Today...in committee....
Election chief stands firm veil rules
TheStar.com - September 13, 2007 Stephen Thorne Canadian press
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Rules on veiled women voting up to Parliament to set, Marc Mayrand testifies
OTTAWA – Canada's chief electoral officer says he will not bow to the will of a House of Commons committee, only to the will of Parliament as a whole on the issue of forcing veiled women to bare their faces at polling stations.
Marc Mayrand refused a request from the procedure and house affairs committee Thursday that he change electoral rules to force veiled women to show their faces to identify themselves.
He noted that in 140 years of Canadian history, there has never been a problem with veiled women voting.
"With all due respect and without offending the committee, I think I must rely on the will of Parliament as expressed as a Parliament," said Mayrand.
"You do not agree that the will of this committee is the will of Parliament?" asked Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski.
Mayrand responded: "Again, with all due respect, I cannot accept the position that a committee can adapt or amend an act of Parliament."
Still, the politicians subsequently passed a motion by Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre asking Mayrand to use his so-called ``powers of adaptation" to overrule the law and require veiled women to show their faces.
But Mayrand gave no sign during a contentious one-hour appearance before the panel that he had any intention of complying with such a request.
He said he warned politicians months ago that new elections legislation would not require veiled women to bare their faces at polling stations. He told MPs from all parties Thursday that neither senators nor MPs raised any concerns about the matter at that time.
Veiled women will be asked to voluntarily unveil on voting day, in a "respectful and dignified manner," he said. If they refuse, they can be asked to take an oath and have someone who lives in their polling division vouch for them.
Poilievre later proposed the motion calling on Mayrand "to use his powers of adaptation to require electors to show their faces before being permitted to vote at voting stations across the country."
The motion passed 11-0.
Mayrand acknowledged he has discretionary powers during elections to change the rules but he told the MPs those powers are only to be used in exceptional circumstances and he does not consider veiled voting an exceptional circumstance.
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