SoundBites: Referendum?
Channel: Laurel L. Russwurm
Date: 2016-04-16

In under a minute, Dennis Pilon explains changing Canada's Electoral System isn't a constitutional issue.

An excerpt from the upcoming Libreleft/FairVote WRC documentary video "Alternative Vote vs Proportional Representation"

SoundBites: Referendum? 
is an excerpt from the documentary 
"Proportional Representation vs. Alternative Vote,"  currently in post production.  When completed, the video will be available at 
https://www.youtube.com/user/LaurelRusswurm

=====================================================

Political science Professor Dennis Pilon is a leading expert on Canadian electoral reform at York University in Toronto.  http://www.news.yorku.ca/experts/?mid=10187

Read more on the constitutionality of electoral reform in Mr. Pilon's February 2016 National Post article:
You can’t hide behind the Constitution to spare us electoral reform
http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/dennis-pilon-you-cant-hide-behind-the-constitution 

You can get Mr. Pilon's books from Amazon 
(but always check your local book store first!)

Wrestling with Democracy: Voting Systems as Politics in the 20th Century West (Studies in Comparative Political Economy and Public Policy) (2013)
http://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Democracy-Politics-Comparative-Political/dp/1442613505/
 
The Politics of Voting: Reforming Canada's Electoral System (2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Politics-Voting-Reforming-Canadas-Electoral/dp/1552392368/

=====================================================
TRANSCRIPTION
SoundBites: Referendum? 

Q: 

Isn't there a Constitutional requirement for a reerendum before we can change our voting system?

Dennis Pilon: 

"On the constitutionality of the voting system, the voting system is not Constitutional.

"You know, the BNA Act very clearly sets out Parliament's rights to make all rules as concerns elections.  Except those areas in the Constitution where certain things have to be maintained -- like the proportional allocation of seats to provinces.  But other than that, it is very clear that the Constitution gives Parliament the right to make that change.

"We have had ten voting system changes at the Provincial level in this country.  Historically.  None of them have been declared unconstitutional.  

"So this is again another fake argument not based in any kind of reading of our actual Constitution."  

=====================================================
This soundbite has been brought to you by Fair Vote Canada (Waterloo Region Chapter)
http://www.fairvotewrc.ca/

For more information visit Fair Vote Canada
fairvote.ca
=====================================================