Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen said prime minister Justin Trudeau lied to Canadians when he decided to abandon the pledge to reform Canada’s electoral system.
In a mandate letter for Canada’s newly appointed democratic institutions minister Karine Gould last week, Trudeau made clear that the proposed electoral reform is no longer on the government's agenda.
“There has been tremendous work by the House of Commons special committee on electoral reform, outreach by Members of Parliament by all parties, and engagement of 360,000 individuals in Canada through mydemocracy.ca,” reads the letter. “A clear preference for a new electoral system, let alone a consensus, has not emerged.”
“Furthermore, without a clear preference or a clear question, a referendum would not be in Canada’s interest,” continues the letter. “Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate.”
Cullen, who sat on the special committee tasked with studying alternative electoral systems and consulting with Canadians, said he was angered by Trudeau’s decision.
“Trudeau promised to end our unfair and outdated voting system,” said Cullen. “He lied to millions of Canadians who put their faith in him.”
“I like many am angered and frustrated but mostly determined to fight such betrayal,” he added.
The federal Liberals had pledged to have a new voting system in place before the next federal election.
“The prime minister made a black-and-white promise to Canadians to make 2015 the last election under first-past-the-post, and to make every vote count,” said Cullen. “The government has a mandate, the tools, a viable path, and a clear obligation to replace our outdated, unfair voting system with a proportional voting system.”
In a proportional representation electoral system, the share of votes a party receives in an election is reflected in the number of seats they receive in the House of Commons.