Quebec group says the time is right for electoral reform

MONTREAL – A Quebec group dedicated to electoral reform says now is the time to get rid of the province’s first-past-the-post system.

The Mouvement pour une democratie nouvelle has been pushing for a new system for years and believes the political climate has shifted in favour after recent calls for change from several politicians.

On Friday, the group added its voice to those of Parti Quebecois Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau and Benoit Charette of the Coalition for Quebec’s Future, who have both expressed support in recent weeks for electoral reform.

It announced it has created a board of citizen experts whose mission will be to develop a proposal for a new system.

The board includes about 20 prominent Quebecers, including university professors, representatives from women’s groups and former politicians and union leaders.

Emilie Guimond, a member of the board, said there’s a lot of disillusionment with the current system, especially among people aged 18 to 30.

“There’s an impression we can have that our vote won’t count because it’s always the same parties that will be voted in or because I live in a certain riding and the person I want to vote for doesn’t stand a chance — it’s something I see a lot,” she said.

Although several alternatives have been suggested over the years, one that is often mentioned would see a percentage of the members of the national assembly elected under the current system and the others voted in under a proportional system.

Jean-Pierre Charbonneau, a former Parti Quebecois cabinet minister, said the group hopes to persuade Premier Philippe Couillard to jump on board and implement the changes before the 2018 election.

“Considering the work that has already been done, if there were to be an attitude change from the current government, we could even think about having a voting system in place by the next election,” he said.