PROTESTS: Trudeau to abandon electoral reform

[Oscar]

Montreal chapter to protest Trudeau's decision to abandon electoral reform

[ http://canadians.org/blog/montreal-chap ... ral-reform ]

February 1, 2017 - 9:03 pm

The Council of Canadians Montreal chapter will be joining a protest against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to abandon his promise of electoral reform.

The protest will take place outside Trudeau's constituency office -- at 1100 Boulevard Crémazie Est in Montreal -- on Wednesday February 2 at 6 pm.

Outreach for the protest says, "Justin Trudeau officially abandoned the reform of our voting system. He has just spit in the face of the hundreds of thousands of Quebeckers who want a better democracy. We will not let him get away with it so easily. It is time to mobilize. Citizens are holding a demonstration in front of the Prime Minister's office in Montreal on Thursday evening. Participate in large numbers!"

The protest is also being supported by the Montreal Action Team of Fair Vote Canada.

During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic. Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise.

Earlier today, Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow tweeted, "Trudeau government abandons promise on electoral reform. Cynicism among the young over politics already so deep. We didn't need this."

We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

We believe it is wrong that the current electoral system means that the Liberals with only 39.47 per cent of the popular vote hold 54.48 per cent of the seats (basically meaning 100 per cent of the power) in the House of Commons.

#BrokenPromises

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Saint John chapter tells Trudeau its disappointed about broken promise on electoral reform

[ http://canadians.org/blog/saint-john-ch ... ral-reform ]

February 3, 2017 - 8:00 am

Council of Canadians Saint John chapter activist Lynaya Astephen has written Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to express her disappointment with his broken promise on electoral reform.

Astephen writes, "I am writing today to tell you that I am deeply disappointed in your government's decision to break your promise on electoral reform. Over the last year you heard from tens of thousands of Canadians as well as many experts who told you that proportional representation is the best way forward."

She highlights, "Your failure to keep this commitment is a betrayal to the many voters who were counting on you to fix our broken voting system. But I believe there is still time - and that's why I am calling on you to work with the opposition parties and civil society to find a way to make electoral reform happen."

Saint John Liberal MP Wayne Long responds, "Our view has always been clear: Major reforms to the electoral system, changes of this magnitude, should only be made if they have the broad support of Canadians. I respect you and all those who have come forward to participate in these discussions. It has informed our decisions. While we heard a wide range of opinions from Canadians, there is no clear consensus on an alternative voting system for Canada and feel that a referendum without a clear question on the alternatives is not in the best interest of the country."

During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic. Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise.

Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow has tweeted, "Trudeau government abandons promise on electoral reform. Cynicism among the young over politics already so deep. We didn't need this."

We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

We believe it is wrong that the current electoral system means that the Liberals with only 39.47 per cent of the popular vote hold 54.48 per cent of the seats (basically meaning 100 per cent of the power) in the House of Commons.

#BrokenPromises

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Montreal chapter protests for proportional representation outside Trudeau's constituency office

[ http://canadians.org/blog/montreal-chap ... ncy-office ]

February 4, 2017

The Council of Canadians Montreal chapter protested on Wednesday afternoon against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to abandon his promise of electoral reform announced that same day.

Chapter activist Abdul Pirani tells us, "We had close to 65-70 persons, mostly young people. Not bad for the first manifestation called at the last minute after Trudeau announced in the parliament that the reform will not be possible before the next election in 2019. This is the beginning of the protest with many, many more to come."

The protest took place in -15 Celsius weather outside Trudeau's constituency office at 1100 Boulevard Crémazie Est in Montreal.

During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic. Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise.

We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

We believe it is wrong that the current electoral system means that the Liberals with only 39.47 per cent of the popular vote hold 54.48 per cent of the seats (basically meaning 100 per cent of the power) in the House of Commons.

#BrokenPromises

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Ottawa & Montreal chapters protest on Parliament Hill for proportional representation

[ http://canadians.org/blog/ottawa-montre ... esentation ]

February 5, 2017 - 4:19 pm

( Photo by Phil Soubliere )

The Council of Canadians Ottawa and Montreal chapters were on Parliament Hill today to protest for proportional representation.

