Poilievre accuses elections watchdog of wanting more power, bigger budget
OTTAWA – Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre has launched an all-out attack on Canada’s chief elections watchdog.
He is accusing chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand of opposing the controversial, proposed overhaul of elections laws because he wants more power for himself, a bigger budget and less accountability.
Moreover, Poilievre says Mayrand is making “astounding,” “amazing” and untrue allegations as he grasps at straws to defeat Bill C-23, the so-called Fair Elections Act.
Poilievre says he’s well aware of Mayrand’s objections to the bill but disagrees with him.
And he’s reminding the chief electoral officer that he serves Parliament, not the other way around.
Poilievre is testifying before a Senate committee, which has begun a “pre-study” of the bill before it has been passed by the House of Commons.
A Commons committee is simultaneously conducting hearings on the bill and has yet to consider any possible amendments.
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