Principles, Process and Public Engagement for Electoral Reform

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Principles, Process and Public Engagement for Electoral Reform STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN CANADA: PRINCIPLES, PROCESS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR ELECTORAL REFORM Report of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform Francis Scarpaleggia Chair DECEMBER 2016 42nd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION Published under the authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons SPEAKER’S PERMISSION Reproduction of the proceedings of the House of Commons and its Committees, in whole or in part and in any medium, is hereby permitted provided that the reproduction is accurate and is not presented as official. This permission does not extend to reproduction, distribution or use for commercial purpose of financial gain. Reproduction or use outside this permission or without authorization may be treated as copyright infringement in accordance with the Copyright Act. Authorization may be obtained on written application to the Office of the Speaker of the House of Commons. Reproduction in accordance with this permission does not constitute publication under the authority of the House of Commons. The absolute privilege that applies to the proceedings of the House of Commons does not extend to these permitted reproductions. Where a reproduction includes briefs to a Standing Committee of the House of Commons, authorization for reproduction may be required from the authors in accordance with the Copyright Act. Nothing in this permission abrogates or derogates from the privileges, powers, immunities and rights of the House of Commons and its Committees. For greater certainty, this permission does not affect the prohibition against impeaching or questioning the proceedings of the House of Commons in courts or otherwise. The House of Commons retains the right and privilege to find users in contempt of Parliament if a reproduction or use is not in accordance with this permission. Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN CANADA: PRINCIPLES, PROCESS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR ELECTORAL REFORM Report of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform Francis Scarpaleggia Chair DECEMBER 2016 42nd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL REFORM CHAIR Francis Scarpaleggia VICE-CHAIRS Scott Reid Nathan Cullen MEMBERS John Aldag Blake Richards Alexandre Boulerice Sherry Romanado Matt DeCourcey Ruby Sahota Gérard Deltell Luc Thériault Elizabeth May OTHER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO PARTICIPATED William Amos Georgina Jolibois Sheri Benson Pat Kelly Daniel Blaikie Hon. Jason Kenney Mike Bossio Tom Kmiec Sylvie Boucher Larry Maguire David Christopherson Alistair MacGregor Matthew Dubé David J. McGuinty Jim Eglinski John Nater Greg Fergus Monique Pauzé Colin Fraser Alain Rayes Bernard Généreux Hon. Michelle Rempel Garnett Genuis Brigitte Sansoucy David de Burgh Graham Gabriel Ste-Marie Jamie Schmale iii CLERKS OF THE COMMITTEE Christine Lafrance Danielle Widmer LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT Parliamentary Information and Research Service Dara Lithwick, Analyst Erin Virgint, Analyst Gabrielle de Billy Brown, Research Assistant Jessica Ozorak, Research Assistant COMMITTEES AND LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIRECTORATE Ariann Bouchard, Committee Assistant Lynda Gaudreault, Committee Assistant iv THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL REFORM has the honour to present its THIRD REPORT Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, June 7, 2016, the Committee has studied the question of voting systems to replace the first-past-the-post system and the questions of mandatory voting and online voting and has agreed to report the following: v TABLE OF CONTENTS STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN CANADA: PRINCIPLES, PROCESS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR ELECTORAL REFORM .................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 A. Electoral Reform and Canada’s Unique Democratic Ecosystem .......................... 1 B. The Committee’s Mandate ................................................................................... 3 C. The Committee’s Study in Numbers ..................................................................... 4 1. Formal Hearings .............................................................................................. 5 2. E-Consultation on Electoral Reform ................................................................ 6 3. Open Mic Sessions ......................................................................................... 8 4. Written Submissions and Correspondence ..................................................... 9 5. MP Town Hall Reports .................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2: ELECTORAL REFORM AND THE CONSTITUTION .............................. 11 A. Constitutional Basis of the Federal Electoral System and Implications for System Reform ................................................................................................... 11 1. Constitutional Provisions related to the Federal Electoral System and Reform .......................................................................................................... 11 2. Selected Canadian Jurisprudence: Electoral Reform and the Constitution ...... 14 B. Witness and Submission Observations on the Constitutionality of Electoral System Reform ................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 3: LESSONS LEARNED: A HISTORY OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM REFORM AT THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS .......................................................... 