The Official Canadian Electoral Reform Thread
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Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
While the House of Commons has adjourned for the summer break, its recently-established Special Committee on Electoral Reform met for the first time today for the election of the committee's chairperson. The committee is going to be meeting throughout the summer to broadly consult Canadians on what an ideal system would look like to elect our representatives.
The committee is unique in that it is the only House committee on which the Government does not have a majority of seats, after the Liberals agreed to a New Democratic Party proposal that changed the apportionment of seats away from the formula currently used in the House's Standing Orders. The composition of the committee was set by the parties on Friday, June 17:
A bit of a disappointing feature of the committee meeting is that despite the Government's assertions that this committee would be independently canvassing Canadians on electoral reform, the truth of the matter is that both the Honourable Andrew Leslie, P.C., C.M.M., M.S.C., M.S.M., M.P., C.D., the Chief Government Whip, and Mark Holland, M.P., the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Democratic Institutions, were present and observing the meeting. The Conservatives openly questioned the parliamentary secretary's presence during the meeting.
The committee took care of some of the normal housekeeping affairs of a committee, such as approving working meals — but not without the intervention of the Green Party leader, requesting that any committee meals should only be local and sustainable.
Mr. Cullen, from the New Democratic Party, proposed a motion that members of the public should be able to submit questions to committee members via email, through the committee clerk, and to establish a hashtag for the committee's social media outreach. The motion was ultimately referred to the steering committee for study, after strong opposition from Conservative committee members.
The committee started discussing witnesses to start off the discussion on electoral reform, and Conservatives are pushing to have the Honourable Myriam Monsef, P.C., M.P., Minister of Democratic Institutions, come to the committee "to explain herself," and committee members discussed the possibility of inviting both current and former chief electoral officers.
And that was all of the substantive business!
Next meeting is on June 30!
While the House of Commons has adjourned for the summer break, its recently-established Special Committee on Electoral Reform met for the first time today for the election of the committee's chairperson. The committee is going to be meeting throughout the summer to broadly consult Canadians on what an ideal system would look like to elect our representatives.
The committee is unique in that it is the only House committee on which the Government does not have a majority of seats, after the Liberals agreed to a New Democratic Party proposal that changed the apportionment of seats away from the formula currently used in the House's Standing Orders. The composition of the committee was set by the parties on Friday, June 17:
- Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P. (Lac-Saint-Louis) (Government) [chairperson]
- John Aldag, M.P. (Cloverdale—Langley City) (Government)
- Matt DeCourcey, M.P. (Fredericton) (Government)
- Sherry Romanado, M.P. (Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne) (Government)
- Ruby Sahota, M.P. (Brampton North) (Government)
- The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. (Calgary Midnapore) (Opposition)
- Gérard Deltell, M.P. (Louis-Saint-Laurent) (Opposition)
- Scott Reid, M.P. (Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston) (Opposition) [vice-chair]
- Alexandre Boulerice, M.P. (Rosemont—La Petite-Partie) (New Democratic Party)
- Nathan Cullen, M.P. (Skeena—Bulkley Valley) (New Democratic Party) [2nd vice-chair]
- Luc Thériault, M.P. (Montcalm) (Bloc Québécois)
- Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P. (Saanich—Gulf Islands) (Green Party)
A bit of a disappointing feature of the committee meeting is that despite the Government's assertions that this committee would be independently canvassing Canadians on electoral reform, the truth of the matter is that both the Honourable Andrew Leslie, P.C., C.M.M., M.S.C., M.S.M., M.P., C.D., the Chief Government Whip, and Mark Holland, M.P., the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Democratic Institutions, were present and observing the meeting. The Conservatives openly questioned the parliamentary secretary's presence during the meeting.
The committee took care of some of the normal housekeeping affairs of a committee, such as approving working meals — but not without the intervention of the Green Party leader, requesting that any committee meals should only be local and sustainable.
Mr. Cullen, from the New Democratic Party, proposed a motion that members of the public should be able to submit questions to committee members via email, through the committee clerk, and to establish a hashtag for the committee's social media outreach. The motion was ultimately referred to the steering committee for study, after strong opposition from Conservative committee members.
The committee started discussing witnesses to start off the discussion on electoral reform, and Conservatives are pushing to have the Honourable Myriam Monsef, P.C., M.P., Minister of Democratic Institutions, come to the committee "to explain herself," and committee members discussed the possibility of inviting both current and former chief electoral officers.
And that was all of the substantive business!
Next meeting is on June 30!
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
It'll be interesting to see how it gets divided up from 2015
At least now it's more inclusive.
Sorta like our Motherland..
It'll be interesting to see how it gets divided up from 2015
At least now it's more inclusive.
Sorta like our Motherland..
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Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
You could note the party make-up of the committee. You could also note other characteristics. There are only 3 women. One person of colour. One person from the Prairies and one person from Atlantic Canada. No one from the north. 3 from BC and 5 from Quebec. Construct the narrative you need.
