Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appears to have opened the door to maintaining Canada’s first-past-the-post voting system, despite having promised the 2015 federal election would be the last to use it. In an interview with Le Devoir Ottawa correspondent Marie Vastel to mark the end of his government’s first year, Trudeau said he no longer sees the same appetite for electoral reform he did when the Conservatives were in power. “Under Stephen Harper, there were so many people unhappy with the government and their approach that people were saying, ‘It will take electoral reform to no longer have a government we don’t like’. But under the current system, they now have a government they’re more satisfied with and the motivation to change the electoral system is less compelling,” he said.
Trudeau’s comments triggered a predictable explosion in question period today, with NDP Leader Tom Mulcair leading the charge.
“Canadians have been clear that in 2019, every vote should count. A year ago, the prime minister said he agreed with them,” said Mulcair. “Instead of inventing excuses and backing away from his solemn promise to Canadians, will he work with us in good faith to deliver the fair, proportional electoral system the voters deserve?”
Trudeau tried to turn Mulcair’s attack back on him, accusing him of “changing his mind” about the need for broad consultation.
Full Article: Trudeau taking heat for walking back electoral reform.