Mr. Speaker, the Liberal plan for electoral reform without a referendum has been universally panned in the media. For example, the Toronto Star states that the “government’s approach displays unprecedented arrogance.”
The Star is right for the following reason. If first past the post gives false mandates as the Liberals claim, then surely 39% of the vote under first past the post gives the Liberals a mandate to put options before Canadians, but nothing more.
Canadians themselves must make the final choice, and only a referendum represents a true mandate for any particular change to the present system. Is that not so?