Letter to Liberal MPs who voted against Craig Scott's motion on Proportional Representation

January 6, 2015

Dear Liberal MP (who voted against),

We were pleased with the NDP motion in favour of Proportional Representation (PR), debated on December 3 2014, introduced by Craig Scott. We were delighted to see that 16 Liberal MPs voted for he motion, and several spoke in favour of it. A free vote is a good thing!

However, we must tell you that we are disappointed that you voted against the motion. No Liberal MP, or Conservative, for that matter, raised a good objection.  Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) is the system we favour, but there is flexixibility within it.  Party lists can give the voter the option to choose, reject or re-order names on the list. There is no necessity for a "party boss" approach.

Of course there has to be more consultation.  But we remind members that there has been consultation for years, since the Law Commission of Canada started its work more than 10 years ago.

True, several provinces have rejected PR in referenda, but this is hardly a reason to reject it now. Currently there is a Conservative majority government with less than 40% of the popular vote, and which governs as if it had 90%. The BC referenda that rejected electoral change was not for MMP. Recent experience in many European countries shows good results from MMP. More women are elected, also minorities, turn out improves, and more people feel satisfied with our democratic institutions. Political alienation is rampant now, especially among young people. Making every vote count equally would do much to counter this alienation.

We ask you to keep an open mind and give a serious look at PR, and MMP in particular.

Yours sincerely,

Canadian Electoral Alliance
electoralalliance.ca