Our ally Fair Vote Canada has noted, "During national consultations on electoral reform, 80 per cent of citizens and 88 per cent of experts expressed a very clear preference for proportional representation. The truth, confirmed by all parties in the Electoral Reform Committee, is that there was no support for the winner-take-all alternative vote system personally favoured by Justin Trudeau. While the country was grieving a tragic event in Quebec, the disappointed Prime Minister quietly sent out his the newly appointed Minister to present alternative facts to justify the broken promise."

Fair Vote Canada highlights, "In truth, Trudeau has made a calculated decision to keep an unfair system that provided him with 100 per cent of the power with only 39 per cent of the popular vote."

The Montreal chapter was also at a protest at Trudeau's constituency office the evening of February 2, the day he announced that decision.

Upcoming there will be rallies in Guelph on February 6, in Antigonish, Kingston, Montreal, Nelson, Orillia, Ottawa, Toronto, St. John's and Victoria on February 11, and in Vancouver on February 26.

A cross-country day of action is also being planned for April 20.

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Nelson chapter to rally for electoral reform, February 11

[ http://canadians.org/blog/nelson-chapte ... ebruary-11 ]

February 8, 2017 - 5:54 am

The Council of Canadians Nelson chapter will be rallying for electoral reform this coming Saturday.

The Nelson Daily Star reports, "Nelson is going to be part of the push against the Liberal government plan to retain the current electoral system when supporters march on National Day of Action on Electoral Reform Saturday, February 11. The public is asked to join the Council of Canadians and FairVoteCanada for a rally at noon at the amenity area on 400 block Baker Street in downtown Nelson. FairVoteKootenay leader Ann Remnant says Canadians should write an email, send a letter or phone Justin Trudeau. Or attend the rally Saturday at noon in Nelson."

During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic.

Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise.

We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

We believe it is wrong that the current electoral system means that the Liberals with only 39.47 per cent of the popular vote hold 54.48 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons and basically 100 per cent of political decision-making power.

Rallies are also scheduled to take place in Antigonish, Kingston, Montreal, Orillia, Ottawa, Toronto, St. John's and Victoria on February 11, and in Vancouver on February 26. Our Northumberland chapter will be joining with the local Fair Vote Canada chapter to protest in front of Liberal MP Kim Rudd's constituency office in Cobourg on February 11. A cross-country day of action is also being planned for April 20.

The full list of demonstrations taking place on February 11 can be found here:
[ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c9A ... pXVF8/edit ]

Following Trudeau's announcement on February 1 that he was abandoning his promise on electoral reform, the Montreal chapter rallied for proportional representation outside his constituency office (February 2), the Saint John chapter has written the prime minister and the local Liberal Member of Parliament to express their disappointment (February 3), the Montreal and Ottawa chapters protested on Parliament Hill (February 5), and the London chapter has been attending rush hour rallies in front of the constituency offices of two local Liberal MPs this week.

More than 77,000 people have also signed this House of Commons e-petition calling on the Government of Canada to "immediately, declare its on-going commitment to ensuring the 2015 election be the last Federal Canadian election under the First Past The Post system." The petition is open for signature until March 2, 2017, at 11:20 am EDT. [ https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petitio ... tion=e-616 ]

Since the last federal election, 28 chapters have called for proportional representation by attending consultations with the federal minister of democratic institutions, attending MP town halls, meeting with their MPs, organizing their own public events, handing out leaflets, publishing articles in local newspapers, and holding workshops.

#electoralreform

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Fredericton chapter tweets for #ElectoralReform

[ http://canadians.org/blog/fredericton-c ... oralreform ]

February 8, 2017 - 1:54 pm

The Council of Canadians Fredericton chapter is taking part in an "ER Tweetstorm and call-blitz" today. They are using both Twitter and Facebook to push the government on its promise of electoral reform.

