It’s déjà vu all over again

The federal government has successfully increased confusion surrounding its campaign promises on electoral reform. The actions of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef virtually guarantee this Liberal promise is going nowhere.

It seems inevitable that the only way to change the way we elect members of Parliament is a national referendum attached to the October 2019 federal election. The referendum is a compromise recommendation from an all-party Commons committee.

As a reward for six months of work and cross-Canada town hall meetings, the committee received a stinging rebuke in the Commons from Minister Monsef. She was upset because the committee didn’t decide the options on the referendum ballot.

Mr. Trudeau now has to make a decision. The government can proceed with legislation, support the committee’s referendum recommendation or delay further, while Canadians respond though an online postcard conversation.

The Liberals were never keen for a referendum while the Conservatives say such an important change demands that Canadians approve or reject electoral reform in a national vote.

The NDP and Greens have long supported proportional representation (PR) through legislation and reluctantly backed the referendum idea because it’s the only viable option left to achieve reform.

The Liberals will break their promise that the 2015 election was the last fought under First-Past-the-Post (FPTP). Mr. Trudeau lost his appetite for change since winning power. It seems electoral reform was more important while sitting on the Opposition benches.

The report by the Commons committee proves that parties will support whatever system got them in power and few politicians care to rise above partisan interests.

There is an eerie sense of déjà vu in play here. What’s happening in Ottawa with electoral reform has already happened on P.E.I. An Island committee derailed reform with a confusing plebiscite ballot that offered five options. P.E.I.’s two major parties sat on the sidelines and the 36 per cent voter turnout was deemed insufficient to bring change forward or accept the eventual winner – Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMP).

Premier Wade MacLauchlan is now offering a referendum attached to the next provincial election in early 2019 – to include MMP and some other option yet to be decided by the legislature.

If Canadians will be confused in 2019 with a referendum attached to the federal election ballot, just think what awaits Islanders – two general elections and two similar referendum questions.

For the record, Mr. Trudeau still officially supports electoral change before the 2019 vote. For the record, Minister Monsef says the government will not pursue changes to the voting system without broad support of Canadians. It’s an impasse.

Maybe electoral reform wasn’t a key issue in the federal campaign and maybe some Canadians don’t think it’s important now. But it’s time politicians are held accountable to election promises. Electoral reform is important to many Canadians who want their voices heard and their votes to count in a truly representative Parliament. It’s what democracy is all about.