Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[Technical difficulties] of Canada. I ran for election in October 2015. However, I'm not sitting with you because I didn't win.
Still, I took part in about eight public meetings on electoral reform. I met with dozens of Quebecers on this. The message I'd like to share with the committee tonight is that the public is ready for a change. The public understands that the current system is not democratic. People are demanding more democracy in this country.
If I have the opportunity to be invited to testify before your committee—I made a request to the clerk—I will be able to use Legos to do my presentation on reforming the electoral system. You would be able to see what a throw away vote is. After the October election, people told me that they would have voted for me, but they didn't want their Green vote to be lost. People don't vote for who they prefer anymore, but against who they don't want to see elected. That's not a democracy.
I suggest to the committee—and I think Canadians are asking for this as well—that you come to a consensus. Every division could be seen as the same as a jury that hasn't made a decision. So I recommend to Mr. Scarpaleggia, the Chair, that after hearing from all the witnesses and all the stakeholders, he closes the door and doesn't come out until a consensus has been reached.
As a voter, as a taxpayer and as a Canadian, I ask you to give us the gift of democracy. I ask you to shut yourselves in a room to reach a consensus to improve the country's democratic system.
Thank you very much.