MP Reid Named Critic for Democratic Reform
October 8, 2004PARLIAMENT HILL – Scott Reid, MP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington, was this week given an additional critic assignment in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. Mr. Reid will serve as Chief Opposition Critic for Democratic Reform.
Reid expressed satisfaction with his new assignment, observing that he had held a similar role in a less formal capacity in the old Canadian Alliance prior to the creation of the new Conservative Party of Canada. “What’s different this time,” he explained, “is that now there is a federal minister for Democratic Reform. To me, this is a sign that the Liberal minority government recognizes that political pressures in favour of democratic reforms are not going to go away.” Reid indicated that he believes his most important job will be to ensure that any reforms enacted by the Liberal government are more than mere window-dressing.
Reid listed a variety of changes that he feels would make Canada more democratic. “I would like to see reform to Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system, which allows MPs to sit in the House of Commons when they have won as little as 30% of the vote. As well, a true democracy would include a completely independent Ethics Commissioner and an elected Senate.”
Reid also expressed satisfaction that he will now be able to work more effectively on one of the primary concerns that he had raised during the recent election. “I am distressed at the declining quality of the voters’ list, and I promised during the election to try to do what I can to clean it up. This new assignment affords me a much better position from which to do this,” he stated.
Scott Reid will continue to serve as Critic for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FEDNOR).
For more information or to speak with Mr. Reid
Please call (613) 257-8130 or (613) 947-2277.
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