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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

CATHY McLEOD -- Sweeping changes to the Elections Act are being proposed

 

Liberal Government prepares for pandemic election:

 

Instead of the Federal Government focusing on its pandemic response with COVID vaccine distribution and rapid testing, the Liberals are proposing changes to the Canada Elections Act, lest there be an election while the pandemic continues.

Introduced last Thursday, Bill C-19 proposes a raft of changes including how voting can happen and when, such as:

  • three days of in-person voting, including the traditional Monday voting day, but also a Saturday and Sunday 
  • in the 13 days prior to regular voting, allowing votes to occur in long-term care homes
  • mail-in ballots
  • the ability to request online a mail-in ballot be sent to a voter


The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has heard countless hours of testimony as part of an ongoing pandemic election study and are continuing to hear from witnesses.

 

It’s unclear why the Liberals are proceeding on this before the committee puts forward its recommendations on the matter.

 

Instead of figuring out how to send Canadians to the polls while adhering to social distancing measures during a pandemic, should we not be focusing on how to get people access to a vaccine and rapid testing?

 

Canadians don’t want an election; they want their lives and their livelihoods back. They deserve clarity and certainty from their Federal Government on how this is going to happen, instead of pondering how to get them to the polls.

 

The Conservatives plan to review the legislation and discuss it as a caucus.



Youth advocate will shine on:

Kamloops lost one of its most tireless champions of homeless youth when she passed away this month. Katherine McParland was the driving force behind A Way Home Kamloops, which united a coalition of organizations and businesses to help end youth homelessness.

 

Having lived on the streets and grown up in the foster care system, she knew first-hand the challenges youth experiencing homelessness faced and worked hard to establish safe, supported housing for them.

 

Katherine was a lovely, bright young woman, the recipient of countless awards, who touched all she met with her warmth and grace.  

 

Her legacy will carry on . . . last weekend, community volunteers raised over $100,000 for the society by camping out overnight in cardboard boxes. You can learn more at www.awayhomekamloops.com/

 

 

Cathy McLeod ... is the Conservative MP for Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo, and is the Shadow Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations.

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