SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Member of Parliament

Chandra Arya

  • Member of Parliament
  • Member of Parliament
  • Liberal
  • Nepean
  • Ontario
  • Voting Attendance: 64%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $104,578.46

  • Government Page
Context: House Hansard - 334 - Jun/18/24
Mr. Chandra Arya
  • Jun/18/24 1:42:21 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as a Hindu by religion, I do not need the election date to be postponed so I can celebrate my religious holiday. As the member mentioned, there are many religious groups in Canada. There are Jewish Canadians, Buddhist Canadians and Muslim Canadians. To accommodate every single religious day not being affected by election day would be very difficult going forward. One of the flexibilities proposed in this legislation is to provide the Chief Electoral Officer the flexibility to determine a fixed date on which the election should, depending on the circumstances surrounding that date. It can be similar to provincial or municipal elections. What we are promoting is to provide flexibility. I agree that we cannot start making exceptions based on the religious requirements of various Canadians. This is not the only issue on the election date. I was recently at committee when one of the major corporate players declined to appear, stating that it was during the quiet period enforced by the Ontario Securities Commission. Parliament is supreme. We cannot make exceptions based on witnesses called to appear before any parliamentary committee.
185 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border