Bill C-16 (October 1, 2006)
Hansard Highlights from Sept. 18, 2006
Bill C-16
Hon. Rob Nicholson (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC)
moved that Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Bill C-16 is a government bill which:
amends the Canada Elections Act to provide that, subject to an earlier dissolution of Parliament, a general election must be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election, with the first general election after this enactment comes into force being held on Monday, October 19, 2009.
Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, during his speech, the member referred to party hacks and other backroom people setting election dates.
Would he care to comment on the story in today’s press from the Conservative Party hacks and backroom boys that the next election is next spring, right after the budget comes down?
Mr. Tom Lukiwski:
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague has again got it completely wrong. It is idle media speculation.
Let me just assure my colleague that the longer we have a chance to stay in power, with the legislation that is being so overwhelmingly approved and appreciated by Canadians, the better we will be. We do not want an election after the next budget. We want an election after four successive budgets. That would ensure that we stay in power for an awfully long time.
The key word being Power. I don’t have any opinion on the Bill.