Fair Vote Canada
NEWSLETTER
Oct. 7, 2002
CONTENTS:
1) Voting Reform Gaining Media Attention
2) Fair Vote Ontario Campaign Launch
3) Law Commission of Canada to Begin Public Consultations
4) B.C. Begins Work on Citizens' Assembly
5) Quebec Begins Public Hearings on Democratic Reform
6) Chapter Updates
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1) Voting Reform Gaining Media Attention
The issue of democratic reform, and proportional representation in
particular, is receiving increasing amounts of media attention. And
Fair Vote Canada's push for a referendum on the voting system has
received several mentions recently.
Southam is currently running a 19-part series of articles on
democratic reform. One article on voting reform is upcoming. You
can follow the series online at
Ed Broadbent and Hugh Segal, both members of FVC's advisory
board, co-authored an article on proportional representation which
ran in the Globe and Mail on Oct. 1. William Johnson's column in
the Globe on Sept. 19 called on Prime Minister Chretien to honour
his 1984 promise to implement proportional representation. FVC
representatives were recently radio interviewed in Calgary and
Regina.
2) Fair Vote Ontario Campaign Launch
Fair Vote Ontario will launch its campaign to reform the province's
voting system at a press conference at Queen's Park in Toronto on
Oct. 16.
The multi-partisan campaign to change the voting system in
Ontario will be a partnership consisting of the Ontario chapters of
Fair Vote Canada and other Fair Vote Canada members, and
various organizations (unions, NGOs, civic groups, etc.) that seek
to change the voting system in Ontario.
The campaign's co-chairs are Wayne Smith and Brian Gibb.
3) Law Commission of Canada to Begin Public Consultations
On October 22, 2002, the Law Commission of Canada will release
Renewing Democracy: Debating Electoral Reform in Canada. The
purpose of this Discussion Paper is to reflect on various aspects of
the electoral reform debate, asking Canadians fundamental
questions about the current voting system: Is the current voting
system appropriate or does it require changes? What values
should be reflected in our voting system? Does the current system
adequately reflect these choices?
Following the release of this report, the Law Commission will enter
into a period of consultation with Canadians, inviting their
comments and feedback on this important issue. Renewing
Democracy will be available on the Commission's web site
(www.lcc.gc.ca) on October 22. For those interested in receiving a
hard copy of the report, please send your name and mailing
address by e-mail to electoral-reform@lcc.gc.ca.
Over the next several months the Law Commission will hold a
series of public consultations on electoral reform in Canada:
* On Saturday, October 26, 2002, the Law Commission is
presenting on Renewing Democracy at the Association of
Canadian Studies Conference, "Constitution and Democracy: Ten
Years After the Charlottetown Accord." The conference is on
October 25-26 at Hotel Gouverneur, 1415 St-Hubert Street in
Montreal. Those interested in registering for this conference should
consult the Association of Canadian Studies web site at www.acs-
aec.ca.
* On Tuesday, November 12, 2002, the Law Commission will hold a
public consultation in Toronto in the Auditorium of the Metro-
Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
* On Tuesday, November 19, 2002, the Law Commission, in
partnership with the Canadian Study of Parliament Group, will hold
a public consultation in Ottawa at the Government Conference
Centre, 2 Rideau Street, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
* On Thursday, November 21, 2002, the Law Commission will hold
a public consultation in Vancouver in the Alice MacKay room at the
Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street, from 7:00 to
9:00 p.m.
The Law Commission welcomes your comments on the discussion
points in Renewing Democracy, as well as any other feedback you
may have. The Law Commission will draw from the feedback it
receives from Canadians to produce recommendations for
Parliament. The Law Commission can be reached in the following
ways:
Law Commission of Canada
1100 - 473 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0H8
Phone: (613) 946-8980
Fax: (613) 946-8988
E-mail: electoral-reform@lcc.gc.ca
Additional consultations are being planned for other regions of the
country. Details about these events will be posted on the Law
Commission's web site (www.lcc.gc.ca) as the information
becomes available.
4) B.C. Begins Work on Citizens' Assembly
The government of British Columbia appointed Gordon Gibson to
develop recommendations on how to establish a citizens'
assembly on electoral reform.
