Fair Elections Act slammed by former auditor general Sheila Fraser

Former auditor general Sheila Fraser is warningthat provisions in the proposed Fair Elections Act arean affront to democracy and that the government's approach towardofficers of Parliament is damaging to the democratic system.

On CBC Radio'sThe House,Fraser said the questions being raised about the independence and objectivity of officers of Parliament such asthe chief electoral officercan create the impressionparliamentary watchdogs are biased.

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"I just fear that all of this is creating somehow the impressionthat these people are not impartial. And I think that is really damaging not only to officers of Parliament but to our whole democratic system," she said.

Reforms appearto be an attack on Elections Canada, Fraser says

Fraser tore into the government's proposed fair elections act, sayingrestrictionson howElections Canada and the chief electoral officer can communicate and who the office can hire will make the office less independent.

Fraser called the decision to move the commissioner over to the director of public prosecutions and cutting the chief electoral officer out of the process toselect a new commissioner an attack on Elections Canada.

The act would also prohibitElections Canada employees from applying to the position.

"It would certainly appear to be an attack on Elections Canada. These are the people who have the expertisewhy would you exclude them from applying for this position?" she said.

Fraser raised questions about vouching and questioned the logistics around abolishing it.

"Our whole system is based on fairness. It should be based on, everyone should have the right to vote. And instead of making that easier, this bill would appear to be making it more difficult," Fraser said.

Fraser also said the changes to campaign spending limits outlined in the act wouldcreate a "huge loophole" for campaign financing.

I think it will be very troubling if we see a lot people being turned away at the polls because they don't have the proper identification. And I think it will start to call into question the credibility of that election.Sheila Fraser, former auditor general of Canada

The act would allow parties to exempt money spentto raise funds from people who have already donated at least $20 from their spending limits. But Fraser warns this will be almost impossible to track and will give current political parties an advantage.

If the act is passed with only a few amendments, Fraser warns, it could put the 2015 election results at risk.

"I will certainly hope that the election will be run efficiently, fairly. But I am concerned that there will be operational difficulties for the chief electoral officer. I think it will be very troubling if we see a lot people being turned away at the polls because they don't have the proper identification. And I think it will start to call into question the credibility of that election."

Fraser is the co-chair of anElections Canada advisory panel that was created last fall by Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand.

The panel is made up ofpartisans and non-partisans alike, including former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie,Reform Party founder Preston Manning, former Liberal MPs Bob Rae and John Manley, former Conservative finance minister Michael Wilson, the former NDP premier of Saskatchewan Roy Romanow, and sitting Conservative SenatorHugh Segal.

The panel was formed to advise Elections Canada on a variety of issues including the conduct of elections, voter participation and electoral reform.

Fraser told The House that since the panel'screation in October it hashad onlyone face-to-face meeting and one phone call. So far Fraser has been paid $2,450for her work with the panel, and she made clear that her comments on the fair elections act were hers alone.

Government stands firm on elections bill

Minister of State for Democratic Reform PierrePoilievrerebuffed all of Fraser's criticisms.

He toldThe House,"We just disagree with Elections Canada on these points."

On vouching,Poilievre maintained that it is common sense that people bring ID when they vote.

On the changes to campaign donations, he said the change is not a new concept, and that a similar model was already being used by political parties.

Poilievre dismissed the allegation that moving the commissioner to the director of public prosecutions was an attack on Elections Canada.

He called Fraser's comments "inaccurate" and said the elections commissioner is supposed to be independent.

"It's not surprising to me that Elections Canada and the CEO [chief electoral officer]in particular, who is the major opponent of this, is against it. He wants to have this control and this power for himself. We don't think it's appropriate for him to be in charge of the investigator."

Poilievre also disagreesthat the reforms affecting Elections Canada and the chief electoral officer causeharm to the credibility orindependence ofofficers of Parliament.

"The House of Commons is elected. The government of Canada through the House of Commons has direct democratic legitimacy to the population.Should we listen to the input of the officers of Parliament? Absolutely. But at the end of the day these are the servants of Parliament and not the other way around," he said.