Maryam Monsef

[Democratic Reform, May 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, if working with other parties was not important to us, we would not have demonstrated the leadership that we did when we ensured that the two unrecognized parties in the House, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party, would be included in this important conversation.

I am looking forward to my meetings with all my critics, and I hope that this is an issue on which we can work together and ensure that Canada displays and continues to display the leadership it needs to on this agenda of democratic reform.

[Democratic Reform, May 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I have been seeking the support of the opposition since I began my mandate. We need to do this work together.

However, if the members opposite have already made up their minds and are not coming to the table with progressive and constructive options, then they cannot criticize us for not doing the work that we promised we would do to the Canadians who elected.

[Democratic Reform, May 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, democratic reform requires leadership, leadership to engage and to consult Canadians, but also leadership to act and do the right thing.

When this right was extended to women and to indigenous persons, without restrictions, this House did so by demonstrating true leadership.

Let us do that again. Let us work together to ensure that the voices of those who do not traditionally get an opportunity to be included in this process are included this time.

[Democratic Reform, May 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, democracy is more than just about voting. It is about working together to ensure that every voice and every perspective is engaged and included in governance.

In the past, the Progressive Conservative Party extended the right to vote to women and indigenous persons. The party did not hold a referendum. It came to Parliament and collectively worked together to do the right thing.

Let us do the right thing. Let us work together and modernize our electoral system.

[Democratic Reform, May 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned on numerous occasions over the past week in this House, it is not just up to the committee to do this work. It is up to all of us in this House to do this work.

My parliamentary secretary and I will be announcing further methods of outreach in the days and weeks to come. However, if there is no collective will by all members of this House, we will not do this process the justice it deserves. Let us work together to serve the best interests of Canadians and not our political parties.

[Democratic Reform, May 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by acknowledging what a great honour it is to be in this House, today especially.

I recognize that electoral reform, democratic reform overall, will not be easy. It has never been easy. It requires the collective will of every single member of this House to come to the table and work together to ensure that the voices of those in their communities, who are often unheard and ignored, are included in this conversation.

My challenge to the member opposite is to come to the table with constructive and effective conversations that can allow us to meet our mutual goal.

[Democratic Reform, May 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite would like to put all his consultation eggs in the referendum basket. I do not agree with this approach.

Canadians deserve a more inclusive approach, designed to meet the needs and the opportunities of the 21st century.

The member opposite, and all members in this House, need to accept responsibility, to ensure that the voices of those Canadians who are not currently and traditionally engaged in this process are heard and are reflected in the final outcome.

[Democratic Reform, May 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the compliment about my tone. Indeed, that is the positive tone that Canadians voted for.

In the referenda that the member opposite cited, nearly half of the population did not vote. Is that okay? Is that acceptable? Or, can we use the tools available to us in the 21st century to ensure that those who have barriers that need to be overcome are addressed and heard in this important conversation?

[Democratic Reform, May 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to see such enthusiasm for the renewal of our democratic institutions. It is time to put the interests of Canadians ahead of our partisan interests. It is time to work together to ensure that our electoral system meets the—

[Democratic Reform, May 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I do not share the cynicism of the member opposite.

We need to work together. We need to put parties' interests aside and serve the best interests of Canadians. Every single member of this House now has an extraordinary responsibility. That is, to reach out in their communities to those—