Members of Parliament voted against a motion to create a citizensB次元官网网址� assembly on electoral reform that was put forward by Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Lisa Marie Barron.

On Wednesday, Feb. 7, MPs defeated the motion which aimed at developing an assembly of Canadians who would help develop a new electoral system to replace the current first-past-the-post system.

Members of all parties from across the country spent an hour debating and sharing their thoughts on the motion on Monday, Feb. 5, following a first round of debate in November.

B次元官网网址淲e must address voter apathy and lack of trust in our electoral system,B次元官网网址� said Liberal MP Leah Taylor Roy. B次元官网网址淲hen people in certain regions in the country feel that theyB次元官网网址檙e not represented because most of their elected representatives are from a party that has drastically different views than theirs, we need change. When certain groups of Canadians do not feel welcomed, or able to participate in our parliamentary system, which is oppositional and largely the legacy of male white settlers and colonialists, we need change. B次元官网网址�

She said the citizens assembly is the right way to proceed with electoral reform, and it would allow for the issue to be re-examined B次元官网网址渂eyond electoral cycles and parties.B次元官网网址�

In the assembly, she said, participants would gain a greater understanding of the issue by listening to experts, and members would reach a consensus and make recommendations to Parliament, which could lead to a referendum.

B次元官网网址淎 citizens assembly on its own is completely insufficient to determine any new electoral system,B次元官网网址� said Michael Cooper, Conservative MP. B次元官网网址淣othing short of a referendum would suffice.B次元官网网址�

He said some Canadians would think B次元官网网址渃ertain partisan actorsB次元官网网址� would take advantage or manipulate the electoral system for B次元官网网址減artisan or ideological gain.B次元官网网址�

Cooper questioned if Canadians even wanted electoral reform. Despite polls showing that the majority of Canadians support electoral reform, like a 2020 Leger poll that showed 80 per cent of Canadians would support a citizens assembly on electoral reform, Cooper noted that in five out of seven provincial referendums held since 2005 in B.C, Ontario, and P.E.I., Canadians voted against electoral reform.

Bloc Quebecois MP Alain Therrien said he and his party support the motion; however, they hope to see proper Quebec representation in the assembly.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 never worked when politicians are in charge of this, so this places the reflection and the study in the hands of citizens, those who we represent and those we want to be represented by our electoral system,B次元官网网址� said Therrien. B次元官网网址淭he Bloc Quebecois though, would like to mention that this citizensB次元官网网址� assembly canB次元官网网址檛 be done B次元官网网址榳illy nilly,B次元官网网址� there does need to be a referendum.B次元官网网址�

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NDP MP Heather McPherson said electoral reform could curb extremism in Canadian politics, mentioning a handful of politicians who she said rely on and work on behalf of their B次元官网网址渇ar-rightB次元官网网址� supporters despite most Canadians being moderates.

B次元官网网址淚 feel right now that our politics are becoming so much more divisive, so much more pushed to the sides, and the problem is Canadians, for the vast majority, donB次元官网网址檛 live on the outside edges, most Canadians are centrist, most Canadians want to see common sense, they want to see their politicians working together,B次元官网网址� said McPherson. B次元官网网址淏ecause of our political system, things are moved to the side, things are moved to the edges, and itB次元官网网址檚 very, very dangerous.B次元官网网址�

Barron closed the debate by calling on MPs to work together to strengthen CanadaB次元官网网址檚 democracy, to ensure elected officials are representative of their communities, and to B次元官网网址渋mplement real solutions at the pace required to meet the emergent needs faced by Canadians.B次元官网网址�

Her motion was defeated with 102 members voting in favour and 218 opposed, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. NDP, Green Party of Canada and Bloc MPs supported the motion, and so did 40 Liberal MPs and three Conservative MPs.

B次元官网网址淐anadians are facing really big problems right now: the detrimental impacts of the climate crisis, a lack of affordable housing, and keeping food in the table are all top of mind for people B次元官网网址� and with that, Canadians should see a government that reflects them and their values,B次元官网网址� said Barron in a news release after the vote. B次元官网网址淏oth the Liberals and Conservatives showed Canadians today that they donB次元官网网址檛 want to move forward on better electoral representation.B次元官网网址�

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bailey.seymour@nanaimobulletin.com
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