21 A. 1921: A Turning Point ......................................................................................... 22 1. The House of Commons 1921 Special Committee on Proportional Representation and the Subject of the Single Transferable or Preferential Vote ........................................................................................... 23 B. Subsequent Studies of Electoral System Reform at the Federal Level .............. 24 1. 1935-1937: The Special Committee on Elections and Franchise Acts .......... 24 2. A Trio of Task Forces/Royal Commissions: 1979, 1985, 1991...................... 24 3. Law Commission of Canada, Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for Canada, 2004 ................................................................................................ 25 4. House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Forty-Third Report (Electoral Reform) (tabled 16 June 2005) ........... 27 vii 5. Government of Canada, Public Consultations on Canada’s Democratic Institutions and Practices, 2007 .................................................................... 28 C. Electoral Reform at the Provincial Level ............................................................. 28 1. Early Reform Initiatives ................................................................................... 28 2. Recent Reform Initiatives ............................................................................... 29 a. British Columbia ....................................................................................... 30 b. Ontario ..................................................................................................... 33 c. Quebec .................................................................................................... 33 d. New Brunswick ........................................................................................ 34 e. Prince Edward Island ............................................................................... 36 CHAPTER 4: VALUES AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS: TOWARDS A “MADE IN CANADA” PROPOSAL ................................................................................................. 41 A. Of Values and Principles .................................................................................... 41 1. Principles and Electoral Systems: A Matter of Trade-Offs ............................ 44 B. Electoral System Families: Majoritarian, Proportional, and Mixed ...................... 45 1. Electoral System Components ...................................................................... 45 C. Our Current Electoral System: Single-Member Plurality, aka First-Past- the-Post .............................................................................................................. 46 1. FPTP’s Perceived Strengths ......................................................................... 47 a. FPTP is efficient and simple for both voters and election administrators: ......................................................................................... 47 b. FPTP focuses on local representation: ..................................................... 48 c. FPTP tends to produce majority governments: ......................................... 49 2. FPTP’s Perceived Shortcomings ................................................................... 49 a. FPTP in a Multi-Candidate, Multi-Party Context ...................................... 50 b. FPTP, Voter Apathy, Strategic Voting, Policy Reversal, and Lack of Diverse Representation ........................................................................... 52 D. Electoral System Change: What Alternatives Would Work in Canada? ............. 56 1. The Alternative Vote and Other Ranked Ballot Variants in Single- Member Constituencies ................................................................................ 58 a. Tallying Methods: The Alternative Vote, the Borda Count, and the Condorcet Method ..................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Core 1..39 Journalweekly (PRISM::Advent3b2 10.50)
    HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES DU CANADA 40th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION 40e LÉGISLATURE, 3e SESSION Journals Journaux No. 2 No 2 Thursday, March 4, 2010 Le jeudi 4 mars 2010 10:00 a.m. 10 heures PRAYERS PRIÈRE DAILY ROUTINE OF BUSINESS AFFAIRES COURANTES ORDINAIRES TABLING OF DOCUMENTS DÉPÔT DE DOCUMENTS Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Conformément à l'article 32(2) du Règlement, M. Lukiwski Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of (secrétaire parlementaire du leader du gouvernement à la Chambre Commons) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, des communes) dépose sur le Bureau, — Réponses du pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions: gouvernement, conformément à l’article 36(8) du Règlement, aux pétitions suivantes : — Nos. 402-1109 to 402-1111, 402-1132, 402-1147, 402-1150, — nos 402-1109 to 402-1111, 402-1132, 402-1147, 402-1150, 402- 402-1185, 402-1222, 402-1246, 402-1259, 402-1321, 402-1336, 1185, 402-1222, 402-1246, 402-1259, 402-1321, 402-1336, 402- 402-1379, 402-1428, 402-1485, 402-1508 and 402-1513 1379, 402-1428, 402-1485, 402-1508 et 402-1513 au sujet du concerning the Employment Insurance Program. — Sessional régime d'assurance-emploi. — Document parlementaire no 8545- Paper No. 8545-403-1-01; 403-1-01; — Nos. 402-1129, 402-1174 and 402-1268 concerning national — nos 402-1129, 402-1174 et 402-1268 au sujet des parcs parks. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-403-2-01; nationaux. — Document parlementaire no 8545-403-2-01; — Nos.
