Election bill will not pass until fall

OTTAWA— The Liberals’ proposed new elections rules are unlikely to clear Parliament before the summer recess, meaning Elections Canada will have to wait for clear direction on how the 2019 campaign will be run.

Senators on the legal and constitutional affairs committee told the Star this week it’s unlikely they’ll speed through a study of Bill C-76 before the summer break.

“I cannot predict the future, because I don’t have a crystal ball,” said committee chairperson Serge Joyal.

“(But) when the bill arrives in the Senate, if it arrives in the Senate from the House of Commons, I understand the … debate will not be just a matter of formality. In other words, there will be a debate in the Senate on this bill.”

Both Conservative Senator Linda Frum and the Independent Senators Group’s Reneé Dupuis agreed with Frum, saying it’s “certain” the bill won’t pass until the fall.

A spokesperson for Elections Canada told the Star Wednesday the agency will be prepared to implement the mandatory aspects of the bill — major changes such as a new pre-election period that puts a cap on party spending, or new rules governing third-party pressure groups.

What’s at risk as the months roll on, the official said, is the discretionary powers the legislation gives the agency.