On Wednesday, 31 May 2017, the House of Commons voted 159 to 146 against adopting the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee. Two Liberal MPs voted for the motion: Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches-East York) and Sean Casey (Charlottetown). Our thanks to MPs Erskine-Smith and Casey for keeping the promise they campaigned on and standing up for what they believe in.
Our local Liberal MPs did not support the motion. We have heard a variety of reasons: couldn't support an NDP motion, couldn't support a referendum and no national consensus on change or a voting system.
We elected the Liberal Party to offer leadership on electoral reform. For electoral reform, leadership means making the case for change. Instead of leading, the LPC hid behind a bogus consultation process and claimed there was no consensus.
Strengthening Canada's democracy through establishing a fair and equitable electoral system is non-partisan issue because democracy is a non-partisan issue.
There are a number of ways to deal with a referendum if there is the will to do so but if you are looking for a backdoor, you will find one.
The movement toward a fair voting system for Canada isn't over, it isn't even close.
More Canadians than ever understand the need for electoral reform. We will keep working until Canada has an electoral system that serves Canadians not just the two largest political parties. This issue is alive and will be an election issue in 2019.
Tonight Liberal MPs across the country should be asking themselves what they actually stand for; as Anita Nickerson's outstanding letter in yesterday's Record said: if you don't represent your campaign promises and you don't represent the evidence and you don't represent the wishes of your constituents, what do you represent?
So many thanks to everyone who phoned their MPs, who put in hours canvassing, who visited your MP or wrote letters to the Record and their MP. What an amazing effort and a great campaign! Thank you all!
FVC-WR will be at the tri-Pride Festival this Saturday from noon to 8 pm in Victoria Park. It is always a great day and the weather promises to be sunny and warm. Please come and see us there!
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