CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – MDN CONFERENCES POSTPONED
Due to the current environment and the government’s emergency measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, most of our March electoral reform conferences have been cancelled. They will be rescheduled for later dates that are not yet determined.
REFORM OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND THE MDN – A HISTORIC BILL, BUT ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED
MDN President Jean-Pierre Charbonneau and Vice-President Françoise David today submitted the organization’s brief to the Commission on Institutions of the Quebec National Assembly, which is studying the draft Act 39, The Act establishing a new electoral system. At the outset, MDN representatives emphasized the historic nature of this exercise.
A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL REFORM IS URGENTLY NEEDED!
Coalition for Electoral Reform Now! Following its special general meeting to study the bill that would establish a new voting system, the Coalition for Electoral Reform now! urges the government to quickly set up the parliamentary committee that will examine Bill 39.
LET’S GET MOVING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
The Mouvement Démocratie Nouvelle (MDN) urges the government to form a parliamentary committee without delay to examine Bill 39, “An Act to establish a new electoral system.”
MDN MEMBERS MET AT A SPECIAL ASSEMBLY TO DISCUSS BILL 39
At the last annual meeting held in January 2019, it was agreed that a special assembly should be convened on the subject of Bill 39 alone, after the expected tabling of a reform bill. Bill 39, the Act to establish a new electoral system, was made public on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Three days later, members convened in advance and met at the St-Pierre Centre in Montreal to discuss the issue.
BONUSES TO WINNERS ARE UNACCEPTABLE
Last week, after the CAQ government introduced its fine-tuned Bill 39, “An Act to Establish a New Voting System”, the Mouvement Démocratie Nouvelle (MDN) spotted what looks like an attempt to favour established parties, especially the dominant party. In article 156, the bill provides that the parties that win the most local constituencies under the current system, will be given the advantage when allocating regional seats. This is a flagrant violation of the spirit of proportional representation.