    [Show full text]
  • Hill Times, Health Policy Review, 17NOV2014
    TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR, NO. 1260 CANADA’S POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT NEWSWEEKLY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 $4.00 HEARD ON THE HILL BUZZ NEWS HARASSMENT Artist paints Queen, other prominent MPs like ‘kings, queens in their people, wants a national portrait gallery little domains,’ contribute to ‘culture of silence’: Clancy BY LAURA RYCKEWAERT “The combination of power and testosterone often leads, unfortu- n arm’s-length process needs nately, to poor judgment, especially Ato be established to deal in a system where there has been with allegations of misconduct no real process to date,” said Nancy or harassment—sexual and Peckford, executive director of otherwise—on Parliament Hill, Equal Voice Canada, a multi-par- say experts, as the culture on tisan organization focused on the Hill is more conducive to getting more women elected. inappropriate behaviour than the average workplace. Continued on page 14 NEWS HARASSMENT Campbell, Proctor call on two unnamed NDP harassment victims to speak up publicly BY ABBAS RANA Liberal Senator and a former A NDP MP say the two un- identifi ed NDP MPs who have You don’t say: Queen Elizabeth, oil on canvas, by artist Lorena Ziraldo. Ms. Ziraldo said she got fed up that Ottawa doesn’t have accused two now-suspended a national portrait gallery, so started her own, kind of, or at least until Nov. 22. Read HOH p. 2. Photograph courtesy of Lorena Ziraldo Liberal MPs of “serious person- al misconduct” should identify themselves publicly and share their experiences with Canadians, NEWS LEGISLATION arguing that it is not only a ques- tion of fairness, but would also be returns on Monday, as the race helpful to address the issue in a Feds to push ahead on begins to move bills through the transparent fashion.
    [Show full text]
  • Brief by Professor François Larocque Research Chair In
    BRIEF BY PROFESSOR FRANÇOIS LAROCQUE RESEARCH CHAIR IN LANGUAGE RIGHTS UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA PRESENTED TO THE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL LANGUAGES AS PART OF ITS STUDY OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES REFORM PROPOSAL UNVEILED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2021, BY THE MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OFFICIAL LANGUAGES, ENGLISH AND FRENCH: TOWARDS A SUBSTANTIVE EQUALITY OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN CANADA MAY 31, 2021 Professor François Larocque Faculty of Law, Common Law Section University of Ottawa 57 Louis Pasteur Ottawa, ON K1J 6N5 Telephone: 613-562-5800, ext. 3283 Email: [email protected] 1. Thank you very much to the honourable members of the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages (the “Committee”) for inviting me to testify and submit a brief as part of the study of the official languages reform proposal entitled French and English: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada (“the reform proposal”). A) The reform proposal includes ambitious and essential measures 2. First, I would like to congratulate the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages for her leadership and vision. It is, in my opinion, the most ambitious official languages reform proposal since the enactment of the Constitution Act, 1982 (“CA1982”)1 and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter”),2 which enshrined the main provisions of the Official Languages Act (“OLA”)3 of 1969 in the Canadian Constitution. The last reform of the OLA was in 1988 and it is past time to modernize it to adapt it to Canada’s linguistic realities and challenges in the 21st century. 3. The Charter and the OLA proclaim that “English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada.”4 In reality, however, as reported by Statistics Canada,5 English is dominant everywhere, while French is declining, including in Quebec.
