Reform of the voting system: a series of consultations in Montreal

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Annabelle Blais

Monday, October 2, 2017 14:01

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Monday, October 2, 2017 14:22

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The Movement Democracy New will start in Montreal on 21 October, a series of consultations on the reform of the mode of election to the national Assembly that better reflects the popular vote. But the operation will be carried out without the support of the government, deplores the group.

The liberals had already conducted such an exercise at the beginning of the years 2000, which was concluded by a failure. But the Mouvement Démocratie Nouvelle (MDN) is hoping to take advantage of the context the pre-election to encourage the parties to make commitments on the issue.

The DND, which brings together organizations and citizens hope to stop in 13 cities from different regions of Québec to consult the people to reform the current mode of the plurality vote in one round.

The initiative depends on a campaign of sociofinancement which is being launched today. The objective is to reach the sum of$ 50,000. “We want the tour to be worn by the popular fundraising, explains the president of the DND Jean-Sébastien Dufresne. We want to show that it is the citizens that are behind this desire for change.”

The consultation travelling, however, could visit fewer cities than expected if the objective is only partially achieved. After the metropolis, of stops will be in Quebec city, Gatineau, Rimouski and Saguenay.

All the opposition parties are supporting this project. In particular, they have made an exit last December for claiming a proportional representation in the elections of 2022.

“The problem is that […] the minister [of the reform of democratic institutions Rita de Santis] has clearly said that this was not in the programme of the liberal party of this mandate it,” said Mr. Dufresne.

The QLP has attended some meetings of the MDN, but says it has not received any invitation to the public consultation travelling for the moment.

“The reform of the mode of election is not part of our priorities are the health, education and economic growth for all Quebecers, from all regions, recognises, however, the minister of Santis. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement, for example, by looking at the electoral map, on the weight of the areas compared to the urban centres, etc”.

A promise of Jean Charest

The DND was created in 1999 following the election of 1998, which had renewed the Parti québécois in power, since they had obtained more seats in the Assembly, while the LIBERALS had won the most votes.

“From his first inaugural address, Mr. Charest had proposed a reform of the ballot,” said Benoit Pelletier, who was minister of Reform of democratic institutions.

In 2004, a draft law for the reform had been filed and that a special Commission of deputies and citizens had been created. Public consultations were held in 16 cities and 379 briefs were filed.

“In the early 2000s, it was a topic we talked a lot in quebec society and it was an important commitment of the government, but there has been a reversal of the popular will,” added Mr. Pelletier.

One of the reasons that it has set back the government, according to the former minister is the strong negative reaction of the population in several regions of Quebec.

“I was not expecting it, it’s a bit as if the regions were afraid of losing their weight to the Assembly,” he said. I tried to explain that no, it wouldn’t do.”

In a proportional system mixed compensatory and regional, as proposed by the government, there would have been two types of mps, those elected by the voters of their constituency and other elected according to the percentage of support for a popular party. The number of districts would be increased from 125 to 77.

“Even inside the national Assembly, I would also face more resistance from several members, including some of my party,” says Mr. Pelletier. It became untenable. I came to the conclusion that it was necessary to put an end to this operation.”

Electoral issue

This episode does not deter the president of the DND.

At the end of the consultations, the consolidation will publish a report in January. “From that, we want that the parties are taking note of the report and to make commitments to clear,” he said. If there is a change of government, they will not be able to scroll.”

“There is also the experience of the federal with Justin Trudeau where people have become very cynical,” added Mr. Dufresne. The prime minister of Canada had promised to reform the election during the election campaign, but has since abandoned the project.