FVC commends PEI commissioner for PR recommendation

FVC commends PEI commissioner for PR recommendation - Dec. 18, 2003

December 18, 2003

Norman Carruthers, electoral reform commissioner in Prince Edward Island, today released his recommendations after a one-year public consultation process. Mr. Carruthers recommended that PEI adopt a mixed proportional voting system, similar to New Zealand's. He further recommended that Islanders be given an opportunity to learn more about alternative systems, such as his recommendation, and make a decision by referendum. The commissioner's report and recommendations will now go to Premier Binns and his Cabinet for consideration.

"We are extremely pleased with Mr. Carruthers' report," said Doris Anderson, president of Fair Vote Canada, a national citizens' campaign for voting reform. "We encourage Premier Binns to adopt these recommendations and make PEI the third province committed to a voting reform referendum."

British Columbia is expected to have a referendum in May 2005, following the work of the BC Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. The new Government of Ontario has also pledged to hold a referendum on voting reform prior to the next election. The Quebec government has announced it will introduce legislation for a mixed proportional system next Spring. New Brunswick is also studying electoral reform.

In his report, Mr. Carruthers also called for steps to be taken to increase representation for women, consultation with aboriginal people to consider a designated seat, introduction of fixed date elections and reform of the electoral boundaries process.

Fair Vote Canada was launched in April 2001 to press all levels of government to engage citizens in a process to consider proportional voting systems. The campaign has members and chapters across the country, and has attracted supporters from all points on the political spectrum. The National Advisory Board of Fair Vote Canada includes a diverse range of prominent Canadians, including Pierre Berton, Hugh Segal, Ed Broadbent, Claude Ryan, Karen Kain, Lincoln Alexander, Maude Barlow, Walter Robinson, Tom Kent, Rick Anderson and David Suzuki, as well as current and former MPs from the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP.