Reform of the voting system has been on the agenda in Quebec for nearly 40 years – but that is where it has remained! In the 1998 election, the Parti Québécois was the winner with a majority of seats despite the fact that the Liberals won the majority of the popular vote. A social movement draw from several sources and groups has since combined efforts to call on the government to present a proposal for reforming the voting system in a way that would strengthen and enhance democracy in Quebec. The Mouvement pour une démocratie nouvelle (MDN), joined soon after by the Collectif Féminisme et Démocratie (CFD), have initiated broad public awareness and education campaigns to encourage citizens to mobilize in support of a more democratic voting system.
With A New Voting System that is a Genuine Step Forward for Democracy! (pdf), we invite everyone, individuals and social groups alike, to get involved in the public debate over the next few months, so that the proposed reform of the voting system will be a genuine democratic step forward for Quebec.
This document was made possible due to contributions from the À égalité pour décider program (Quebec) and the Women’s Program (Canada). However, the opinions stated herein should not be attributed to them. The textual translation was made possible due to the support of the Office of Jean Crowder, Member of Parliament, Nanaimo-Cowichan, British Columbia.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
What the Government is Proposing
Does the Government’s Proposal
Meet our Democratic Aspirations?
A. Reflect the Will of the People
B. Representation of Political Pluralism
C. Regional Representation
D. Equal Representation of Women and Men
E. Representation of Quebec’s Diversity
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