[fvc-wat-disc] Report From Wednesday Night at the ERRE Committee Meeting In Toronto

[Sharon Sommerville]

Thanks Cathe.  There is audio available of the proceedings if you would
like to hear any portion of it.

Here is the link:  http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/ERRE/Meetings.  It
is in the first section under meetings.

Cheers,
Sharon

On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 1:11 PM, <cdcampbell9 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Excellent description of the meeting, Sharon. Regards, Cathe Campbell
>
> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
> *From: *Sharon Sommerville
> *Sent: *Sunday, September 25, 2016 1:07 PM
> *To: *fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org
> *Reply To: *FVC Waterloo Region Discussion
> *Subject: *[fvc-wat-disc] Report From Wednesday Night at the ERRE
> Committee
>
> Meeting In Toronto
>
> Hello FairVoting Friends,
>
>
> Last Wednesday, the Electoral Reform Committee met with expert witnesses
> and the public in Toronto.  Four of our FairVote community, Shannon &
> Michael Purvess-Smith, Dave Arthur and myself, attended the meeting.
> Shannon & Michael attended the expert witness testimony session during the
> day and Dave & I were at the open mic session in the late afternoon and
> evening.
> There was a strong component of FairVote members, labour representatives
> and Green Party supporters.
> We would like to share our impressions of the meeting.
>
> The first witness spoke for keeping FPTP and admitted he was giving
> opinion not evidence, and did not seem to have much grasp of PR options.
>
> The other witness in the first session was a provincial electoral officer
> spoke for keeping voting simple, offered good points on electoral matters,
> and may have been wary of difficulties instituting a new system.
>
> Neither of the first group seemed as well prepared for the committee’s
> questions as experts seen in the parliamentary sessions.
>
> The second group of witnesses were good with the focus on accommodating
> Canadians with disabilities including the problems of voting for the blind.
> They also spoke of the need for more opportunities in politics for women.
>
> The committee appeared unbiased, non-partisan, polite and generous to the
> witnesses, and critical only when obviously necessary.
>
> The public had 2 minutes each at the open mic. Dave and I both spoke.  In
> total, eighty eight people spoke.
> Most of them, 95+ %, were in support of proportional representation and no
> referendum.
>
> A few people, 5 or 6, spoke in support of a referendum and fewer for
> keeping FPTP, generating.
>
> There was great diversity in the speakers age and backgrounds.  It was
> exciting and hopeful to hear that almost everyone want change and a fair
> electoral system.
> With PR, MMP seemed to be most preferred with a couple interesting
> variations proposed.
> One of the most compelling speakers was a fellow from Barrie who spoke in
> favour of PR and said that his grandson who is in the Cdn. Forces had just
> rec'd his paratrooper wings. The gentleman reported that his grandson may
> be sent to a dangerous hotspot and could be killed. He said, if you can
> send Cdns. to a place where they might get killed without a referendum then
> you really don't need a referendum to change how we vote. His comments
> received thunderous applause.
>
> At the end of the meeting, I asked Alexandre Boulerice, an NDP member from
> Quebec if he thought the committee could reach a consensus.  He replied
> that it would depend on the sincerity of the Liberals. It offered the
> audience a good example of how a proportional governing body could work
> together.
>
> To speak directly to the committee, to have our views heard and recorded
> by the MP's making the recommendation was an exciting and hopeful
> experience.
>
> Best regards,
> Sharon
>
>
>
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