[fvc-wat-disc] Devastating news

[Sharon Sommerville]

This is an article published today in iPolitics:

http://ipolitics.ca/2016/10/19/trudeau-backing-away-from-voting-system-change/

Sharon

On Wed, Oct 19, 2016 at 4:01 PM, Jennifer Ross <2jennross at gmail.com> wrote:

> Devastating news this morning.  This is a quick translation from an
> exclusive interview with Le Devoir.
> http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/482514/la-ref
> orme-electorale-n-est-plus-garantie
>
> As we celebrate the first anniversary of his election to the government,
> Justin Trudeau looks to the future and recognize the many projects ahead. Energy
> East, indigenous communities, but also promised electoral reform last year
> and on which the Prime Minister no longer guarantees that it will go ahead.
>
> "If we are going to change the electoral system requires that people be
> open to that," dropped Justin Trudeau, in exclusive interview with Le
> Devoir this week to take stock of the past year. "We will look at how to
> place the consultations, reactions, results reporting. We will not
> prejudge what would be necessary [to change the ballot method]. But when
> we say substantial support, it means something. "
>
> Justin Trudeau was adamant during the election campaign last year: the
> 2015 election would be "the last federal election organized in a plurality
> voting in one round." But since his Minister for Democratic Institutions
> Maryam Monsef has qualified that the Liberal government would act "only if
> there is broad support from Canadians." Justin Trudeau, he had never
> specified the threshold of support he deemed necessary to implement its
> election promise.
>
> If he endorses the warning of his minister, though he says that "there are
> levels" possible reform. "Less downforce and a small change, it might be
> acceptable. A bigger change, it would take a bigger support, he
> suggested. What's a big change? What's a little change? All these
> thoughts then, that's why you have to have rigorous conversations with
> intelligent Canadians. "
>
> Less appetite?
>
> The Prime Minister is satisfied were somehow a victim of its electoral
> success. Because if people strongly supported the liberal idea, after the
> last election would have mitigated their impatience he said.
>
> "Under Mr. [Stephen] Harper, there were so many unhappy people in
> government and approach people said" it takes an electoral reform to avoid
> having government we do not like. " But under the current system, they
> now have a government with which they are more satisfied. And motivation
> to want to change the electoral system is less compelling [or less
> glaring], "argued Mr. Trudeau.
>
> The Liberals appointed a parliamentary committee to consult experts in the
> field, as well as other political enties who changed their voting system. The
> single-seat models a turn, proportional or preferential were studied, as
> well as compulsory voting or electronic. Justin Trudeau he promises to
> comply with its recommendations, due December 1? "Is that a government
> remains committed to automatically apply any result of the committee? Never,
> replied the Prime Minister. But it is an essential tool to frame a
> possible government decision. "
>
> The Liberals, however, have to rely also on the views of Canadians, who
> were invited to share with the committee, but also at citizens' assemblies
> organized by the deputies or the Minister Monsef. "Unfortunately, want
> not want a big concern for political parties is their immediate survival
> and their ability to finance. So, yes, I will watch with close attention
> to their concerns, I will consider it, absolutely. It is an important
> work they are doing. But this is not the only work that is being done in
> this broader thinking, "argued the premier.
>
> --
> No other Western democratic country concentrates as much political power in
> the hands of one person as Canada does with her Prime Minister.
>
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