    [Show full text]
  • Parliamentary Internship Programme 2020-21 Annual Report
    Parliamentary Internship Programme 2020-21 Annual Report Annual General Meeting Canadian Political Science Association June 11, 2021 Dr. Paul Thomas Director Web: pip-psp.org Twitter: @PIP_PSP Instagram: @pip-psp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParlInternship/ PIP Annual Report 2021 Director’s Message I am delighted to present the Parliamentary Internship Programme’s (PIP) 2020-21 Annual Report to the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA). The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reshaped the experience of the 2020-21 internship cohort relative to previous years. Such changes began with a mostly-virtual orientation in September, and continued with remote work in their MP placements, virtual study tours, and Brown-Bag lunches over Zoom. Yet while limiting some aspects of the PIP experience, the pandemic provided opportunities as well. The interns took full advantage of the virtual format to meet with academics, politicians, and other public figures who were inaccessible to previous cohorts relying on in-person meetings. They also learned new skills for online engagement that will serve them well in the hybrid work environment that is emerging as COVID-19 recedes. One thing the pandemic could not change was the steadfast support of the PIP’s various partners. We are greatly indebted to our sponsors who chose to prioritize their contributions to PIPs despite the many pressures they faced. In addition to their usual responsibilities for the Programme, both the PIP’s House of Commons Liasion, Scott Lemoine, and the Programme Assistant, Melissa Carrier, also worked tirelessly to ensure that the interns were kept up to date on the changing COVID guidance within the parliamentary preccinct, and to ensure that they had access to the resources they needed for remote work.
    [Show full text]
  • Trudeau Attacks Calls to Close Borders: “There Is a Lot of Knee-Jerk Reaction That Isn’T Keeping People Safe”
    The road to Canada's COVID-19 outbreak, Pt. 3: timeline of federal government failure at border to slow the virus Author of the article: David Staples • Edmonton Journal Publishing date: April 3, 2020 • 29 minute read Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks from behind a podium bearing the hyperlink to a federal government website about the coronavirus disease during a press conference about COVID-19 in front of his residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, on Sunday, March 22, 2020. JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Pt. 3, March: Trudeau attacks calls to close borders: “There is a lot of knee-jerk reaction that isn’t keeping people safe” COVID-19 exploded upon the world in March 2020, shutting down much of the economy in Europe and North America by mid-month, just as it had already done in Asia in January and February. But early in the month, the Liberal government in Ottawa clung to the notion that it must not close its borders to travellers, or quarantine them when they arrived, even as that was by then standard practice in Asia, and even as infection brought in by travellers were spreading in Canadian towns and cities. Yet by the end of the month, the Liberal policy did a complete about-face, shutting down our borders. In Parts 1 and 2, we looked at the multi-partisan in effort to dig in and question Canada‟s border policies on COVID-19. In Part. 3 of our series, the timeline is extended into March, detailing the key quotes and debates leading to the federal policy change.
    [Show full text]
  • The Parliament
    The Parliament is composed of 3 distinct elements,the Queen1 the Senate and the House of Representatives.2 These 3 elements together characterise the nation as being a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federation. The Constitution vests in the Parliament the legislative power of the Common- wealth. The legislature is bicameral, which is the term commoniy used to indicate a Par- liament of 2 Houses. Although the Queen is nominally a constituent part of the Parliament the Consti- tution immediately provides that she appoint a Governor-General to be her representa- tive in the Commonwealth.3 The Queen's role is little more than titular as the legislative and executive powers and functions of the Head of State are vested in the Governor- General by virtue of the Constitution4, and by Letters Patent constituting the Office of Governor-General.5 However, while in Australia, the Sovereign has performed duties of the Governor-General in person6, and in the event of the Queen being present to open Parliament, references to the Governor-General in the relevant standing orders7 are to the extent necessary read as references to the Queen.s The Royal Style and Titles Act provides that the Queen shall be known in Australia and its Territories as: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.* There have been 19 Governors-General of Australia10 since the establishment of the Commonwealth, 6 of whom (including the last 4) have been Australian born. The Letters Patent, of 29 October 1900, constituting the office of Governor- General, 'constitute, order, and declare that there shall be a Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over' the Commonwealth.
