next April.
In Alberta, the last general enumeration likely will be prepared for a spring provincial election and will then be incorporated into the federal registry.
Gray said the voters’ list will not compromise privacy of individuals and new rules will make it easy for citizens not on the voters’ list to vote when they show up at the polls.
