Casey to be applauded

The P.E.I. Coalition for Proportional Representation thanks and congratulates Charlottetown MP Sean Casey for supporting the motion to adopt the House of Commons Electoral Reform (ERRE) Special Committee Report, one of only two Liberals to do so.

The ERRE Special Committee was composed of members from all parties and recommended a national referendum be held on proportional representation. The Charlottetown Riding MP gave this reason for his vote: that in the P.E.I. Plebiscite on Electoral Reform last November, in his constituency, a large majority (2/3) of voters indicated preference for proportional representation. For Sean Casey, therefore, the choice was clear: he was representing his constituents.

Three out of our four island MPs represent districts where the majority of their constituents who voted in the P.E.I. plebiscite supported proportional representation, yet Casey was the only one to stand up and vote in favour of adopting the ERRE Special Committee Report. He should be applauded for this.

It should also be noted that P.E.I. was not the only province to express a desire for change. In every community the ERRE Committee visited, they heard overwhelmingly that people wanted change, and for most presenters that change included some form of proportional representation.

We, therefore, challenge not only our island MPs but those across Canada to better reflect the will of their constituents and to stand up for what they know is right and just.

It is time they were on the right side of democracy.

All the other Liberals who voted against the ERRE motion yesterday should be reminded that they voted to ignore a key promise on which they won their seats: no more elections under First Past the Post. Voters across Canada will remember this in 2019.

Florence Larkin, P.E.I. Coalition for Proportional Representation