I sent an email to my MP regarding my disappointment that electoral reform is off the table. I thought you'd all like to see the response.

My email

Dear Mr Spengemann,

I've addressed this letter to you since you are the MP for my riding, however I've CC'd other concerned parties.

Although it is technically democratic, first-past-the-post is the weakest form of democracy around. Mr. Trudeau promised electoral reform during the campaign. For me, this was one of the most compelling reasons to vote for the Liberal party in 2015.

I'm extremely disappointed to read about Mr. Trudeau backing out of this promise in his letter to Mrs. Katrina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions.

I'm sending this e-mail to let you know that electoral reform was a large motivator for my vote in the last election. The reason was not simply to get rid of a government I did not like, but mainly it is because proportional representation is a stronger, fairer form of democracy.

I generally prefer Liberal policies to Conservative ones, however, nobody should be allowed to hold a majority government when they only received a minority of the votes.

Please try to persuade Mr. Trudeau and the rest of Parliament that we do need electoral reform. Think about the future. The Liberal Party won't be in power forever. With the alt-right movement taking the rest of the world by storm, we need to protect against the possibility of future dangerous leaders being given power with only small a percentage of the popular vote.

Thank you,
[weenaak]
voter in Mississauga-Lakeshore

Response

Dear [weenaak],

The Government announced that we will not proceed with the issue of electoral reform. I know this will disappoint many residents in the riding and in particular some who may have cast their ballot with a focus on this issue.

Over the last year, Parliament worked very hard to find a way forward. We engaged in an unprecedented dialogue with Canadians through town halls, an on-line survey, and a House of Commons Committee that travelled extensively. I held a consultation with the other Mississauga MPs at the Living Arts Centre and had numerous meetings with engaged and passionate residents. I would like to thank all who participated and I know you will stay engaged and remained committed to dialogue on the state of our democracy and other issues.

For advocates of particular types of voting reform, and in particular the Mixed-Member-Proportional system, I understand your disappointment and, as an elected representative, I recognize that our government will not be fulfilling a commitment made to you in the last election. It was not a campaign pledge abandoned without effort to achieve Parliamentary consensus, nor is it a move we are making in isolation or taking lightly.

The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform made recommendations on how to proceed. Proportional representation was prescribed as the general way forward, but there was no exact system or format on which consensus was reached. Equally, the call for a referendum created additional complexities. The idea of a potentially divisive and necessarily time consuming referendum would have challenged an incredibly vital, complex and crowded legislative agenda. Our government had to prioritize issues, and this is the decision that was reached. I respect that the elected opposition of the House have defined and principled, but also different, positions on the question of electoral reform. It is not clear that a compromise was possible, nor was there a quick way to proceed. In addition, while we heard a wide range of opinions from Canadians, there is no clear public consensus on an alternative voting system for Canada.

Governments must be accountable for the platforms that they run. But, it is essential that as circumstances change, opposition is clarified, policy is examined, public consultations report back, and new priorities emerge, governments must also be flexible. I would argue good government and a healthy democratic process must always be prepared for the possibility that priorities including campaign promises are subject to re-evaluation. This is a critical component of parliamentary democracy. We will be held accountable by our voters and the opposition, now and ultimately at election time. This is our system.

As stated at the start of this letter I recognize and value the principled and passionately-held views of Mississauga-Lakeshore residents on this issue. I recognize that there is more you wish to say on this topic, and that you might have more questions for me. As always, I look forward to engaging in conversation.

Respectfully yours,

Sven Spengemann

Member of Parliament
Mississauga-Lakeshore