Article content continued

Continue reading…

[/np_storybar]

In his first comments on sweeping new elections legislation by the Harper government, Marc Mayrand says he hopes there is extensive public consultation and debate over the proposed changes.

Mayrand was responding to comments by Conservative minister Pierre Poilievre, who introduced the bill Tuesday by saying Canada’s elections “referee should not be wearing a team jersey.”

“Listen, the only team jersey that I think I’m wearing — if we have to carry the analogy — I believe is the one with the stripes, white and black,” a shaking Mayrand said following a committee hearing on Parliament Hill.

“What I note from this bill is that no longer will the referee be on the ice.”

Mayrand’s reaction comes as the government moves to shut down debate in the House of Commons and speed the legislation to committee.

Among other things, the bill would end the practice of allowing people to vouch for other voters who lack identification. It would also allow political parties to spend more during campaigns, set rules for using robocalls and impose stiffer penalties on those who abuse automated telephone messaging.

Poilievre’s opening shot at the impartiality of Elections Canada came after years of investigations of alleged Conservative wrongdoing that began with the in-and-out financing scheme in the 2006 campaign that brought Prime Minister Stephen Harper to power.

The party eventually pleaded guilty in 2011 and paid the maximum fine in return for charges being dropped against two Conservative party officials.