The Promise: “We will make every vote count” #ERRE

back to #ERRE Submission by Laurel L. Russwurm

Canadians Deserve Better -Proportional Representation - on Canadian Flag background
This is the twenty-fourth article in the Whoa!Canada: Proportional Representation Series

On the 1st anniversary of the Liberal Majority, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggests Canadians have lost our “appetite” for electoral reform now that his party has won a majority government.

A majority built on 39% of the votes cast.
Just as Mr. Harper had a majority built on 39% of the votes cast.

Our Electoral System Is Changing

Something unprecedented happened in the 42nd Canadian federal election of 2015.  Every party — except the one in power — campaigned on electoral reform.  This is something that would never happen without wide spread dissatisfaction with the electoral system we use now.

When most people feel they can’t vote for what they want, even if the person they vote for is elected, they don’t have the representation in Parliament they want.  When the system fails to serve us, we don’t feel engaged in or satisfied by the process.  When a majority of voters are routinely unrepresented, when some votes count more than others, but most votes don’t count at all, there is something wrong with an electoral system.

Even though we don’t understand the problem or know how to fix it, we know something isn’t working.  So when Mr. Trudeau said, “We will make every vote count,” it resonated with Canadians.

Justin Trudeau's Election Promise: "We will make every vote count."

erre-r-here-nuThe Liberal Party promise was itself an acknowledgement of the uncomfortable truth that every vote does not count in the voting system Canadians use now.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a lot of Canadians were less than pleased to read the ipolitics report:  Trudeau taking heat for walking back electoral reform: Prime Minister tells Le Devoir Canadians’ motivation for change has weakened.

Our votes need to count as much today as they did last October.

The electoral reform process has barely begun.  Although the public consultation is over, the ERRE Committee hasn’t even finished hearing experts.

Your vote should count.  And so should mine.  All of our voices deserve to be heard, but they won’t be until we have a fair electoral system.  Canadians have been waiting for meaningful electoral reform for a hundred and fifty years. We can’t let them walk away from this election promise, this is our historic opportunity to create a stronger democracy and public policy that serves all Canadians.

Please phone or email your MP to let them know that we expect them to keep their election promise to make every vote count.

Tell your MP that backing off on electoral reform will lose your vote.

Here are the phone numbers and email addresses of our Waterloo Region Liberal MPs.

Bryan May – Cambridge
telephone: 519 624 7440
email: Bryan.May.P9@parl.gc.ca

MP Bryan May and the Honourable Maryam Monsef

Marwan Tabbara – Kitchener- South Hespeler
telephone: 519 571 5509
email: Marwan.Tabbara.P9@parl.gc.ca

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, MP Raj Saini and MP Marwan Tabarra

Bardish Chagger – Waterloo
telephone: 519 746 1573
email: Bardish.Chagger.P9@parl.gc.ca

The Honourable Maryam Monsef and the Honourable Bardish Chagger

Raj Saini – Kitchener Centre
telephone: 519 741 2001
email: Raj.Saini.P9@parl.gc.ca

Read the article in Le Devoir
or the English Translation

If you aren’t in Waterloo Region, you should contact your Liberal MP too.  And if you don’t know who your MP is, you can find out here by Postal Code.  If you know who it is but need the contact info you can find it here by typing your MP’s name.

And no matter where you live, you can sign the Broadbent Institute’s
Petition: Justin Trudeau, keep your promise to bring in electoral reform


Image Credits:
Justin Trudeau by A.k.fung has been dedicated to the Public Domain, which made it possible for me to dedicate my mini-poster  to the Public Domain as well.

back to #ERRE Submission by Laurel L. Russwurm

Proportional Representation Series So Far:

• Proportional Representation for Canada
• What’s so bad about First Past The Post
• Democracy Primer
• Working for Democracy
• The Popular Vote
• Why Don’t We Have PR Already?
• Stability
• Why No Referendum?
• Electoral System Roundup
• When Canadians Learn about PR with CGP Grey
• Entitlement
• Proportional Representation vs. Alternative Vote
• #ERRÉ #Q Committee
• #ERRÉ #Q Meetings & Transcripts
• Take The Poll ~ #ERRÉ #Q
Proportionality #ERRÉ #Q 
• The Poll’s The Thing 
• DIY Electoral Reform Info Sessions
• What WE Can Do for ERRÉ
• #ERRÉ today and Gone Tomorrow (…er, Friday)
• Redistricting Roulette 
• #ERRÉ submission Deadline TONIGHT!
#ERRÉ Submission by Laurel L. Russwurm
• The Promise: “We will make every vote count” #ERRÉ
FVC: Consultations Provide Strong Mandate for Proportional Representation #ERRÉ
PEI picks Proportional Representation
There is only one way to make every vote count #ERRÉ
Canada is Ready 4 Proportional Representation
Sign the Petition e-616
#ProportionalRepresentation Spin Cycle ~ #ERRÉ
• International Women’s Day 2017 ~ #IWD
• An Open Letter to ERRÉ Committee Liberals

and don’t forget to check out the PR4Canada Resources page!

