Picture: Jer Clarke/ (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) licence
bThe Liberal Party of Canada has voted to back a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform at their national policy convention.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to establish a non-partisan National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform to continue the work started in 2014.
You can read the full text of the resolution that passed at the Liberal Party national convention at the bottom of this page.
The resolution finished at #11 of 24 resolutions that were prioritized by members at the national convention. Not only is electoral reform back as official party policy, members have ranked it well within the top priorities to be considered when the party’s campaign platform is developed.
This resolution will now be the official policy of the Liberal Party for the next eight years.
Resolutions matter. The last resolution on electoral reform passed at a Liberal Party convention (in 2014) led directly to the 2015 platform promise to Make Every Vote Count.
Today’s vote at the Liberal Party’s convention―with the backing of so many Liberal MPs―sends a clear message to the party leadership that it’s time to reignite the conversation about ditching our unfair first-past-the-post electoral system.
Ryan Campbell, attending the convention from Vancouver, was delighted that the resolution passed. “It’s inspiring to see the Liberal Party taking the lead on the electoral reform file again. We all know that the current system feeds divisive politics and toxic polarization―we need to fix that. I can’t wait to see legislation for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform tabled in Parliament.”
In December, 2022, a national poll conducted by EKOS showed overwhelming support for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform from voters of all parties. Canadians are ready for electoral reform, and they overwhelmingly support a non-partisan process we can trust.
Green Party MP Mike Morrice’s private members’ motion for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform very quickly reached the maximum number of joint seconders allowed (20). Many more MPs and notable Canadians, including those who can’t second a private member’s motion because of their position, have stepped forward in support.
In the last Parliament, NDP Democratic Reform Critic Daniel Blaikie achieved a concrete step forward at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Parliament (PROC). The committee passed a motion to conduct a formal study of how a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform would work. The study would have culminated in a recommendation to Parliament.
Unfortunately, the snap election of August 2021 prevented that work from going forward.
Daniel Blaikie plans to bring the motion back to the PROC committee in this Parliament.
UPDATE JUNE 2023: A motion by MP Lisa Marie Barron will be voted in Parliament for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Fair Vote Canada is a national citizens’ campaign for proportional representation.
Learn more about a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform:
https://nationalcitizensassembly.ca/
Text of the Liberal Party resolution:
A Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
WHEREAS: A 2014 resolution prioritized by the LPC called for “an all-Party process be instituted, involving expert assistance and citizen participation, to report to Parliament within 12 months with recommendations for electoral reforms including, without limitation, a preferential ballot and/or a form of proportional representation, to represent Canadians more fairly and serve Canada better.”
WHEREAS: The 2015 Liberal election campaign included a promise to end the first-past-the-post electoral system.
WHEREAS: The 2016 Report of the Standing Committee on Electoral Reform observed that a majority of the experts who testified recommended proportional representation. The government stated it would “undertake a period of comprehensive and effective citizen engagement before proposing specific changes to the current federal voting system”.
WHEREAS: A Leger poll conducted in September 2020 showed that 76% of respondents supported a move to proportional representation and 80% supported the idea of striking a non-partisan, independent citizens’ assembly on electoral reform.
WHEREAS: In 2021, the Procedure and House Affairs Committee passed a motion to undertake a study of a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to establish a non-partisan National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform to continue the work started in 2014.