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The remarks left the impression Mayrand believed the bill was vindictive, the source said.

Asked for more information about the remarks, Elections Canada spokesman John Enright said Mayrand had given staff an update on the bill “focusing on both its positive aspects and those that cause him concern,” including the way it was presented to him.

Mayrand “reminded employees that this bill is not about Elections Canada or the CEO, but about Canadian electors,” Enright wrote in an email.

But the remarks suggest Mayrand is rallying his staff for an acrimonious battle over the new bill and will do little to dispel the Conservatives’ attempts to portray him as an opponent, even though he was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The Tories have repeatedly accused Mayrand of bias over what they believe is uneven application of the elections rules — though many critics confuse his role with that of the independent Commissioner of Canada Elections, who is responsible for investigations into breaches of the law and decisions on referring cases to prosecutors.

While some Conservatives would like to see Mayrand removed from his job, firing him would be extremely difficult. By law, he serves until his death or retirement and can be replaced only “for cause” by the Governor General after votes by the House of Commons and Senate, something that has never occurred.

Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski says it is wrong for Mayrand to criticize the government’s proposed electoral reform bill.

Lukiwski is parliamentary secretary to the government House leader and the Conservatives’ lead hitter on the Commons committee charged with studying the bill.

He says Mayrand’s private remarks to Elections Canada staff are inappropriate for a watchdog who is supposed to be scrupulously impartial.

The government denies its aim is to muzzle Mayrand.

However, Lukiwski suggests the chief electoral officer should reserve his remarks until he’s invited by the committee to give his views on the bill.

With files from the Canadian Press