Electoral reform committee set to hear from U of T Political Scientists

July 20, 2016

MPs tasked with examining Canada’s electoral process are set to return to Parliament Hill on Monday next for what looks like a master class in counting ballots. According to the Ottawa Citizen, a draft agenda posted online shows that Monday afternoon will be taken up with a two-and-a-half-hour panel session featuring commentary from University of Toronto associate political science Professor Nelson Wiseman, Wilfred Laurier professor Brian Tanguay and University of British Columbia professor emeritus Ken Carty. On Tuesday, the committee will hear from University of Toronto political science Professor emeritus Peter Russell, Ryerson University Professor Patrice Duti followed by a video chat with Australian electoral commissioner Tom Rogers and New Zealand’s chief electoral officer, Robert Peden. The full article is available here.

Following up on this, all three political science professors present at Mondays panel session, opposed the option of a national referendum on electoral reform. Though all three expressed different views on which electoral system is the best for Canada, they were in complete agreement on the politically charged question of whether a referendum on electoral reform should be held, expressing a consensus against a national plebiscite. The latest from iPOLITICS is available here.