Mr. COPP:
I will remember the suggestion before the bill is finally put through and see what can be done.
Section agreed to.
Mr. CALDWELL:
Is section 32 carried?
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Casgrain):
It was
declared carried.
Mr. CALDWELL:
What was the force of
it?
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Casgrain):
Is it the pleasure of the committee to revert to section 32?
Carried.
On section 32-Number of voters required for advance poll.
Mr. CALDWELL:
How does the minister explain this section?
Mr. COPP:
If my hon. friend will be good enough to read the note on tihe opposite page he will find the section fully explained. I do not think there is any difficulty about it.
Mr. CALDWELL:
Looking at the explanation, the section seems all right. But we should not rush these things through in this way. *
Section agreed to. Section 34 agreed to. On section 35-Disqualification of persons supported by charity.
Mr. COPP:
Inmates of institutions supported by public charity are disqualified.
Mr. CAMPBELL:
That would not refer to persons in- receipt of unemployment relief?
Mr. COPP:
No.
Mr. IRVINE:
Suppose a labour man sustained an accident and became incapacitated, and failing to get compensation he found himself in a public institution, would he be debarred from voting?
Mr. COPP:
It would depend upon whether he was in the pauper class-in a charitable institution. A iman might be injured and be
Elections Act
taken to hospital, and while he might not be able to pay his expenses, he would not be disqualified.
Mr. IRVINE:
But what about the man in
the ipoorhouse?
Mr. COPP:
Under the present act the disqualification applies ito prisoners, patients in lunatic asyluims, persons maintained in whole or in part by public support, persons in houses of industry, or persons receiving charitable support in institutions maintained by the public. This amendment, by adding the words, "other than for war purposes", makes an exception of returned soldiers who may be in public institutions.
Mr. IRVINE:
I agree with that provision. But why should a man fo.e disqualified because he happens to have been injured in the service of his country in peaceful pursuits'?
Mir. LEWIS:
I do not like the suggestion as to charitable support. There might be many people who would be anxious to vote but who, because they received charitable support to any extent although they were not being supported entirely by the public, would be unable to vote.