The Facebook promotion for this broad-based action highlights, "We will be conducting a tweetstorm and call-blitz to [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau, [Minister of Democratic Institutions Karina] Gould and Liberal MPs to build momentum for Saturday. Tweet 'em, email 'em, call 'em, tell 'em what you think! Always use #cdnpoli or #ReformeElectorale, then pick one or two from: #SeeYouSaturday, #NotFineWith39, #ElectoralReform, #PerformOnReform, #ChaqueVoteCompte, #PromesseBrisée"

As noted above, this Electoral Reform Tweetstorm is intended to build momentum for the protests that are now scheduled to take place in fifteen communities on Saturday February 11. A list of those protests can be found here. [ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c9A ... pXVF8/edit ] So far, our Nelson, Northumberland and Fredericton chapters have indicated they'll take part in this day of action.

During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic. Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise. We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

We believe it is wrong that the current electoral system means that the Liberals with only 39.47 per cent of the popular vote hold 54.48 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons and basically 100 per cent of political decision-making power.

Following Trudeau's announcement on February 1 that he was abandoning his promise on electoral reform, the Montreal chapter rallied for proportional representation outside his constituency office (February 2), the Saint John chapter has written the prime minister and the local Liberal Member of Parliament to express their disappointment (February 3), the Montreal and Ottawa chapters protested on Parliament Hill (February 5), and the London chapter has been attending rush hour rallies in front of the constituency offices of two local Liberal MPs this week.

More than 77,000 people have also signed this House of Commons e-petition calling on the Government of Canada to "immediately, declare its on-going commitment to ensuring the 2015 election be the last Federal Canadian election under the First Past The Post system." The petition is open for signature until March 2, 2017, at 11:20 am EDT. [ https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petitio ... tion=e-616 ]

Since the last federal election, 28 chapters have called for proportional representation by attending consultations with the federal minister of democratic institutions, attending MP town halls, meeting with their MPs, organizing their own public events, handing out leaflets, publishing articles in local newspapers, and holding workshops.


Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Northumberland chapter to rally for electoral reform outside Liberal MP Kim Rudd's constituency office

[ http://canadians.org/blog/northumberlan ... ncy-office ]

February 8, 2017 - 8:11 pm

Liberal MP Kim Rudd and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised real change during the last election.

The Council of Canadians Northumberland chapter will rally for electoral reform outside the office of Liberal MP Kim Rudd in Cobourg this weekend.

The Northumberland News reports, "Canada’s National Day of Action for Electoral Reform will see a rally in Cobourg this Saturday, to be held outside the office of Northumberland — Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd. Sponsored by the Northumberland Chapter of the Council of Canadians and the Northumberland — Peterborough South Chapter of Fair Vote Canada, the rally will be one of 12 held in cities and towns across Canada."

During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic. Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise. We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

The news article highlights, "According to Minnie deJong, a Cobourg resident and representative of the local Council of Canadians chapter, that promise to equip Canada with a new, fairer, more representative system of voting — to make every vote count — was at the heart of Trudeau’s political offer in 2015. 'To break that promise makes this a sad day for Canadians and for democracy', deJong said. 'When every vote counts, more people feel motivated to vote, the results reflect the vote of the people, and the different views of the public are better reflected in government decisions.'"

The rally in Cobourg will take place this Saturday at 2 pm at Rudd's constituency office at 12 Elgin Street East.

The Nelson and Fredericton chapters will also be rallying in their communities this weekend for electoral reform.

For a complete list of the rallies this weekend please click here:
[ http://canadians.org/blog/northumberlan ... ncy-office ]

#electoralreform


Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Sudbury chapter writes Nickel Belt Liberal MP on electoral reform & NAFTA

[ http://canadians.org/blog/sudbury-chapt ... form-nafta ]

February 11, 2017 - 5:55 am

Council of Canadians Sudbury chapter activist Glenn Murray has written Nickel Belt Liberal MP Marc Serré to express his disappointment that the Trudeau government has abandoned its election promise to implement electoral reform and to say that the Chapter 11 investor-state dispute settlement provision should be removed from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Murray writes, "I cannot tell you how disappointed I am that after all the big talk before the election and the consultations with citizens and the formation of an advisory panel, Justin Trudeau has pulled the pin on one of the major planks of his platform, shame. Now Monday he's going to meet with that nightmare of a man now occupying the Oval Office. We want to end our position as the most sued country under trade agreements ever."