 

#ERRE #Q Meetings & Transcripts

Ahead to Take The Poll ~ #ERRE #Qback to #ERRE #Q CommitteeCanadians Deserve Better -Proportional Representation - on Canadian Flag backgroundThis is the fourteenth in the Whoa!Canada: Proportional Representation Series

The Special Committee on Electoral Reform has been meeting since June 21st, 2016 and we are fortunate to live in a time when such proceedings can be televised to allow citizens to follow along as they happen.  Better yet, these sessions are also available online, making it possible for us to watch as it happens, or later at our leisure.

The First Batch of ERRE Special Committee on Electoral Reform Committee Meetings is over.  You can watch the video or read the transcripts online.

[update: I’ve just discovered where the expert witness submission briefs are posted. They are grouped together with submissions being made by Canadians who will not be appearing.  I’ve added links to the witness briefs below, but I recommend you check out those made by non-witnesses, too.]

MEETING 1

Tuesday, June 21, 2016Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
Election of Chair, Vice Chairs and Administrative BusinessMonsef

Listen on ParVu

MEETING 2

Wednesday, June 29, 2016Minutes
Establishing the ground rules for the Committee
Proposed ERRE Committee Meetings: July 6, 7, 25, 26, 27, 28; August 22, 23, 29, 30, 31; September 1st.

MEETING 3

Wednesday July 6th, 2016 ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Hon. Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P., Minister of Democratic Institutions  • Testimony Transcript
• Isabelle Mondou, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet and Counsel to the Clerk of the Privy Council  • Testimony Transcript
Watch on ParlVu http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/Redirects/ParlVuMeetingPage?MeetingId=9012450&meetingDate=2016-07-06&isAudioOnly=false
Watch on CPAC

CPAC: Post Meeting interview with Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef

MEETING 4

Thursday, July 7, 2016 ~ MinutesEvidence Transcript
• Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer  • Testimony Transcript
• Stéphane Perrault, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Regulatory Affairs  • Testimony Transcript
• Michel Roussel, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Events  • Testimony Transcript • #ERRE #Q Parliament

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

Post Meeting Interview on CPAC: Mayrand Discusses Voting Reform, Possible Referendum

MEETING 5

Thursday, July 7, 2016 ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Chief Electoral Officer, 1990-2007  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 6

Monday, July 25, 2016 ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• R. Kenneth Carty
, Professor Emeritus, The University of British Columbia  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Brian Tanguay
, Professor, Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Nelson Wiseman
, Director, Canadian Studies Program, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 7

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 ~ 9:30am  ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Michael Marsh, Emeritus Professor, Trinity College Dublin (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript
• Michael Gallagher, Professor of Comparative Politics, Trinity College Dublin (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript
~ Submission Brief

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 8

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 ~ 2:00pm ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Patrice Dutil, Professor, Ryerson University  • Testimony Transcript
Peter Russell, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 9

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 ~ 7:00pm ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Tom Rogers, Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript
• Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer (by videoconference) New Zealand Electoral Commission ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 10

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 ~ 9:30am ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
 Henry Milner, Senior Researcher, Chair in Electoral Studies, Université de Montréal ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Alex Himelfarb, Clerk of the Privy Council, 2002-2006  • Testimony Transcript
• André Blais, Professor, Department of Political Science, Université de Montréal  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 11

Expert Witness Dennis Pilon appeared before the ERRE Committee

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 ~ 2pm ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Leslie Seidle, Research Director, Canada’s Changing Federal Community, Institute for Research on Public Policy  • Testimony Transcript
• Larry LeDuc, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto  ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Hugo Cyr, Dean, Faculty of Political Science and Law, Université du Québec à Montréal ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 12

Thursday, July 28, 2016 ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Dennis Pilon, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, York University ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Jonathan Rose, Associate Professor, Department of Policital Studies, Queen’s University  • Testimony Transcript
• Maryantonett Flumian, President, Institute on Governance  • Testimony Transcript • 

Watch on ParlVu 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 13

Monday, August 22, 2016 ~ 2pm ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
 Benoît Pelletier, Full Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa  • Testimony Transcript
• Arend Lijphart, Research Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of California, San Diego (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 14

Monday, August 22, 2016 ~ 6pmMinutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Nathalie Des Rosiers, Dean, Faculty of Law, Civil Law, Ottawa University  • Testimony Transcript
• Christian Dufour, Political scientist, Analyst and Writer ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Harold Jansen, Professor of Political Science, University of Lethbridge  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 15

Tuesday, August 23, 2016 ~ 9:30am ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Barry Cooper, Professor, University of Calgary  • Testimony Transcript
• Nicole Goodman, Director, Centre for e-Democracy, Assistant Professor, Munk School of Global Affairs  • Testimony Transcript
• Emmett Macfarlane, Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo ~ Submission Brief 

Watch on ParlVu • Testimony Transcript • 
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 16

