Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 20, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba SE T T E R S T CARON AVE L O N S D A L E D R H A L L O N Q U I S T D R B O O T H D R S T U R G E O N R O A D S T U R G E O N R O A D GRACE HOSPITAL SC II P O R T A G E A V E N U E SC I Sturgeon Creek I Sturgeon Creek II Beautiful 1 Bedroom Suite Call Santana at 204.202.1870 NOW AVAILABLE Call Today! 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The federal elections agency outlines the pro- posed moves in a discussion guide intended to help chief electoral officer Stéphane Perrault draft final recommendations to be submitted later this year to a commission of inquiry on foreign interference. “We recognize that some changes may create a burden for political entities or affect internal poli- cies,” the discussion guide says. “We believe the gain is important: nomination contests that electors trust and fewer opportun- ities for contest irregularities that lead Canadians to question the legitimacy of elected members of Parliament.” The Canadian Press used the Access to Infor- mation Act to obtain the guide and an associated May 30 briefing note to Perrault. The guide was prepared for a planned June meeting of the Advisory Committee of Political Parties, a forum for registered parties to meet with the chief electoral officer on the conduct of elections, administration of the Canada Elections Act and matters related to political financing. It notes that at the committee’s annual general meeting last September, there was “little appetite for changes” to regulation of nomination contests. However, in early May an interim report from the federal inquiry into foreign interference, led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, flagged nomina- tion contests as a possible gateway to meddling. In this context, the chief electoral officer “has an obligation to consider ways to strengthen the transparency and security of nomination con- tests,” the guide says. A report released early last month by the Na- tional Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians expressed concern about how easily foreign actors can take advantage of loop- holes and vulnerabilities to support preferred candidates. “This is a critical gap, because a number of rid- ings in Canada are considered ‘safe seats’ for one party or another, so a successful nomination may amount to a candidate’s election,” the report said. The briefing note to Perrault points out the Canada Elections Act currently provides “limited regulation” of federal nomination races and con- testants. For instance, only contestants who accept $1,000 in contributions or incur $1,000 in ex- penses have to file a financial return. Elections Canada has no way to verify that campaigns are under the threshold. In addition, the act does not include specific obligations concerning candidacy, voting, count- ing or results reporting other than the identity of the successful nominee. The “preliminary ideas for discussion” fall into two categories — strengthening the nomination voting process and improving transparency of political financing, the discussion guide says. A key change would require voters in nomina- tion contests to be Canadian citizens, similar to the eligibility requirement for elections. “Non-cit- izens may be more vulnerable to intimidation by a foreign state,” the guide says. Allowing access to current registers of electors could help in checking eligibility. An alternative proposal would limit voting in nomination contests to citizens or permanent residents. Other possible recommendations include: • requiring parties to publish nomination con- test rules, including who can be a contestant, who can vote, voter identification requirements, the voting process and how to challenge the outcome; • requiring parties to publish fuller voting re- sults such as number of ballots cast and vote dis- tribution; • explicit prohibition of practices such as indu- cing an unqualified person to vote, intimidation to influence someone to vote, offering or accepting a bribe related to voting, and casting multiple ballots; • requiring all nomination contestants to file a financial return; • and banning purchase of party memberships in bulk or using campaign funds. The guide stresses that parties would still have the option of selecting a candidate without hold- ing a nomination contest. “The recommendations would only apply when a contest is held.” Elections Canada spokesman Matthew Mc- Kenna said Friday the conversation with mem- bers of the advisory committee of political parties last month was “part of an ongoing process.” “We are looking forward to continuing that con- versation with political parties.” The briefing note to Perrault suggests making a statutory amendment that would require parties to have a set of publicly available rules for nom- ination contests. The Commissioner of Canada Elections could have an oversight role, possibly imposing fines for non-compliance. Another option would be to “leave it to the par- ties to self-regulate,” which is currently the case for party privacy policies. A central question is whether Elections Canada would regulate nomination contests with rules similar to those governing federal elections, ad- dressing things like election workers, identifica- tion and counting of ballots. “This would clearly be a mammoth endeavour for the agency and is not a favoured option,” the briefing note says. “Such an approach would likely be strongly resisted by the parties as well.” McKenna confirmed that Elections Canada “is not looking at administrating nomination contests on behalf of parties, but believes that rules could help safeguard those contests.” — The Canadian Press JIM BRONSKILL Proposed