C-318
First Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament,
55 Elizabeth II, 2006
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-318
An Act to provide for a House of Commons committee to study proportional representation in federal elections
first reading, June 6, 2006
Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre)
391063
SUMMARY
The purpose of this enactment is to provide for the consideration of proportional representation in the House of Commons. A standing committee of the House will be designated to consider the matter and to report with recommendations after public hearings.
A referendum may be held and the question shall be whether electors favour replacing the present system with a system proposed by the Proportional Representation Committee as concurred in by the House.
The referendum must be held at the same time as the next general election.
Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca
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1st Session, 39th Parliament,
55 Elizabeth II, 2006
house of commons of canada
BILL C-318
An Act to provide for a House of Commons committee to study proportional representation in federal elections
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short title
1. This Act may be cited as the Proportional Representation Review Act.
Definitions
2. The definitions in this section apply in this Act.
“Minister”« ministre »
“Minister” means the member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada designated by the Governor in Council for the purposes of the Canada Elections Act.
“proportional representation”« représentation proportionnelle »
“proportional representation” means an election process that provides for the allocation of some of the seats in a legislative body or chamber to members democratically designated by parties so that the overall proportion of seats held in the body or chamber by each party approximates to the proportion of votes cast for the party on a national basis.
“Proportional Representation Committee”« Comité de la représentation proportionnelle »
“Proportional Representation Committee” means the standing committee of the House of Commons designated under section 3.
Committee study
3. Within 30 sitting days after the coming into force of this Act, the Minister shall, by a motion in the House of Commons, propose that a standing committee of the House, designated therein,
(a) conduct a process of public consultation on the question of whether the electoral process for membership of the House of Commons should include the principle of proportional representation; 
(b) conduct public hearings in every province and territory as part of the public consultation; 
(c) study election systems outside Canada that include an element of proportional representation; and 
(d) report to the House of Commons with recommendations within 180 days of adoption of the motion by the House.
Draft question
4. If the Proportional Representation Committee report provided for in paragraph 3(d) endorses an electoral system based on proportional representation, the Proportional Representation Committee shall include in its report a draft question to be put to the electors of Canada, in a referendum to be held in accordance with section 6, which asks whether the present system of electing members of the House of Commons should be replaced with a proportional representation system as set out in the question.
Information to public on recommendations
5. Upon concurrence by the House of Commons with the Proportional Representa-tion Committee’s report and proposed referendum question, the Minister shall, within 30 sitting days after the concurrence, table in the House of Commons a detailed plan by which the government will inform electors of the report and the referendum question with sufficient information to allow electors to make an informed decision when voting in the referendum to be held in accordance with section 6.
Proclamation of referendum
6. Where a referendum question is approved by the House of Commons, the Governor in Council shall, by proclamation issued in the manner provided for in section 3 of the Referendum Act, direct that the opinion of electors be obtained on the question, by putting the question to the electors of Canada at a referendum to be held on the date of the next general election of members of the House of Commons.
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services CanadaOttawa, Ontario K1A 0S5Telephone: (613) 941-5995 or 1-800-635-7943Fax: (613) 954-5779 or 1-800-565-7757publications@pwgsc.gc.cahttp://publications.gc.ca