Tuesday, August 23, 2016 ~ 2:00 p.m.~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Matthew P. Harrington, Professor, Faculty of Law, Université de Montréal  • Testimony Transcript
• Thomas S. Axworthy, Public Policy Chair, Massey College, University of Toronto  • Testimony Transcript
• Pippa Norris, Professor of Government Relations & Laureate Fellow, U of Sydney, McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Harvard, Director of Electoral Integrity Project (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 17

Monday, August 29th, 2016 ~ 2:00 p.m. ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Ed Broadbent, Chair and Founder, Broadbent Institute ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Jean-Pierre Charbonneau, Minister for Democratic Reform, Government of Quebec (2002-2003)  • Testimony Transcript
• Yasmin Dawood, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Electoral Law, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 18

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016 ~ 9:30 a.m. ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Jean-Sébastien Dufresne, President, Mouvement Démocratie Nouvelle  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Eric Maskin, Adams University Professor, Department of Economics, Harvard University ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Peter John Loewen, Director, School of Public Policy and Governance and Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 19

Tuesday, August 30, 2016 ~ 2:00pm ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Louis Massicotte, Professor, Department of Political Science, Laval University ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Melanee Thomas, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Calgary (by videoconference)  • Testimony Transcript
 Katelynn Northam, Campaigner-Electoral Reform, Leadnow.ca  • Testimony Transcript • Submission Brief

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 20

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 ~ 9:30am ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Joachim Behnke, Professor, Chair, Political Science, Zeppelin University, Germany • Testimony Transcript • (by videoconference)
• Friedrich Pukelsheim, Professor, Institut für Mathematik, Universität Augsburg, Germany • Testimony Transcript • (by videoconference)
Behnke & Pukelsheim Submission Brief 
• Mary Pitcaithly, Convener (by videoconference: Falkirk, UK)  The Electoral Management Board for Scotland  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Andy O’Neill, Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland   • Testimony Transcript • (by videoconference)
~ The Electoral Commission & The Electoral Management Board for Scotland Submission Brief 

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 21

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 ~ 2:00 pmMinutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Richard Johnston, Professor, Department of Political Science, The University of British Columbia ~ Submission Brief  • Testimony Transcript • 
• Darrell Bricker, CEO, IPSOS Public Affairs • Testimony Transcript • Submission Brief
 Gordon F. Gibson • Testimony Transcript Submission Brief

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 22Craig Scott

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 ~ 6:00 pmMinutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• Jane Hilderman, Executive Director, Samara • Testimony Transcript • Submission Brief
• Dominic Vézina, Strategic advisor, Institut du Nouveau Monde • Testimony Transcript •  Submission Brief 
• Taylor Gunn, President, Civix  • Testimony Transcript • Submission Brief

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC

MEETING 23

Thursday, September 1, 2016 ~9:30 am ~ Minutes ~ Evidence Transcript
• David McLaughlin (deputy minister to the New Brunswick Commission on Legislative Democracy, 2003-2005)  • Testimony Transcript Submission Brief
• Craig Scott, Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University • Testimony TranscriptSubmission Brief
• Graham Fox,  President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Research on Public Policy • Testimony Transcript • 

Watch on ParlVu
Watch on CPAC


Additional Coverage:
CPAC: WATCH: NEW ZEALAND GREEN LEADER ON PR


NOTE: The briefs linked in Scribd below are now also published in PDF form on the ERRE site with the exception of Patrice Dutil (July 26) 

It is also possible to read the Expert’s Briefs on scribd.  Please be aware they are offering a one month free offer so you can read anything on the service for a month.  However if you are not planning on paying for a subscription after that point, you should consider downloading the briefs  you might wish to refer back to at a later date.


back to #ERRE #Q Committee

Ahead to Take The Poll ~ #ERRE #Q

Proportional Representation Series So Far:

• Proportional Representation for Canada
• What’s so bad about First Past The Post
• Democracy Primer
• Working for Democracy
• The Popular Vote
• Why Don’t We Have PR Already?
• Stability
• Why No Referendum?
• Electoral System Roundup
• When Canadians Learn about PR with CGP Grey
• Entitlement
• Proportional Representation vs. Alternative Vote
• #ERRÉ #Q Committee
• #ERRÉ #Q Meetings & Transcripts
• Take The Poll ~ #ERRÉ #Q
Proportionality #ERRÉ #Q 
• The Poll’s The Thing 
• DIY Electoral Reform Info Sessions
• What WE Can Do for ERRÉ
• #ERRÉ today and Gone Tomorrow (…er, Friday)
• Redistricting Roulette 
• #ERRÉ submission Deadline TONIGHT!
#ERRÉ Submission by Laurel L. Russwurm
• The Promise: “We will make every vote count” #ERRÉ
FVC: Consultations Provide Strong Mandate for Proportional Representation #ERRÉ
PEI picks Proportional Representation
There is only one way to make every vote count #ERRÉ
Canada is Ready 4 Proportional Representation
Sign the Petition e-616
#ProportionalRepresentation Spin Cycle ~ #ERRÉ
• International Women’s Day 2017 ~ #IWD
• An Open Letter to ERRÉ Committee Liberals

and don’t forget to check out the PR4Canada Resources page!