Prominent Canadians urge Trudeau to act on electoral reform pledge

theglobeandmail.com
By Terry Pedwell
Jan. 19, 2017

It’s time for the federal government to hit the gas pedal on electoral reform, now that there’s a road map for replacing the current first-past-the-post voting system, say former elections chief Jean-Pierre Kingsley and a group of prominent Canadians.

The 26-member group, including artist Robert Bateman, singer-songwriter Neil Young and former Harper government strategist Guy Giorno, is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get on with changing the way people choose their government.

With just 34 months before the next federal election, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould should introduce legislation within months to ensure a new system is up and running on time, Kingsley told a news conference.

“The earlier the government tables its proposal, the greater the opportunity for Canadians to consider it, to debate it and to understand it,” he said.

“The leadership of minister Gould is essential in this endeavour, as is that of Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau himself.”

Kingsley, who was chief electoral officer from 1990 until 2007, said the government needs to get serious about the plan for so-called proportional representation, the system that was recommended amid much controversy by a special Commons committee last month.

“The government has said it would be introducing legislation...by May,” said Kingsley. “I’m expecting that to be respected.”

Trudeau promised during the last election campaign that the 2015 vote would be the last held under first-past-the-post, although he has since shown signs of backing away from that commitment.

During a town-hall meeting in Kingston, Ont., last week, Trudeau described electoral reform as “a complicated issue” that brings out a wide spectrum of opinions.

Asked by a woman in the audience whether he believes a proportional voting system would be best for Canada, Trudeau said while he prefers a ranked voting system, he’s open to a broad range of perspectives.

Gould has also so far refused to say definitively whether she’s committed to ensuring the federal Liberals honour their campaign promise.