Liberal statement on voter suppression report

April 24, 2014

CHARLOTTETOWN – Liberal Democratic Reform Critic, Scott Simms, issued the following statement today in response to the Commissioner of Canada Elections’ voter suppression report:

“Today’s report raises questions of whether the inability of the Commissioner to compel testimony prevented him from successfully concluding investigations.

“The Commissioner has stated that without this tool, investigations will be abandoned due to an inability to obtain the facts. However, the Conservatives have refused to provide this power to the Commissioner in their Unfair Elections Act.

“The Commissioner has also made clear that a lack of rules requiring the retention of call records has meant that he cannot access the data needed for investigations. The Unfair Elections Act only requires this information to be kept for one year after an election, and the Conservatives know this will directly restrict investigations and prosecutions.

“While the Elections Commissioner has asked for additional investigative authority, the Unfair Elections Act will in fact weaken his powers. We will continue to oppose this bill, and a Liberal government remains committed to repealing the Unfair Elections Act.”