Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind all members of this House that no changes or reforms have yet been presented to this House. Yesterday, we announced the first step towards hearing from Canadians about how to bring their democracy into the 21st century. We have begun the first

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, we took the leadership to ensure that non-recognized parties would be at the table. Under our proposal, members of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party would be able to participate in developing the witness lists, question witnesses, travel with the committee for

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's desire to hear from Canadians, but I have yet to hear from him or his colleagues on how a referendum could help us hear from those who do not traditionally engage in the democratic process, like young people, women, indigenous persons,

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure that the tools we use to hear from Canadians are in line with the 21st century's needs and the possibilities to make sure that all Canadians across this great nation are included in this important conversation.

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, while the premise of the argument that my honourable colleague brings forward is false, I will go on to bring this forward. Yesterday, the first day that we brought forward the conversation on electoral reform, the hashtag, #electoral reform, on Twitter alone, garn

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, I am having trouble hearing myself, so while we are having a conversation about respect for democratic institutions, let us have a conversation about respect and decorum in this place.

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, it is a great day for Canadian democracy. It is a bad day for parties and politics that aim to divide Canadians and pit neighbour against neighbour. Our approach will be a principled approach. Our approach will be an inclusive approach. Our approach will be one base

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, while I recognize that it may be comforting for some to stay in the past, in the 21st century there are many other tools and ways to engage Canadians in important conversations, like one about democratic institutions. We are confident that the individuals around the

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, it is a good day for Canadian democracy. Today we delivered on our commitment to establish an all-party parliamentary committee to study and bring forward recommendations to bring our electoral system into the 21st century. We have taken a unique approach and we hav

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, it is a great day for Canadian democracy. We committed to establishing a committee that would ensure there would be 338 town halls conducted across our great nation. The onus is upon us all, as members of the House, to ensure that the voices of those who do not curre

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, it is out of a great deal of respect for the people who put us here and for these democratic institutions that we have committed to reforming the existing system and to modernize it by bringing it into the 21st century. It is out of a great deal of respect that we h

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, I come to this place with a great deal of humility and appreciation for these democratic institutions that so many across this globe would give anything to have. We have committed to consulting with Canadians. Canadians will have the first say and the final say. I w

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's efforts. We take note of his private member's bill and will study it on its merits when it is debated in the House. Our government supports the idea of more women and people of various genders participating in the political debate in t

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind all members of the House that my door is always open. We will deliver on our commitment to modernize our electoral system. We will deliver on that promise just as the Prime Minister delivered on our promise to reinstate the long-form census and

Democratic Reform  Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous government, we intend to use evidence and a complete consultation process with Canadians across this great nation so that when we propose changes in this House, we bring our democratic institutions—