EDMONTON: MP SOHI to back Electoral Reform?

[Oscar]

Edmonton chapter calls on Liberal MP Sohi to back electoral reform

[ https://canadians.org/blog/edmonton-cha ... ral-reform ]

May 19, 2017 - 10:40 am

The Council of Canadians Edmonton chapter is calling on Edmonton residents to contact Liberal MP Amarjeet Sohi to encourage him to support electoral reform.

The chapter has posted on Facebook, "There will be a free vote on May 31st to accept the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee. The NDP, Greens and the Bloc will support this motion. Only 20 additional votes, presumably from the Liberals, could pass this motion and create momentum for proportional representation. So, call your MP now! In the Edmonton region, it's thought that Liberal MP Amarjeet Sohi may be persuaded. Amarjeet.Sohi@parl.gc.ca 613-992-1013."

Sohi is the MP for Edmonton Mill Woods and the federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

On December 1, 2016, the all-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform presented its report to the House. It recommended, "that the government should, as it develops a new electoral system ... minimize the level of distortion between the popular will of the electorate and the resultant seat allocations in Parliament." But on February 1, despite his October 2015 election promise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ruled out electoral reform. The vote on May 31 is an opportunity to keep the promise of electoral reform alive.

Our ally Fair Vote Canada highlights, "The NDP, Green, and Bloc are expected to vote yes. With the votes of just 20 Liberal MPs, the motion would pass. If the motion passes, it becomes a resolution of the House, restarting the important conversation on the promise to make every vote count in 2019."

Over the past five months, Council of Canadians chapter activists have been participating in numerous rush-hour rallies, meeting with their Member of Parliament, attending public forums, and taking other action to demand that Liberals MPs not break their promise to implement electoral reform.

Council of Canadians supporters and chapter activists are encouraged to ramp up this pressure on Liberal MPs now that we have the date of the vote.


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