You could note the party make-up of the committee. You could also note other characteristics. There are only 3 women. One person of colour. One person from the Prairies and one person from Atlantic Canada. No one from the north. 3 from BC and 5 from Quebec. Construct the narrative you need.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
I wasn't constructing any narrative; the only criteria that the House set for committee membership was political party. Agreed, though, that there are other criteria (such as representative diversity) that should be considered in establishing any committee's composition, this one included.
I wasn't constructing any narrative; the only criteria that the House set for committee membership was political party. Agreed, though, that there are other criteria (such as representative diversity) that should be considered in establishing any committee's composition, this one included.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
Oh, boy, a committee! That'll give us the reform we need!
Sorry, trees. You ain't gonna be cut down and pulped for Shakespeare or Alexie. You get to be a Report of the Reform Committee.
Oh, boy, a committee! That'll give us the reform we need!
Sorry, trees. You ain't gonna be cut down and pulped for Shakespeare or Alexie. You get to be a Report of the Reform Committee.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
AS I recall the committee members get a pay boost. Expect a long long study.
After BC's experience with twice having change voted down I don't expect to see much produced federally either. The big hangup with most proposed systems is that you never know who your representative is. Or if you even have one for your area.
AS I recall the committee members get a pay boost. Expect a long long study.
After BC's experience with twice having change voted down I don't expect to see much produced federally either. The big hangup with most proposed systems is that you never know who your representative is. Or if you even have one for your area.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
A referendum would be cheaper and give a result all Canadians would want.
A referendum would be cheaper and give a result all Canadians would want.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
Not quite, but a few do. The chairperson of a special committee receives an additional salary of $11,900, and the vice-chair of the special committee receives an additional $6,000. It is expected that members of the House of Commons perform some of their essential parliamentary functions through committee membership, and so that is already built into their sessional allowance — being a committee member does not come with bonus pay.
It certainly would not. A referendum would cost several million dollars, engaging the entire machinery of Elections Canada to administer the vote (not to mention the costs to the public of the awareness campaign that both the Government and Elections Canada would undoubtedly undertake). And having a referendum makes no sense before the options have been researched, unless you're planning on having a "1,000 words or less" write-in ballot?
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
The make-up of the Committee seems good to me. Jason Kenney is a good man, as is Nathan Cullen. Elizabeth May is along for comic relief.........I'm not really familiar with any of the government members, probably a good thing.
Leslie and Holland are both pond scum. (just for you Corduroy)
The Committe should come up with a solid proposal, which MUST then be taken to the people in a referendum.
Gee then, why don't we just make Justin PM for Life as general elections "cost several million dollars, engaging the entire machinery of Elections Canada to administer the vote (not to mention the costs to the public of the awareness campaign that both the Government and Elections Canada would undoubtedly undertake)"
sarcasm, obviously.
This is much more important than any sdingle general election, and the method by which we elect our representatives is not theirs to change..........it belongs directly to the people.
The make-up of the Committee seems good to me. Jason Kenney is a good man, as is Nathan Cullen. Elizabeth May is along for comic relief.........I'm not really familiar with any of the government members, probably a good thing.
Leslie and Holland are both pond scum. (just for you Corduroy)
The Committe should come up with a solid proposal, which MUST then be taken to the people in a referendum.
Gee then, why don't we just make Justin PM for Life as general elections "cost several million dollars, engaging the entire machinery of Elections Canada to administer the vote (not to mention the costs to the public of the awareness campaign that both the Government and Elections Canada would undoubtedly undertake)"
sarcasm, obviously.
This is much more important than any sdingle general election, and the method by which we elect our representatives is not theirs to change..........it belongs directly to the people.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
I'm good with pretty much any system that doesn't give votes to parties or candidates outside of the area they reside in.
I'm good with pretty much any system that doesn't give votes to parties or candidates outside of the area they reside in.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
I'm not saying we shouldn't have a referendum because it costs a lot, I was responding to the misguided idea that it would be cheaper to have a referendum than it would to have a committee undertake consultations (which is non-sense). I don't care whether or not this ends up at a referendum, but I would also be perfectly happy to see Parliament make the change, as is their responsibility under our constitutional amending formula.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
Except those Canadians that vote for the side that loses....
If you made Trudeau PM for life, you'd have to fully commit to the "for life" pageantry. All those palaces and parades. I mean, sashes, and hats alone could cost millions.
Except those Canadians that vote for the side that loses....
If you made Trudeau PM for life, you'd have to fully commit to the "for life" pageantry. All those palaces and parades. I mean, sashes, and hats alone could cost millions.
Re: Observing Canada's electoral reform committee
You're correct on both points: obviously, having a committee make recommendations is cheaper than a referendum, and going strictly according to the law, a referendum is not necessary.
However, a referendum is the right thing to do, so much so that it casts doubt on the ethics of any other approach.
You're correct on both points: obviously, having a committee make recommendations is cheaper than a referendum, and going strictly according to the law, a referendum is not necessary.
However, a referendum is the right thing to do, so much so that it casts doubt on the ethics of any other approach.