Photo by Julie Picken-Cooper.
The Council of Canadians London chapter protested yesterday afternoon in support of action on the promise of electoral reform.
Chapter activist Julie Picken-Cooper says, “This was Trudeau’s promise during his campaign that Canada would embrace Electoral Reform…SHAME that we have to continue protesting as he went back on his promise.”
The outreach for yesterday’s protest highlighted, “Please join us at Richmond and Oxford from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to let passersby know that we want Trudeau to keep his promise on electoral reform. Signs – we don’t have enough, about seven. Please make one, or more… we’ll bring a heavy duty stapler if you bring the handle and cardboard sign.”
We are now in the critical weeks before a vote in the House on the recommendations made by the Special Committee on Electoral Reform.
On December 1, 2016, the committee presented its report to the House. It recommended, “that the government should, as it develops a new electoral system … minimize the level of distortion between the popular will of the electorate and the resultant seat allocations in Parliament.”
But on February 1, despite his October 2015 election promise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ruled out electoral reform.
Next month is the deadline for the federal government to introduce legislation to implement electoral reform in time for the October 2019 federal election.
Council of Canadians chapters across the country are amplifying their efforts at this time to push for electoral reform.
Be sure to contact your Member of Parliament to tell them you support electoral reform and want to see legislation on it moving forward.