Liberals Drop the Ball on Electoral Reform, Democracy Portfolio Remains in Chaos
September 22, 2005Ottawa – MP Scott Reid, the Conservative Party Critic for Democratic Reform, criticized the Martin Government for failing to act on electoral reform.
Democratic Reform Minister Mauril Belanger admitted this week that the government will fail to meet the timeline set by the Procedure and House Affairs Committee to launch the process that will reform Canada’s electoral system. The government was to establish two committees by October 1st, one of parliamentarians and one of citizens, that would report to the House of Commons no later than February 26, 2006. The Minister now confesses that the government will not meet these deadlines.
“Thanks to the government’s internal chaos in the Democratic Reform portfolio, electoral reform has once again been put on the back burner,” Reid stated. “The Committee made its recommendations over three months ago, and yet this government can’t even seem to complete the simple task of striking up two working groups.”
Minister Belanger has admitted that Cabinet has yet to make a decision on the committee’s recommendations, and media reports indicate that the government’s delay will push the electoral reform process beyond the next election.
“Paul Martin is the real source of Canada’s democratic deficit,” Reid stated. “First, he can’t figure out which minister is in charge of the democracy file. Now, he can’t meet his own deadlines. What’s next in his comedy of errors in this portfolio?”
For more information or to speak with Mr. Reid
Please call (613) 257-8130 or (613) 947-2277.
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