Mr. Speaker, from coast to coast to coast, Canadians are encouraged that the government will finally be supporting the NDP's plan to make our electoral system a fair, inclusive process and a process based on cross-party collaboration.
Just in the past few days, we have received thousands of emails, letters, tweets, and posts. Helen from Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, wrote saying:
This is exactly what Canadians have been hoping for from the Parliament we elected last October....
Jay from Chilliwack said parties will:
...have to collaborate to pick Canada's new voting system, and we will move forward with more trust in the consultation process.
It is not a victory for the political parties. It is a victory for the Canadians who elected us to the House to represent them.
We are still a very long way from having a fair electoral system where every vote counts and every vote is equal, yet today we will take an important first step.
This afternoon, the House will vote to set this historic process in motion, and we will continually work to earn the trust and take guidance from Canadians as we move ahead.