moved for leave to introduce Bill C-408, An Act to amend the Referendum Act.
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to put forward this private member's bill.
This private member's bill seeks to amend the Referendum Act.
We rarely use referenda in Canada. One reason a referendum is so difficult to use, which my private member's bill attempts to remedy, is that we can only put forward a referendum, under our current law, for a constitutional question, and it cannot be on the same ballot with a federal election. Of course, it is far more cost-effective to have them run together. This bill would open up some possibilities, as a private member's bill. I think it is long overdue, and I hope that it will achieve the support of all parties in this place, in a non-partisan effort, which is why I was so keen to have a member of another party join me in seconding.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)