Electoral Reform Committee on Sept. 26th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you very much for your time.

I would ask Mr. Michael Denis Dougherty to come to mike two.

Mr. Whitehouse, go ahead, please, for two minutes.

[Samuel Whitehouse, As an Individual]

I'd like to thank you and the Special Committee on Electoral Reform for hosting this meeting today.

I wish I could tell you that I'm pleased to be here this evening to take part in perhaps the most important dialogue Canadians have ever had on Canada's democracy, but I'm not pleased, Mr. Chair. In fact, I'm far from pleased to be here. I'm here today because the Liberal Party of Canada is trying to change Canada's democracy without the consent of the people.

Canadians need to know that the Liberals are planning to change Canada's democracy simply by a Liberal majority vote in the House of Commons. Canadians know that how we vote is one of the most important rights we have in this country. Canada's democracy is one of the most stable and admired democracies in the world, and the Liberals plan to push through unprecedented change and reform to our democracy without the consent of the people.

Voters must have a say. If there's going to be a fundamental change to Canada's democracy, there must be a direct popular mandate. The only way to ensure that every Canadian has a say on change this significant is by way of a national referendum on electoral reform. A national referendum on electoral reform is the only way to ensure that every Canadian has a say, but the Liberals are refusing to hold a referendum.

The simple fact that the Liberals are even considering changing our democracy without a referendum, that simple fact, clearly demonstrates the Liberals' complete disregard for the will of the electorate—the people, Mr. Chair, the people. Our democracy belongs to the people and not the Liberal Party of Canada.

There is already provincial precedent to hold referendums when voters are faced with an option for electoral reform. British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario have all held referendums on electoral reform. These discussions and meetings are simply the Liberals' attempt to validate their illegitimate process and ignore the will of Canadians. This so-called consultation process cannot and will not deliver a direct popular mandate.

Mr. Chair, this is about the value of our vote. There is only one way to consult every Canadian. There needs to be a national referendum on electoral reform.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

Just as a small reminder, though, this is a legislative committee. We're not making any decisions on ultimately a referendum, yes or no.

Yes, Ms. May.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

I would like to reassure you, Mr. Whitehouse, that if you look at this table...and I can see that you are very angry at the Liberal Party, but they are a minority at this table. This is a very interesting committee. I'd urge you to know that we've heard you, but this committee actually includes Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party.

I just wanted to reassure you about that, because perhaps later you can find some Liberals and talk to them.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you, Ms. May.

Mr. Paul Davis Woodard—

[Paul Davis, As an Individual]

Woodard is my middle name, and I never use it. They read it off my ID.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay, it's Mr. Davis. Is that it?

[A voice]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Go ahead, Mr. Dougherty.

[Michael Dougherty, As an Individual]

Thank you, and thanks very much for taking the time to be with us here in the Yukon.

I just wanted to frame the conversation in the larger context to say that electoral reform is only part of the democratic reform that's essential. As an educator, I see before me the children in the late grades at elementary school and early high school who will be the decision-makers in mid-century. The challenges they will be facing will probably be among the most serious challenges that the human race has ever faced in terms of the cascading effects of environmental neglect, rising population, and a whole variety of elements that are going to make mid-century incredibly stressful and challenging.

How do we build the social capital that's necessary to build that flexible, resilient system that's needed? Your work here is one aspect of it, but it should be seen in that larger context of what you're building toward. It has to be the kind of democratic structure that can endure the stresses that are going to be placed upon it mid-century. How do we put the foundation in now that demands of the citizenry an active and engaged population that does indeed build the framework necessary to succeed as a country, as a people, as a world?

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you very much.

Finally, Mr. Davis, please.

[Paul Davis]

Thanks, everybody.

Welcome and thank you to those who came such a long way to attend this meeting.

Thanks, everybody, for putting up with small airline seats to come here.

I'm just coming from a volunteer meeting where I'm signing off on financial statements for Burning Away the Winter Blues, one of our celebrations of our northern culture. I can tell you that we have maybe 300 people in the Yukon who are active in a partisan way in politics. It's exhausting to be part of elections, where you put all sorts of effort in, and first past the post means we don't really seem to get the results we might have wanted as a community.

I'm only going to urge you to please get us out of first past the post. I think proportional representation with a ranked ballot is probably the way to go. How we get there, I'm not sure. But I just want to speak on behalf of all the people who put effort into this to say that the existing system, first past the post, is really not reflecting our wishes.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you to everyone who attended this evening. Thank you to the witnesses. Thank you to those who were here in the audience listening. Thank you to those who came up to the mikes to share your views with us.

We've had a great day in Whitehorse. Personally, I wish we could stay longer, but we continue with our travels tomorrow.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Can I move a motion, Chair? Is that how it's done?

[A voice]

To stay longer?

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Victoria is nice, but it's no Whitehorse, Chair. Victoria's a nice place, but....

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We have reservations and all that. We'd have to pay cancellation fees.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[A voice]

Let's take a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.