    [Show full text]
  • July 29, 2021
    SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 29, 2021 A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at 1:01 pm, in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of convening a meeting which is closed to the public. This Council meeting was convened by electronic means as authorized under the Order of the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of the Province of British Columbia – Emergency Program Act, updated Ministerial Order No. M192. PRESENT: Deputy Mayor Christine Boyle Councillor Rebecca Bligh Councillor Adriane Carr Councillor Melissa De Genova Councillor Lisa Dominato Councillor Pete Fry Councillor Colleen Hardwick Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung Councillor Jean Swanson Councillor Michael Wiebe ABSENT: Mayor Kennedy Stewart CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE: Paul Mochrie, City Manager Karen Levitt, Deputy City Manager CITY CLERK’S OFFICE: Katrina Leckovic, City Clerk David Yim, Meeting Coordinator WELCOME The Deputy Mayor acknowledged we are on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and we thank them for having cared for this land and look forward to working with them in partnership as we continue to build this great city together. The Deputy Mayor also recognized the immense contributions of the City of Vancouver’s staff who work hard every day to help make our city an incredible place to live, work, and play. IN CAMERA MEETING MOVED by Councillor De Genova SECONDED by Councillor Wiebe THAT Council will go into meeting later this day which
    [Show full text]
  • Alternative North Americas: What Canada and The
    ALTERNATIVE NORTH AMERICAS What Canada and the United States Can Learn from Each Other David T. Jones ALTERNATIVE NORTH AMERICAS Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20004 Copyright © 2014 by David T. Jones All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author’s rights. Published online. ISBN: 978-1-938027-36-9 DEDICATION Once more for Teresa The be and end of it all A Journey of Ten Thousand Years Begins with a Single Day (Forever Tandem) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1 Borders—Open Borders and Closing Threats .......................................... 12 Chapter 2 Unsettled Boundaries—That Not Yet Settled Border ................................ 24 Chapter 3 Arctic Sovereignty—Arctic Antics ............................................................. 45 Chapter 4 Immigrants and Refugees .........................................................................54 Chapter 5 Crime and (Lack of) Punishment .............................................................. 78 Chapter 6 Human Rights and Wrongs .................................................................... 102 Chapter 7 Language and Discord ..........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • PANEL DISCUSSION on PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Concordia University, Monday, September 19, 2016 7Pm-9Pm
    BRIEF to the attention of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform Francis Scarpaleggia, MP Scott Reid, MP Nathan Cullen, MP John Aldag, MP Alexandre Boulerice, MP Matt DeCourcey, MP Gérard Deltell, MP Elizabeth May, OC MP Blake Richards, MP Sherry Romanado, MP Ruby Sahota, MP Luc Thériault, MP PANEL DISCUSSION ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Concordia University, Monday, September 19, 2016 7pm-9pm an event organized by Concordia University Young Greens McGill University Young Greens Fair Vote Canada Montreal Chapter brief prepared by William Gagnon President, Concordia University Young Greens Concordia University McGill University Montreal Chapter Panel Discussion on Proportional Representation Concordia University September 19, 2016 7pm-9pm PARTICIPANTS Kryzsztof Majewski, Representative, Fair Vote Canada 19h15-19h30 What is the current situation and why an electoral reform? Mr. Majewski informed the public of the current voting system in Canada along with its pros and cons. He presented his views -- also the views of the organization he represents, Fair Vote Canada -- of what a reformed electoral system meant for Canadians. On a more personal note, he said he prefers STV. Daniel Green, Deputy Leader, Green Party of Canada 19h30-19h45 Proportional representation and the views of the Green Party of Canada. Mr. Green quickly resummarized what proportional representation means in an electoral context. He then used Lego ™ blocks to make a comparative analysis of the results of the 2015 Canadian federal elections under a FPTP system versus a system using proportion- al representation. He introduced the concept of vote-poubelles, or lost votes (garbage votes in French), which, to him, disengages Canadian voters.