class action filed over Calgary water main break CALGARY — A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against the City of Calgary, claiming businesses need- lessly lost significant revenue due to a water main break. In a statement of claim filed Wed- nesday, Angel’s Cafe, located near the June 5 water main rupture, alleges the city knew the failed pipe was made of lower-grade materials and should have moved to prevent the failure. “The city knew or ought to have known about the Bearspaw water main’s state of disrepair before the rupture and was required to take rea- sonable steps to prevent a catastrophic premature failure from arising,” the document says. The break in the pipe, which carries 60 per cent of the city’s water, caused major disruptions for the city’s 1.6 mil- lion residents and those in surrounding communities. It flooded a neighbour- hood and forced a boil-water advisory in that part of the city. All residents were asked to cut their water use by 25 per cent. They were urged to flush toilets less often and take shorter showers. Watering lawns and gardens was forbidden for weeks, un- less it was from rain barrels. The lawsuit has to be certified by the courts to proceed as a class action. An- gel’s Cafe is currently the only plaintiff named in the claim. The allegations have not been proven in court. A City of Calgary spokeswoman said officials were aware of the lawsuit but had not received the statement of claim in order to comment. A spokeswoman for the city-owned utility provider Enmax Corp., also named as a defendant, said the company received the lawsuit and will assess it. The cafe’s lawyer, Clint Docken, said there’s ample evidence the pipe was in danger of failing. The lawsuit alleges there have been at least 600 previous catastrophic failures of the same kind of pipe. “These failures were well-docu- mented and widely publicized,” it says. The document says the pipe, which dates from the 1970s, uses reinforcing wire insufficiently protected against corrosion. — The Canadian Press Liberal House leader MacKinnon sworn in as labour, seniors minister O TTAWA — Prime Minister Jus- tin Trudeau has made a modest tweak to his cabinet, replacing the latest Liberal MP to opt against seeking re-election with one who in- sists the party can bounce back from a prolonged slump in the polls. Steven MacKinnon, the new minister for labour and seniors, said the Liberals face a “challenging political situation” but plan to bring into sharper relief “the contrast and the choices that Can- adians will have to make.” Moments after being sworn in Friday, MacKinnon tried to quell suggestions of a brewing Liberal mutiny against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “This caucus is foursquare behind our leader,” he told reporters. The Gatineau, Que., MP took his oath in a brief ceremony at Rideau Hall alongside Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon. Outgoing labour minister Seamus O’Regan announced Thursday he was resigning from cabinet for family rea- sons, though he is staying on as a New- foundland MP until the next federal election. The adjustment to Trudeau’s cabinet comes as questions swirl around the Liberals’ political future. A surprising byelection loss in a long-held Toronto riding last month has fuelled specula- tion over whether a broader change-up is necessary. A handful of Liberal MPs have decid- ed against running for office whenever the next election takes place, though many have cited personal reasons, not dissatisfaction with Trudeau. MacKinnon stressed much can change in politics over time, though he acknowledged the government needs to do a better job of communicating its message to Canadians. “We’re resolved to continue the work and continue on the path that we have set for Canadians. We understand, of course, there is nothing you can take for granted in politics,” he said. “You can plan all you want,” MacKin- non added, but the government needs to be nimble in the face of what he described as recent “head-spinning events.” MacKinnon joined cabinet in January to replace government House leader Karina Gould while on parental leave. In that role, he “accumulated a wealth of experience building consen- sus and working with partners to pass legislation,” a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office said, adding he has “advanced progress on health care, affordable housing, organized labour and climate action.” Gould will resume her previous role when she returns to the fold at the end of July, Trudeau’s office said. Her “steely resolve and wisdom” will be a help when the House of Commons resumes in the fall, MacKinnon said. Previously, MacKinnon served as the Liberals’ chief whip in the House of Commons. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a parliamentary secretary in the crucial procurement portfolio. He was first elected in the 2015 con- test that swept Trudeau’s Liberals into power. Trudeau’s itinerary for Friday listed a virtual cabinet meeting, the first to take place since the Toronto byelection loss that triggered some calls for the leader to step down. The meeting was expected to be brief. MacKinnon was unequivocal when asked whether Trudeau should take time over the summer to consider if it’s time to quit. “The prime minister enjoys the full support of me, of my colleagues and the prime minister has obviously the full authority and full discretion to make the choices that he has to make,” MacKinnon said. “Our confidence in him to make those choices is total.” — The Canadian Press DYLAN ROBERTSON JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Steven MacKinnon speaks to the media after Friday’s swearing-in ceremony. He replaces Seamus O’Regan as labour and seniors minister. ;