Statement on Electoral Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa ON – Today, Prime Minister Trudeau trotted out his newly minted, inexperienced Minister to announce he was breaking his campaign promise to Canadians that 2015 would be the last election under the first-past-the-post system.

This is yet another example of Prime Minister Trudeau’s belief that the basic rules of honesty don’t apply to people like him.

My position – and that of the Conservative Party – remains that any change to the way we elect Members of Parliament must be decided through a referendum.

This also reflects what I heard from the constituents of Peace River – Westlock. Over 97% of the nearly 2000 constituents who provided their feedback stated that they believed any electoral reform must include a referendum. I want to thank them for contributing to the process.

I also want to thank the Village of Donnelly and the Town of Whitecourt for adopting resolutions and writing to the Prime Minister to request that a referendum be held prior to and electoral reform.

The Liberal Government mishandled the electoral reform file from day one. With the process in tatters, late last year Conservative Party Leader Rona Ambrose said that it was time to set the discussion aside and focus on the real priorities of Canadians, jobs and the economy.

I am glad the Prime Minister took the advice of the Conservative Party to park electoral reform.

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