The assembly will study and make recommendations on alternative
ways to elect British Columbia MLAs. Gibson must table
recommendations by December 15. The process he recommends
must ensure the citizens' assembly can report to the attorney
general in time to allow a referendum question to accompany the
May 2005 general election.
Gibson met with the executive of the Vancouver chapter of Fair
Vote Canada and the board of Fair Voting BC last week.
5) Quebec Begins Public Hearings on Democratic Reform
A nine-member committee of the Estates General on Reform of
Democratic Institutions will begin public hearings in mid October on
the government's discussion paper entitled Citizen Empowerment.
The paper outlines a wide-ranging series of reforms, including
reform of the voting system.
The public hearings will be followed by a citizens' assembly in
February 2003. For info see
http://www.pouvoircitoyen.com/index_en.html.
6) Chapter Updates Following are the updates and contact
information for Fair Vote Canada local chapters. Further information
is available on the Chapters page of the FVC website.
-- Toronto -- Wayne Smith, toronto@fairvotecanada.org or 416-407- 7009.
* The Annual General Meeting of the Fair Vote Canada Toronto
Chapter was held on Tuesday, September 24. The following
members were acclaimed to the new Executive Committee: June
Macdonald (Chair), Bruce Budd, Gregg Hill, Linda Sheppard, and
Wayne Smith. The new Executive will meet soon to appoint officers
and set the time and place of the next Chapter meeting.
* The Chapter had an information table at the Ontario Liberal Party
policy convention in Toronto, October 4-6. The Chapter also had
an information table at the Rotary Fair in Centennial Park the same
weekend.
* Larry Gordon and Dennis Pilon will be participating in a debate on
voting reform for the Toronto Debating Society at the meeting of the
Churchill Society, (www.ChurchillSociety.org), at the Swansea
Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8.
Admission is free.
* The Chapter is preparing a presentation to the Women of Halton
Action Movement at the Oakville Library, 1-4 p.m. on Saturday,
November 2.
* Wayne Smith will be speaking to the Humanist Association of
Toronto at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2, in the OISE
auditorium.
-- National Capital Region -- Contact info@fairvotecanada.org.
-- Peterborough and Area Raphael Thierrin,
raphael@infoshaper.com or (705) 749-9890. In Port Hope-Cobourg
area contact Wilf Day, dayphope@on.aibn.com or (905) 885-5456.
-- Greater Vancouver -- Arn Keeling, vancouver@fairvotecanada.org
or (604) 874-9046.
* The Greater Vancouver chapter will participate in three upcoming
events: a conference on electoral reform November 2 hosted by the
UBC Political Science Students Assocation; present briefs to the
Electoral Boundaries Commission in New Westminster and
Vancouver; and participate in the Law Commission of Canada
hearings in November. Finally, we hope to plan a social event for
members during the fall to promote involvement by members in the
campaign.
-- Calgary -- Matt Emmett, fvc-calgary@emmett.ca.
* The Calgary chatper's founding General Meeting will be held on
Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the McDougall Centre. Please
contact Bill Longstaff (longstaf@telus.net) if you would like to
attend.
-- Edmonton -- Doug Bailie, doug.bailie@fairvotecanada.org.
* The Edmonton chapter will host a public meeting on Nov. 5
featuring Mark Lisac of the Edmonton Journal speaking on the
topic "Why Alberta Must Lead Reform of Canada's Voting System."
The meeting will take place in Room 10-4 of the Tory Building on
the University of Alberta campus at 7:30 p.m.
-- Victoria -- Bruce Hallsor, Hallsor@creaseharman.com.
-- Manitoba -- Chris Billows, chris.billows@fairvotecanada.org, 204-
488-4091.
--Saskatoon -- Jason Hanson, komrade@shaw.ca.
If you are interested in helping start a local chapter in your area,
please contact info@fairvotecanada.org or phone 416-410-4034.
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FVC memberships are payable by cheque, VISA or Mastercard.
Membership forms are available on the "Join Fair Vote" page of our
website: http://www.fairvotecanada.org/eng/join/enter.html
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Fair Vote Canada
26 Maryland Blvd.
Toronto, ON
M4C 5C9
Phone: 416-410-4034
FAX: 416-686-4929
[ This Message was edited by: admin on 2002-10-08 12:11 ]