Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod asked her constituents to weigh in on the electoral reform at a forum in 100 Mile House on Aug. 23.
McLeod had invited the South Cariboo community to attend her forum to provide input, questions and comments about the electoral changes under consideration in Parliament, and other policy and community issues.
The local MP gave a PowerPoint presentation about electoral reform to 18 people. Several people participated in comments, questions and the interesting discussion that followed.
One question posed was whether the electoral changes could go though without the nod from residents across the country, in a referendum, or any other voting process.
“Yes, it can move forward without a referendum,” McLeod said, adding “But I believe that to have the support of Canadians, it really should have the vote.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned under a commitment it would be the last election under the first-past-the-post system, she noted.
“[The PM] is saying that within 18 months – so the clock is ticking – that they would be introducing legislation to enact electoral reform.”
While a committee has been formed to do this, preparing legislation to eliminate that system involves a complete process that takes time, McLeod explained.
“It seems like we just had an election, but if there are any changes that are significant, the timelines are getting really tight.”
The committee will be making a decision on which system will be best, and before it does, it is asking MPs to try to get a sense of what constituents want, and to provide input, she explained.
In 800 responses to a survey McLeod had sent out, 78 per cent indicated they want to see electoral changes, and they want a
referendum, she said, adding that’s “pretty consistent” with the 73 per cent in an Ipsos-Reid Canada-wide poll.
“Whether it’s first past the post, proportional representation – I don’t think what we’re going to do is create a perfect system … there are ‘goods and bads’ about every system.”
McLeod noted she agreed with her interim Conservative Party Leader Rona Ambrose that it is important for Canadians to have a conversation about this.
“Once a decision is made around a new system, it should go to the citizens, because to be quite frank, I believe every political party has a vested interest in a system.”
McLeod pointed out one important aspect of the discussion that the committee asked MPs to report back on is “should voting be mandatory.
“I used to think, why should voting be mandatory? It should be a privilege; it should be an honour.”
However, after she spoke to Australians some time ago and heard about their experience with mandatory voting, it was a “bit of an eye-opener” when they explained it was “no big deal.”
McLeod noted some of those comments, along with one man’s good-natured anecdote.
“He said, ‘I slept in once, and had to pay my fine’.”
More information on government’s electoral reform process and current options is online at www.canada.ca/en/campaign/electoral- reform.html.
