Constituency Referendum #8: Changing the Voting System (2016 Summer/Fall)

Summer/Fall 2016

www.scottreid.ca/YourVote

Resources from the Office of Scott Reid, M.P.:

• PDF version of Scott Reid’s mail-out — “Politicians Want to Change What Your Vote Means” (Sept. 2016)
• PDF version of the Conservative caucus consultations report to ERRE, the House of Commons Special Committee on Electoral Reform (Oct. 14, 2016)
• Results of Scott Reid’s riding referendum mail-out:
  • 89% in favour of a referendum before changing the voting system
  • 11% against a referendum.
  • 1,471 votes in total — 1,315 votes in favour — 156 votes against.

Op-Eds and other publications

• Rona Ambrose’s Op-Ed: “It’s time to park Prime Minister Trudeau’s failed electoral reform” (Published in the National Post, December 28, 2016)
• Scott Reid’s Op-Ed: “There’s consensus on one part of electoral reform–holding a referendum” (Published in the Ottawa Citizen, December 5, 2016)
• Rona Ambrose’s Op-Ed: “No electoral reform without a referendum — period” (Published by iPolitics.ca, September 26, 2016)
• Scott Reid’s Op-Ed: “How the Liberals are running out the clock on electoral reform” (Published in the Ottawa Citizen, May 18, 2016)
• Scott Reid’s Op-Ed: “Electoral reform must go to a referendum” (Published in the Ottawa Citizen, January 6, 2016)
• Scott Reid: “The Road to Electoral Reform” (Published in Canadian Parliamentary Review, October, 2005)
• Scott Reid: “Developing a Coalition for Electoral Reform” (Published in Policy Options, July 1, 2001)

Statements and other media

• Scott Reid’s statements in the House of Commons
• Scott Reid’s statements in Committees of the House of Commons
• “Thousands sign e-petition for a referendum on the voting system” — Statement from Scott Reid, M.P. (May 19, 2016)
• Manning Centre Panel on changing the voting system (video, 55 mins) — March 21, 2016
• “Two in three Canadians support having a referendum on changing the voting system” — Statement from Scott Reid, M.P. (February 10, 2016)
• “Scott Reid supports e-petition calling for a referendum on electoral reform” — Statement from Scott Reid, M.P. (December 10, 2016)
• “Changing Canada’s Electoral System” — Statement from Scott Reid, M.P. (December 9, 2015)

Parliamentary resources:

• House of Commons Special Committee on Electoral Reform (ERRE)
  • ERRE’s Final Report (#3) — “Strengthening Democracy in Canada: Principles, Process and Public Engagement for Electoral Reform”
  • Other ERRE Reports
  • ERRE News Releases and Announcements
• Elections Canada (Office of the Chief Electoral Officer)
  • Evolution of the Federal Electoral System
• Electoral Systems and Electoral Reform in Canada and Elsewhere: An Overview – Library of Parliament (June 2016)
  • The Canadian Electoral System — Library of Parliament (October 2015)
• 43rd Report of the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) on Electoral Reform (June 7, 2005)
  • Supplementary Opinion of the Conservative Caucus to PROC’s 43rd Report (June 7, 2005)
  • Government Response to the 43rd Report of the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Electoral Reform (October 7, 2005)
• 1936: House of Commons Special Committee on Election and Franchise Acts

Government of Canada resources:

• Minister of Democratic Institutions
  • Electoral Reform Page
  • News release from the Minister of Democratic Institutions — Dialogue Guide (July 6, 2016)
  • News release from the Minister of Democratic Institutions — Minister’s Tour (August 26, 2016)

Third Party Resources:

• CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel) Resource Page — “Electoral Reboot: Changing the Vote”
  • “The Research”
  • “The Past Record”
• Law Commission of Canada — Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for Canada (2004)
• Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform (2006-07)
  • Final Report
  • Background Report
• British Columbia Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform (2004-05)
  • Final Report
  • Technical Report
• Quebec Organizing Committee of the Estates General on the Reform of Democratic Institutions — Report (2003)
  • Massicotte Report (2004)
  • Draft Bill on Electoral Reform (2004)
• New Brunswick Commission on Legislative Democracy — Final Report (2004)
  • Summary of Recommendations
  • Government Response
• Prince Edward Island
  • 2016 Plebiscite on Electoral Reform (forthcoming)
  • 2005 Commission on PEI’s Electoral Future – Final Report
• New Democratic Party of Canada
  • NDP Submission to the Special Committee on Electoral Reform (Oct. 12, 2016)

Public Opinion Polling:

• On February 9, 2016, Insights West released a poll showing 65% of Canadians polled definitely or probably think “a change in the current system should be put to a nation-wide referendum”, versus 17% that a vote in the House of Commons is definitely or probably enough to settle the issue.
• On April 19, 2016, EKOS Research released a poll showing 47% of Canadians polled said they thought a national referendum would be required, versus an equal 47% who thought a rigorous program of public engagement and Parliamentary review should be sufficient.
• On May 21, 2016, Ipsos released a poll showing that 73% of Canadians polled (37% strongly, 36% somewhat) agree that a referendum should be held before major changes are made to Canada’s election system, versus 27% (8% strongly, 19% somewhat) who disagree.
• On June 10, 2016, EKOS Research released a poll, using the same question as their April 19, 2016 poll, showing 44% of Canadians polled said they thought a national referendum would be required, versus an equal 49% who thought a rigorous program of public engagement and Parliamentary review should be sufficient.
• On July 6, 2016, Forum Research released a poll showing 65% of Canadians polled agreed that “Canada should have a national referendum on electoral reform before any changes are made to the way we elect our MPs”, versus 18% that disagreed.
• On June 28, 2016, Insights West released a poll, using the same question as their February 9, 2016 poll, showing 68% of Canadians polled definitely or probably think “a change in the current system should be put to a nation-wide referendum”, versus just 18% that a vote in the House of Commons is definitely or probably enough to settle the issue.
• On August 31, 2016, Ipsos released a poll showing 55% of Canadians polled thought the current public and Parliamentary consultations on proposed changes to the election system are not enough to achieve public consent on electoral reform, and that a national referendum is necessary before making changes, versus 45% who think the consultations are sufficient to achieve public consent to fundamentally change the election system. When using EKOS’ question from its April and June polls, Ipsos found the corresponding responses were 49% agreeing a referendum is needed, versu 51% who do not.
• On September 28, 2016, Insights West released a poll showing 68% of Canadians definitely (40%) or probably (28%) think a change in the current system should be put to a nationwide referendum, versus 21% who definitely (7%) or probably (14%) think a vote in the House of Commons is enough to settle the issue.

Websites of some groups supportive of a referendum on changing the voting system:

• Patrice Dutil — The Imperative of a Referendum (Published by the Fraser Institute, June 2016)
• My Canada
• DefendDemocracy.ca

Some groups & individuals in favour of changing the voting system:

• Fair Vote Canada
• Broadbent Institute
• Every Voter Counts Alliance
• LeadNow.ca — Vote Better Campaign
• Unlock Democracy Canada
• 123 Canada

Some groups & individuals supportive of the current voting system:

• Jennifer Smith — In Defence of Canada’s Electoral System (Published in Policy Magazine , 2016)
• Keep Voting Simple
• John Pepall — First Past the Post: Empowered Voters, Accountable Government (Published by the Fraser Institute, August 2016)
• John Pepall — Laying the Ghost of Electoral Reform (Published by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, September 2011)

Posted in: Constituency Referenda