OTTAWA – The Conservatives have used their majority muscle in the House of Commons to pass a controversial bill that makes sweeping changes to election laws.
Bill C-23, dubbed the Fair Elections Act, passed by a vote of 146 to 123.
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The bill was virtually universally panned by electoral experts when it was first introduced.
The Harper government modified or removed some of the most contentious provisions – including backing down on plans to eliminate vouching, muzzle the chief electoral officer and create a loophole that would allow rich, established parties to spend untold millions more during election campaigns.
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But the changes weren’t enough mollify opposition parties.
The bill now moves to the Conservative-dominated Senate for approval.
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