Mixed-member proportional representation the best choice
Since when does the popularity of power determine its legitimacy? Is it ‘Canadian’ to deny the disenfranchised their claim to fair representation when they fail to generate sufficient buy-in from those who already enjoy it? Scrapping a new idea designed to improve participation, citing low participation, is dishonest at best. Holding a referendum on the issue amounts […]
Electoral reform: MPs failed to rise above partisan self-interest
MONTREAL—Cut through the spin that has attended the publication last week of the much-awaited conclusions of a special parliamentary committee on electoral reform and what you find is a collective failure to rise above partisan self-interest. When it comes to the rules of engagement of future election battles, every party is ultimately in it for […]
No going back on electoral reform, Prime Minister Trudeau
It started a few weeks ago with an Andrew Coyne column headlined, “Cracks start to show in Trudeau Liberals.” In it, Mr. Coyne criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government over the cash-for-access private fundraisers, the prime minister’s “non-partisan” Senate appointments, and the government’s efforts to “gaslight” electoral reform, saying there’s trouble brewing for the Liberals, […]
Feds’ electoral reform in doubt, pollsters say one broken promise won’t sink Liberals, but more could spell trouble
PARLIAMENT HILL—There are doubts the government will keep its election campaign promise to replace the first-past-the-post electoral system by 2019, but pollsters say one broken promise on electoral reform alone would unlikely sink the Liberal ship, however, more than one could be trouble down the road. “If you’re looking at this through the political cost of inaction of […]
Electoral reform committee recommends current voting system be included in referendum on proportional representation
A special Commons committee on electoral reform has recommended the government hold a national referendum that would give Canadians a choice between maintaining Canada’s current first-past-the-post federal voting system, or a new proportional system that would reflect the “popular will of the electorate.” The all-party House committee heard hundreds of expert witnesses as well as […]
Politics This Morning: All-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform to table its report
Today is Thursday, Dec. 1. Here’s what you should know before you start your day: The all-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform will be holding a press conference from 10:30-11:30 at the National Press Theatre to discuss the release of their report, which will be tabled at 10 a.m. The report will detail if, and […]
No wiggle room for Liberals on electoral reform
When it comes to electoral reform, there is no grey area for the governing Liberals: either they honour their promise, or they break it. “We are committed to ensuring that the 2015 election will be the last federal election using first past the post,” future-prime minister Justin Trudeau said in the lead-up to a decisive […]
Liberal government breaks international ground with registry of prospective voters as young as 14
The Conservative party is questioning the Liberal’s proposal to establish a new “register of future electors” at Elections Canada that would include vital statistics on prospective voters as young as 14 years old—two years younger than similar youth registration in the U.S. and Europe. while one Conservative MP who sits on the House Special Committee […]
Chief electoral officer: dated referendum law may ‘shock’ Canadians
Marc Mayrand, Canada’s chief electoral officer, is wrapping up his mandate by offering his thoughts on hot-button topics like electoral reform, referendums, and his post-election recommendations, which are currently being studied in committee. His last day in the office will be Dec. 28 of this year. He has submitted his final report to Parliament, and […]
Deadlines loom on three potentially tough fronts for Liberals
MONTREAL—If you have been enjoying Canada’s comparatively cool political climate since Justin Trudeau became prime minister, make the most of what may be the last days of the season. By all indications, the political temperature is about to rise as deadlines loom on three potentially troublesome fronts for the Liberal government. Between now and the […]
