CPAC News: Elizabeth May Responds to Government’s Abandonment of Electoral Reform Promise

“I feel more deeply shocked today by this government’s actions than any other in my adult life. Thousands upon thousands of Canadians put faith in this government’s – and in this prime minister’s – direct promise that 2015 would be the last election under First Past the Post. This betrayal is one felt by all voters, volunteers and activists who worked diligently to make this country’s democracy fairer and stronger through meaningful electoral reform.

Video of her response can be found on CPAC.ca here

“The Liberal platform, the Speech from the Throne, and the Special Committee on Electoral Reform’s mandate made no mention of a precondition that a majority supporting reform must be found. Despite spending millions of dollars on the issue, the government never actually asked Canadians the direct question. Clearly, the answer from the ERRE committee was not the one the Prime Minister wanted to hear,” Ms. May said.

“In our current global context, it is now deeply dangerous to play cynical politics. Cynicism does not need more cynicism. Cynicism feeds itself. It is work to feed hope. It is work to feed faith. The Prime Minister today not only declined to improve our electoral system, he has fuelled cynicism.

“We call on the Prime minister to reverse this terrible decision, and live up to his promise to Canadians,” Ms. May concluded.

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