Senators recommend nine major changes to controversial elections bill

OTTAWA – A Conservative-dominated Senate committee is unanimously recommending nine major changes to the Harper government’s controversial overhaul of election laws.

The Canadian Press has learned the recommendations include repealing a provision that would have effectively allowed rich, established parties to spend untold millions more during election campaigns.

And they include removing the proposed muzzle on the chief electoral officer, who administers election laws, and the elections commissioner, who enforces them and investigates breaches.

However, the senators are not recommending any change to the government’s plan to ban the practice of allowing registered voters to vouch for those who don’t have adequate ID.

Nor are they recommending that the government back off its plan to ban the use of voter information cards to prove residency.

Electoral experts have said the ban on vouching and voter information cards is a double whammy that could disenfranchise up to 500,000 Canadians.