Letter To The Minister Of Democratic Institutions

September 14, 2016

Hon. Maryam Monsef Minister of Democratic Institutions House of Commons Ottawa, Ont. K1A0A6

Dear Minister, As members of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform, we would like to recognize your important work towards our shared goal of renewing Canadian democracy. Our committee is at a turning point, where we are moving away from the corridors of Parliament and into communities across Canada. Over the next few months, Canadians will be turning their attention in growing numbers to the work of our committee. At this juncture, our work will turn from the abstract to the concrete. Canadians will want to know how the various proposals for electoral reform would work and what they would look like in practice. We are writing to propose that your department work with the members of the special committee to select electoral experts who would create modelling of the electoral reform systems under consideration for Canada. Specifically, we would like to have modelling done for mixed-member proportional, single transferable vote, and the rural-urban proportional system proposed by former Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley. Some basic modelling of this nature is essential to any concrete discussion of proposals for a made-inCanada voting system – whether for the committee’s own deliberations, or for the public’s consideration.

Canadians should be able to weigh these proposals as we continue the work of our committee and tour around the country. We propose that sample electoral maps, ballots, and other concrete aids be drafted to accompany each model as well. As this work is beyond the capacity of the committee’s staff and budget, we are proposing that funding for this modelling be drawn from your department’s budget, which received $10.7 million in Budget 2016 for raising awareness about electoral reform. We would be pleased to discuss this proposal at your earliest convenience. Cordially,

Nathan Cullen MP Skeena—Bulkley Valley

Scott Reid MP Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston

Elizabeth May MP Saanich—Gulf Islands