Electoral Reform committee  Pippa, do you want to go first?

Electoral Reform committee  My answer would be quite similar. I also put a high value on it among the various principles in the mandate of this committee. The local identification to me is terrifically important for a couple of reasons. First, when we look at the frustration of citizens with our system, muc

Electoral Reform committee  I would recommend, again, to end where you began, which is not over-hyping any of these systems. We know from Pippa Norris's work that the kind of system you have is important and has an impact, but it's not necessarily the predominant factor. There are a host of other issues,

Electoral Reform committee  You go first.

Electoral Reform committee  Yes, I feel exactly the same. When I talked about all the major changes from the secret ballot to an independent election commissioner to independent boundaries commissioners, which are crucial aspects of our system, they were all done through Parliament, and so should this be.

Electoral Reform committee  The democratic agenda is a large one, but it is of particular, direct importance for a committee that will be making recommendations for changes to the electoral system. Should you recommend a more proportional system or a mixed member system, by which the likelihood of majorit

Electoral Reform committee  I guess I would say on the question of minorities that the crucial aspect about democracy and efficacy is really your knowledge as an individual. For particular minorities—and I'm thinking, for example, of recent immigrants to Canada—the education and the knowledge about our syst

Electoral Reform committee  Is there enough time?

Electoral Reform committee  It was about a 200-page report, and in the major recommendations, I think one of the crucial aspects is the role of committees such as your own. One of our specific recommendations, for example, is that the chairs of committee should be paid the same as a cabinet minister. That i

Electoral Reform committee  That was worth a minute, anyway. As well, committee members should be able to join for the whole term, so that committees build up expertise. Part of it is that committees act as a countervail to the power of the executive. I would take a long look at the committee system.

Electoral Reform committee  Of course, there are a variety of techniques on consultation right up into what is called deep engagement. I'm sure your committee staff and so on have a whole host of techniques to assist members as they go back to their ridings or as part of this committee process. One idea I

Electoral Reform committee  The process would be a large one. It was large enough in British Columbia and Ontario. It would have to be organized in every province and region. This would be a very large undertaking. If the time were sufficient and the education process were large—including, for example, tele

Electoral Reform committee  Thank you, Chair. I'll make five points in the presentation and spend a couple of minutes on each of them, though I am happy to provide the speaking notes later to the committee if they want more details. Some of the points have already been made by Pippa Norris, who really is o