    [Show full text]
  • Myth Making, Juridification, and Parasitical Discourse: a Barthesian Semiotic Demystification of Canadian Political Discourse on Marijuana
    MYTH MAKING, JURIDIFICATION, AND PARASITICAL DISCOURSE: A BARTHESIAN SEMIOTIC DEMYSTIFICATION OF CANADIAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE ON MARIJUANA DANIEL PIERRE-CHARLES CRÉPAULT Thesis submitted to the University of Ottawa in partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctorate in Philosophy degree in Criminology Department of Criminology Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ottawa © Daniel Pierre-Charles Crépault, Ottawa, Canada, 2019 ABSTRACT The legalization of marijuana in Canada represents a significant change in the course of Canadian drug policy. Using a semiotic approach based on the work of Roland Barthes, this dissertation explores marijuana’s signification within the House of Commons and Senate debates between 1891 and 2018. When examined through this conceptual lens, the ongoing parliamentary debates about marijuana over the last 127 years are revealed to be rife with what Barthes referred to as myths, ideas that have become so familiar that they cease to be recognized as constructions and appear innocent and natural. Exploring one such myth—the necessity of asserting “paternal power” over individuals deemed incapable of rational calculation—this dissertation demonstrates that the processes of political debate and law-making are also a complex “politics of signification” in which myths are continually being invoked, (re)produced, and (re)transmitted. The evolution of this myth is traced to the contemporary era and it is shown that recent attempts to criminalize, decriminalize, and legalize marijuana are indices of a process of juridification that is entrenching legal regulation into increasingly new areas of Canadian life in order to assert greater control over the consumption of marijuana and, importantly, over the risks that this activity has been semiologically associated with.
    [Show full text]
  • A Canadian Model of Proportional Representation by Robert S. Ring A
    Proportional-first-past-the-post: A Canadian model of Proportional Representation by Robert S. Ring A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Political Science Memorial University St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador May 2014 ii Abstract For more than a decade a majority of Canadians have consistently supported the idea of proportional representation when asked, yet all attempts at electoral reform thus far have failed. Even though a majority of Canadians support proportional representation, a majority also report they are satisfied with the current electoral system (even indicating support for both in the same survey). The author seeks to reconcile these potentially conflicting desires by designing a uniquely Canadian electoral system that keeps the positive and familiar features of first-past-the- post while creating a proportional election result. The author touches on the theory of representative democracy and its relationship with proportional representation before delving into the mechanics of electoral systems. He surveys some of the major electoral system proposals and options for Canada before finally presenting his made-in-Canada solution that he believes stands a better chance at gaining approval from Canadians than past proposals. iii Acknowledgements First of foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my brilliant supervisor, Dr. Amanda Bittner, whose continuous guidance, support, and advice over the past few years has been invaluable. I am especially grateful to you for encouraging me to pursue my Master’s and write about my electoral system idea.
    [Show full text]
  • Mass Cancellations Put Artists' Livelihoods at Risk; Arts Organizations in Financial Distress
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau March 17, 2020 ​ Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland The Honourable Steven Guilbeault The Honourable William Francis Morneau Minister of Canadian Heritage Minister of Finance The Honourable Mona Fortier The Honourable Navdeep Bains Minister of Middle-Class Prosperity Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Associate Minister of Finance The Honourable Mélanie Joly Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Re: Mass cancellations put artists’ livelihoods at risk; arts organizations in financial distress Dear Prime Minister Trudeau; Deputy Prime Minister Freeland; and Ministers Guilbeault, Morneau, Fortier, Joly, and Bains, We write as the leadership of Opera.ca, the national association for opera companies and professionals in Canada. In light of recent developments around COVID-19 and the waves of cancellations as a result of bans on mass gatherings, Opera.ca is urgently requesting federal aid on behalf of the Canadian opera sector and its artists -- its most essential and vulnerable people -- while pledging its own emergency support for artists in desperate need. Opera artists are the heart of the opera sector, and their economic survival is in jeopardy. In response to the dire need captured by a recent survey conducted by Opera.ca, the board of directors of Opera.ca today voted for an Opera Artists Emergency Relief Fund to be funded by the association. Further details will be announced shortly. Of the 14 professional opera companies in Canada, almost all have cancelled their current production and some the remainder of the season. This is an unprecedented crisis with long-reaching implications for the entire Canadian opera sector.
    [Show full text]