CPSA PRESIDENT'S DINNER
May 31, 2017
Time: Cocktails available at 6:00 pm; Dinner from 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm |
Location: Dim Sum King (421 Dundas Street West, Toronto)
Canadian Politics
Session: A11(a) - Roundtable: The Failure of Electoral Reform: Lessons from the 2016 Consultation
Date: Jun 1, 2017 | Time: 08:45am to 10:15am | Location: VIC-304 (Victoria Building)| 
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Chair/Président: André Blais (Université de Montréal)
Participants & Authors/Auteurs:
Richard Johnston (University of British Columbia)Cliff van der Linden (Vox Pop Lab)
Kelly Carmichael (Fair Vote Canada)
Grace Lore (University of British Columbia)
Henry Milner (Université de Montréal)
The purpose of this round table is to evaluate the recent, unprecedented process of consultation on whether and, if so, how, Canada should change its electoral system, a process in which political scientists were deeply involved. The Special Parliamentary committee on Electoral reform (ERRE) heard from 185 expert witnesses in 44 sessions. It also held open public meetings throughout Canada, and received reports from over 150 town meetings organized by MPs, including 14 held by Minister Monsef. There were also over 25 such meetings organized by interest groups and organizations. In total, well over 1000 members of the public addressed these gatherings. On December 1, 2016 ERRE made public a majority report recommending that the Government develop a new electoral system, to be submitted to the Canadian people in a referendum. The minister was not impressed. And on February 1st, the government’s reneging on its commitment was confirmed by the newly installed Democratic Institutions Minister, Karina Gould. The panelists will offer their assessments.