SCOTT REID, MP

LANARK-FRONTENAC-KINGSTON URGENT! Mail BackSept. By 30

The Liberal government has declared its intention to ensure that you will never again vote in the same way you did in 2015, and in every election before that. To quote the prime minister, “2015 will be the last election under first past the post” (ie. the present electoral system). However, the Government has not stated what Canada’s new voting system will look like. Public input is being accepted, primarily by means of a Special Committee, which will report back to the House of Commons in December. But after that, the Liberal cabinet will meet in private to design a new way of voting, and will use its majority in the House of Commons to impose this new system, whether Opposition parties accept it or not. Likewise, there will be no room for further public input, beyond the normal process for dealing with a government bill. So Canadians could be faced with the prospect of conducting our next election under a new voting system which does not have public support. Some people feel this is not acceptable, and that Canadians must have the final say, before their vote is changed. Before things go too far, I need to hear from you. Please read on, to see what some of Canada’s most important opinion leaders have said, regarding whether it is necessary to hold a referendum before changing our electoral system. For more information, visit: www.scottreid.ca/YourVote. Then have your say. Fill out and return the attached reply card—postage free—to my office as soon as possible. And please encourage all members of your household to do the same. Only responses mailed by the end of September can be sent to the Special Committee. I look forward to reading your responses on this critical issue. Sincerely, Scott Reid, MP Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR ARGUMENTS AGAINST OF REFERENDUM REFERENDUM

“The Trudeau government wants to change the way Canadians “[A]lthough I recognize that a referendum is one way of seeking elect their federal government, apparently without first clarity from Canadians, I remain to be convinced that it is the best specifically consulting Canadians via referendum. Yet with less way. Referenda do not easily lend themselves to effectively than 40 per cent of the vote last election, it has no mandate to deciding complex issues. They can and have often led to deep transform the oldest practice of Canada’s democracy. Any attempt divisions within Canadian and other societies, divisions which to do so without consent from the electorate would be have not been easily healed. unconstitutional because it would not follow the conventional practice.... In regards to electoral reform, over the past decade, “Although everyone has the ability to vote in a referendum, four provincial governments pushing for electoral reform – Prince almost half of eligible voters have not done so in recent referenda Edward Island (2005), British Columbia (2005 and 2009) and on electoral reform. I believe we need to reach out and engage Ontario (2007) – put the question to the people for approval. New those who have previously chosen to remain silent. A democracy Brunswick planned a referendum but then the government was that is comfortable with half its population not voting is a defeated. P.E.I. may have another one this year. This is a solid democracy in need of renewal and reform. record of precedents.” “A study conducted by Statistics Canada after the 2011 election — Patrice Dutil, Globe and Mail, June 2016 confirmed that many groups, sometimes the most marginalized, do not participate in elections.... “I can’t think of a good reason why Canadian voters should not be consulted on whether they favour the proposed new system over “We can imagine this could be similar in a referendum context. the status quo – unless that reason amounts to 'I’m worried My apprehension with a referendum is the possibility that it will Canadians will support the status quo.' Which in my mind is an provide an incomplete picture of what Canadians want.” argument that favours holding a referendum, lest we risk replacing something as fundamental as an electoral system against the — Maryam Monsef, House of Commons, July 2016 wishes of a majority of Canadians.” “Referendums ... polarize opinion and sharpen divisions among — Emmett McFarlane, Policy Options, December 2015 the electorate. It is almost an inevitable result, as partisans on both sides seek to mobilize voters, often by invoking stereotypes and “Trudeau campaigned on electoral reform in the 2015 election so playing to the fears of the public.... he has every right to propose changes. But not to impose them on Canadians without asking them in a referendum.” “The public often responds emotionally to these arguments, especially in a climate of insecurity that is in part the result of — Editorial, St. Catharines Standard, July 2016 leaders on each side manipulating fear to get out the vote. Especially in these kinds of circumstances, the debate that leads “If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government carries through on up to a referendum can ride roughshod over the rights of this pledge, it could be the most significant thing his government minorities…” does, likely bringing about the biggest-ever change in Canadian democracy. It will change how members of Parliament are — Mel Cappe & Janet Gross Stein, Globe and Mail, July 2016 elected, how governments are formed and who forms them, how Canadians vote and how parties seek the votes of Canadians. Yet "Detractors who insist that reform without a referendum is the PM is proposing to rewrite the basic rules of Canadian undemocratic go too far. Some countries have used referendums democracy with nothing more than a simple up-down vote in a on electoral reform, but others haven’t. In Canada, opponents of Parliament his party controls… This has to go to a reform argue that past provincial referendums on electoral reform referendum....Canada long ago took the question of drawing have set a precedent. Unfortunately, most who do so downplay the electoral boundaries out of the hands of politicians, because of the fact that these referendums were preceded by long, detailed conflict of interest that comes from letting them pick their voters. processes of study and citizen engagement, in order to educate the For the same reason, politicians shouldn't get to pick their public." preferred electoral system." — Spencer McKay, National Post, December 2015

— Editorial, Globe and Mail, January 2016 “Unfortunately, referenda … tend to exhibit a bias against the untried, with voters opting for the devils they know. Referenda are “Those who argue against a referendum will claim that it is not also open to manipulation. The wording of the question, the necessary; that not only did Canadians elect Trudeau, but a margin of victory required, the number of options presented, and majority voted for both the Liberals and the NDP, which also the level of support deemed necessary for approval – all may be promised electoral reform. This argument is silly. Firstly, the NDP varied in ways that affect the outcome. Turnout is often low, such and the Liberals did not promise the same kind of reform. The that a relatively small number of motivated voters decide the NDP’s preference is for mixed-member proportional matter. Among those who do vote, many lack the time or interest representation. By comparison, the Liberals only promised to to wade through all relevant information, and make their decision scrap the current system, and vaguely at that. Secondly, you can’t instead on the basis of cues provided by actors with a strong lay platforms against one another like Venn diagrams and then partisan interest. As a result, a referendum leaves the possibility of claim widespread public support for specific policies within a result driven by partisan considerations. them.” — Jen Gerson, National Post, December 2015 — Stewart Prest, Ottawa Citizen, May 2016

 October 2015: The Liberal Party election platform promises “that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the- post voting system.”

 June 2016: A special committee is struck to recommend changes to how Canadians vote.

 July-October 2016: MPs consult with constituents about changing how Canadians vote (including this survey). The results must be reported to the Special Committee by October 14, 2016.

 December 1, 2016: The Special Committee Reports to the House of Commons.

 Spring 2017: The cabinet introduces legislation to change how Canadians vote. HOW TO VOTE: 1. Each Canadian citizen aged 18 and over, living in your household may participate. 2. Only votes cast from addresses within our riding can be counted. 3. Please give your name(s) and addresses below. By law, your information cannot be divulged to anyone. For further security, the ballots will be destroyed once they are FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: processed. WWW.SCOTTREID.CA/YOURVOTE QUESTION: Before changing how we elect our MPs, should the government hold a referendum to get the approval of

Canadians?

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NAMES OF PARTICIPATING VOTERS: ______#1. ______EMAIL*: ______#2. ______EMAIL*: ______#3. ______EMAIL*: ______#4. ______EMAIL*: ______#4. ______EMAIL*: ______* Phone and Email are not required. ______Polling Data: Canadians’ views on Referendum

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