The Council of Canadians has mobilized thousands of its supporters to send a letter to the prime minister that states, "I ask you to remove NAFTA’s Chapter 11 investment provisions that allow corporations to sue governments over public interest laws or policies that hurt future corporate profits."

To send this message to Trudeau before his meeting with Trump on Monday, please go to our online action alert NAFTA renegotiations cannot be another backroom deal now. [ https://secure.canadians.org/ea-action/ ... n.id=63184 ]

With respect to electoral reform, the Liberals had promised that the 2015 election would be the last held until the first-past-the-post voting system and set a deadline of May 2017 to introduce legislation on electoral reform. Undoubtedly many people voted for Trudeau because of this pledge to make our voting system more democratic. Now, just 15 months after the election, Trudeau has abandoned that promise. We strongly condemn Trudeau's decision to not make every vote count.

As of this morning, 103,756 people have now signed e-616, [ https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petitio ... tion=e-616 ], an online House of Commons petition that calls on the Liberal government to "Immediately, declare its on-going commitment to ensuring the 2015 election be the last Federal Canadian election under the First Past The Post system."

For more on the Sudbury chapter, please click here:
[ http://canadians.org/search/node/%22sud ... chapter%22 ]

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

12 Council of Canadians chapters rally for electoral reform

[ http://canadians.org/blog/12-council-ca ... ral-reform ]

February 11, 2017 - 4:13 pm

Council of Canadians chapters are speaking out against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau abandoning his promise of electoral reform.

The Nelson, Victoria, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Northumberland, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Ottawa, Montreal, Fredericton, Saint John and St. John's chapters are taking part in a national day of action today.

The Toronto Star reports, "Trudeau promised Canadians that 2015 would be the last election conducted under the first-past-the-post electoral system. On Saturday, that now-broken promise sent protesters into the streets across the country for a national day of action. There were rallies planned for 29 cities across Canada. His decision to scrap the plan undoes months of work by a special House of Commons committee, two separate public engagement and consultation exercises, numerous MP town hall meetings and one cross-country ministerial tour."

Since the last federal election, 28 chapters have called for proportional representation by making presentations to that House of Commons committee, attending consultations with the federal minister of democratic institutions, attending MP town halls, meeting with their MPs, organizing their own public events, handing out leaflets, publishing articles in local newspapers, and holding workshops.

(PHOTOS: Fredericton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Victoria, Winnipeg, Saint John, St. John's, Ottawa, Guelph)

#ElectoralReform

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Canadians rally from coast to coast to hold Trudeau to electoral reform promise

[ https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-rele ... rm-promise ]

February 11, 2017

(OTTAWA) February 11, 2017 - Canadians joined rallies in cities from coast to coast today to demand that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau honour his promise on electoral reform.

Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands), spoke at the Reform the Vote rally in Victoria, B.C., attended by hundreds. Rallies took place in nearly 30 communities including Vancouver, Whitehorse, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Wolfville, Saint John and St. John's.

Daniel Green, GPC Deputy Leader, and GPC Québec advocate Joey Leckman spoke in Montreal, while Ottawa-Vanier byelection candidate Nira Dookeran spoke on the steps outside Parliament.

"From coast to coast today, Canadians sent a clear message for Justin Trudeau: If you thought you could break your promise to bring in fair voting and no one would care, you were wrong. Canadians won't stop demanding that you keep your promise," Ms. May said.

"The Prime Minister is grasping at straws in rejecting what our parliamentary committee recommended. We rejected the kind of proportional representation that could give seats to very poorly supported extremist voices. Moreover, it is under First Past the Post that the Bloc Québecois became the official opposition. Harper's extreme agenda was never supported by more than a quarter of Canadians. We will hold the Liberals to their promise to end the threat of false majorities, and to make sure every vote counts," Ms. May concluded.

The National Day of Action on Electoral Reform was organized by Fair Vote Canada and concerned citizens. - 30 -

For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Dan Palmer
Press Secretary | Attaché de presse
dan.palmer@greenparty.ca
m: (613) 614-4916