The Liberal MP for Burnaby North-Seymour is calling for some “flexibility” around the prime minister’s decision this week to take electoral reform off the table.
Terry Beech told the NOW he understands many constituents are upset right now.
“We absolutely have to be accountable for the platform that we campaigned on,” he said. “There’s no doubt there will be disappointment around this issue, but (I) also have to say, there needs to be flexibility when public consultations are evaluated, when priorities and circumstances change, or when a government realizes there is no responsible way to deliver on a specific promise despite its best intentions to do so.”
In a mandate letter made public on Feb. 1 and addressed to Canada’s new Minister of Democratic Institutions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes it known that a clear preference or a consensus for a new electoral system has not emerged.
“Without a clear preference or a clear question, a referendum would not be in Canada’s interest. Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate,” he wrote.
One of Trudeau’s major election promises was that the current first-past-the-post system would be scrapped, and that 2015 would be the last federal election under that system.
A special committee on electoral reform was struck last summer to look into the issue further. MPs, including Beech, held town hall meetings and then-Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef travelled across Canada to gather feedback. An online survey about the Canadian political system was also launched.
The committee’s findings, released last December, recommended calling a referendum on some form of proportional representation.
Beech said even though he’s in favour of any democratic electoral system that improves economic, social and environmental outcomes for Canada, there wasn’t a consensus among Canadians or members of Parliament for a specific model.
“Even within proportional representation, for example, there’s a lot of versions of that system, and trying to find a responsible path where we can put forward a change that would be favoured, and have the same level of consensus on a specific system, I think is where the challenges were arising,” he added.
Beech noted he’ll continue to engage with Fair Vote Canada and other concerned citizens.
Meanwhile, NDP leader Tom Mulcair criticized Trudeau for making a promise to “appear progressive” in order to get elected, and then abandoning it.
“I would call that a massive political deception,” he said in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
In a statement, Green party leader Elizabeth May said she’s “deeply shocked.”
“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,” she said.
May added the Liberal platform, the Speech from the Throne and the special committee’s mandate made no mention of a precondition that a majority supporting reform was needed.
Trudeau defended his decision in the House, suggesting there’s a split in opinion.
“As people in this House know, I have long preferred a preferential ballot. The members opposite wanted proportional representation. The Official Opposition wanted a referendum,” he said. “There is no consensus. There is no clear path forward. It would be irresponsible to do something that harms Canada's stability."
