Liberals reform electoral reform committee

Members are still in research stage, says Aldag

During last year’s federal election campaign, both the NDP and the Liberals promised that it would be the last time the outcome was decided via first-past-the-post.

Earlier this month, the Liberals altered the way they’re going about making changes to the voting system. The committee first had a Liberal majority, but it’s now comprised of five Liberal MPs, three Conservatives, two NDP members, a Bloc Quebecois MP, and Green party leader Elizabeth May.

John Aldag, a first-time MP for the riding of Cloverdale—Langley City, is one of the recent appointees to the committee. He’s not alone in being new, and other than Elizabeth May it’s unlikely that you’ve heard of anyone else on the committee.

“They were looking for people with non-expressed or [without] strong positions one way or the other on any outcomes,” he says. “They’re also looking for people who can go into discussions with Canadians and experts on electoral reform without a preconceived notion.”

Anyone who watches Question Period on CPAC will know that for the last several question periods, Conservative MPs have been asking Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions, whether or not an electoral reform change will go to referendum.

“As a committee, we haven’t been given any clear direction from the minister’s office,” says Aldag. “The role of committees are to be independent from the executive structure of government. The role of committees is to do research, to ask questions, hear from witnesses, gather testimony and then make recommendations back to ministers of legislations.”

In parliament, Rona Ambrose and other Conservatives have been using question period to ask the Liberals whether or not election reform will go to referendum. In this regard, Aldag brings up the recent failed transit referendum in B.C.

“In my opinion, what ended up being voted on was the effectiveness of TransLink as an administrative body. Not on whether or not transit or a new funding mechanism for transit was needed in the Lower Mainland.”

Aldag further stated that he would like to hear from experts on whether or not a referendum would be the right option.

As for what options are being considered, whether it be single-transferrable vote, or mixed-member proportional, Aldag says that he’s “still in the research stage. I get the sense, talking to my colleagues, that they’re very much at the same point.”

Aldag also mentions that both the Green and NDP MPs suggested bringing social media into the committee stage.

Aldag reiterated that during the 2015 election campaign, the Liberals said that this would be the last election under first-past-the-post, “but we don’t know what the best outcome would be.”

“I would say the best outcome for reflecting the desires of Canadians, a diversity of Canadians in civil engagement, I want to hear about a wide range of options used internationally, and see what benefits they reap, what the pitfalls are, and ultimately I need to be convinced that changing the system upon which our whole democratic system has been based is great for our country at this point in time.”