Elections Canada needs to be squeaky clean in the eyes of all Canadians.    Anything less is a disservice to parliament, that appointed them, and to all of us who rely on them.

Elections Canada is in charge of an important national event that allows even the lowliest Canadian to express their choice by voting.  That is why I say that the essence and first thought of this organization needs to be firmly squeaky clean with no hints of skulduggery or favoritism.

I am sorry to note that we are far from this.

—this just in–[ will keep you posted ]–

Just after I posted, I received a comment from Simeon. Thank you Simeon, good to hear from you. Here is:

“Do scroll down the first letter to read the second comment about military personal not being allowed to vote while in uniform. Here is the comment Simeon refers to.

Simeon goes on to say. “I worked a DRO in the last election in Windsor,ON and the CAW employees come in with their uniforms of logos and they were allowed to be party representatives and allowed to vote.
CAW = NDP”.

We need to demand that our parliamentarians take another look at Elections Canada and tighten up the bolts that are glaringly loose on this national ship.

You, dear reader can help.  Please write to your member of parliament today.  Flood their offices with your concern.

This is the time as they will be meeting to set their agenda.  Let them know that they can be very much affected by how competent this organization is.

We could ask them if they run again, would they want to be subjected to a recount in the present conditions that were so evident in the recent election?

I would propose that one of the best sets of people to count the ballots would be those specially trained.  Not the clerks who have spent long hours processing voters.  These special sets of people, at every polling station, would be fresh and ready to go and in turn I do not think we would have so many mistakes made.

Another good thing would be to have many more scrutineers, working in shifts, at each polling station.  I know this is not an Elections Canada function, but it is in the interest of all parties of every stripe.

Suggest this to your Member of Parliament.  Or, come up with one of your own, based on your observations firsthand, or from concerns you have read about.

One of the biggest concerns is the matter of recounts.   The rules within Elections Canada are too wide and open to a judicial interpretation.

Wouldn’t you want to have set and specific rules to follow in this important procedure?

I know I would.  Let’s see if it is possible to help make change happen.

I am going to write my Member of Parliament and suggest that my letter be put with the many other letters MP’s are receiving.

We are asking our parliamentary member to be our messenger.  We know that individual MP’s cannot do anything for us but they can receive our letter and pass it on when caucus meets.

Will you do it?

I am publishing my last post again to refresh your memory on one of the last places in recount and what will unfold either today or within a day or two.

UPDATE – Vancouver South counted every ballot and the recount is over, Liberal candidate wins. This chapter closes.

Vancouver South is a concern because as you will note below, their procedure is not anywhere near what other recount jurisdictions did, or are about to do. [ as in the case of the recount in Brampton slated to start today ]

In my mind I want to feel that everything that could be done in the recount process, was done.

I do not want to feel that there was some sort of psychological relationship that hindered the justice from operating transparently and fairly.

I do not want to feel that a past working relationship between a justice and another candidate rendered a boost up for that particular candidate’s side.

I want to feel complete trust in Elections Canada and those appointed by them to carry out important election investigations.

The most ideal event would have been, in my view, particularly in Vancouver South, that the justice had excused himself from participating in this recount based on the fact that a candidate was well known to him and to prevent any hint of bias or breach of ethics.

We need a very strong and informed staff within Elections Canada, staying on top of everything, and acting or advising parties quickly as to procedure, or breach of it.

The press has been ever so quiet in all of this.  Why?  Many press had to be tapped on the shoulder numerous times by fellow bloggers.  Not many press took up the call.

–earlier I wrote:–

“the judge spent hours Friday supervising the second recount of votes in the federal riding before adjourning at about 2 p.m.”

I do not know that that means, but I guess we must assume that boxes are being opened.
In my opinion, we are unreliably informed in this article, by the lawyer for Mr. Dosanjh.

“We dealt with a number of boxes she wanted counted,” Dosanjh’s lawyer, Ravi Hira, said Friday. “She remains unsatisfied. The recount continues Monday.”

Obviously this lawyer is the only one who will speak to the press. It also means that no press were allowed in to watch proceedings (as has happened in other recounts).

WE WAIT FOR FURTHER NEWS.
AND THE FURTHER NEWS IS: -

on the Vancouver South recount – all we have is a newspaper reporter interviewing the only accessible person, and that person is the liberal candidate’s lawyer – so again, it is unreliable information–it is also evident that the press was not invited in to watch the proceedings, but at least the recount continues on Tuesday.
–end of update–
———————————————————————————
-original post-

Joanne at “Blue Like You” says it is just not good enough, and she is right!

Apparently Chief Justice Patrick Dohm will further examine the counting statements for each poll with Election Canada officials.

Incredibly last recount he chose to only check rejected ballots and votes cast in a few of the 184 polls.

When you consider what other regions have done in the recount process, it is difficult to understand the reasoning of Justice Dohm’s procedure. It is so alien to any of the other recounts.

Gail Shea’s region counted all the ballots of each candidate before declaring a winner.

The recount in Brampton will start on November 3rd and has advised that it will take a few days.

UPDATE: PETER BRAID, THE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE WINS BY 17 VOTES Kitchener-Waterloo’s recount is taking a few days before declaring a winner.

Great care and attention was taken in the Esquimalt – Juan De Fuca recount just completed. [Keith Martin, Liberal, is the declared winner]

Why does the procedure have to be so different for this one area? This one Justice?
Doing a double check of a list on top of a box is pretty perplexing to me.

A recount is not a recount of figures I would hope. It seems to be what is in his mind though, as he starts his 9am meeting today.

This is unacceptable. Pure and utter transparency is needed here.

That is why this blogger wrote about taking a good look at Elections Canada recently.

OPEN THE BOXES. DO A PROPER RECOUNT.

If this does not happen, Vancouver South results will forever be a “black mark” and questions about this riding will be in the minds of the public forever. Who would want to win this way? Surely not anyone.