Quebec PR bill requires improvements (Dec. 16, 2004)

December 16, 2004

Fair Vote Canada - News - December 16, 2004

FAIR VOTE CANADA COMMENDS QUEBEC FOR PRODUCING THE FIRST DRAFT BILL FOR PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

DRAFT REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION

Fair Vote Canada commended the Quebec government for becoming the first provincial government to produce a draft bill for a proportional representation voting system.

"This is a significant step," said Fair Vote Canada president Wayne Smith, "but the current draft certainly requires improvement and the timeline for implementation is excessively long."

Smith listed the following concerns with the draft legislation:

** The system proposed by the government is not sufficiently proportional to ensure that voters are fairly represented. The proposal tilts toward the larger parties.

** Systems can be designed to help or impede fair representation for women and minorities. The proposed design does little to help.

** Almost all mixed proportional systems give voters two votes: one for their constituency representative and one for district representation. This proposal unnecessarily limits voter choice.

** Of the five provinces formally considering voting reform, Quebec is the only one not using a referendum process. British Columbia placed the entire reform process in the hands of citizens, through an independent citizens' assembly and referendum process. Ontario will be doing the same.

Fair Vote Canada executive director Larry Gordon noted that Quebec's announcement coincides with PEI premier Pat Binns' announcement on a new electoral reform commission to work toward a referendum. British Columbia voters will vote on a new proportional voting system on May 17, 2005. The Ontario government is expected to announce more details early next year on the Ontario citizens' assembly and referendum.