Mr. BOTHWELL:

The committee came to the conclusion that no matter what words were used there would be a certain number of electors who would be disqualified or disfranchised in any event. It was not possible to cover every person in Canada who was entitled to vote. The minister is agreeable to having this section stand, and perhaps section 16 could stand also, in order that these sections might be considered before the next meeting of the committee.

revised edition

Elections and Franchise

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn):

Paragraph (j) reads in part:

-because the doctrines of his religion make him averse to bearing arms, and who is by the law of that province disqualified from voting.

To what provinces would that apply?

Mr. BOTHWELL:

To British Columbia only.

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn):

There are quite a number of people who are adherents to the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers.

Mr. BOTHWELL:

This section would not apply to them at all. We have included in this section the particular order in council which refers only to Doukhobors.

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn):

In the province of British Columbia?

Mr. MacNEIL:

I should like that to be understood absolutely.

Mr. POWER:

I am quite clear on it because I gave it a lot of thought. This refers only to Doukhobors in British Columbia.

Mr. MacNEIL:

It does not refer to those who were exempted under the Militia Act because of religious belief?

Mr. POWER:

It does refer to those who came in under certain conditions in 1898 and whose religious beliefs prohibited them from bearing arms.

Section stands.

Section 15 agreed to.

Section 16 stands.

On section 17-Preparation of lists of electors.

Mr. HEAPS:

I do not think we should be asked to agree to a long section at one time.

I think the subsections should be named one by one.

Subsections 1, 2 and 3 agreed to.

On section 17, subsection 4-Receipt and disposal of copies of preliminary list received from enumerators.

Mr. HEAPS:

As I understand it, these lists are to be printed in the various constituencies?

Mr. BOTHWELL:

It is the intention to do that as far as possible.

Mr. HEAPS:

Are you doing away with the printing at Ottawa?

Mr. BOTHWELL:

There is nothing in the bill to prevent the printing of lists in Ottawa where this is more convenient, and where the

lists can be prepared in time, but the intention is to have them printed locally as far as possible.

Mr. HEAPS:

Has the hon. member or the minister any information as to the relative cost of printing in Ottawa and in the individual constituency?

Mr. POWER:

That information was

presented to the committee, but I have not it with me at the moment.

Mr. MacNEIL:

Would the minister give a simple outline of the procedure to be followed in the preparation of these lists in urban and rural districts? It is difficult for those of us who were not members of the committee and who saw the bill for the first time only a few days ago to understand the method of procedure.

Mr. POWER:

It goes back to the 1930 elections act, which I understand met with general approval. I have not gone into all the details; but in urban areas with populations of more than 3,500, two enumerators representing two adverse political parties go around together from house to house to take an enumeration of people qualified to vote.

Mr. MacNEIL:

When?