A National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform:

Backed by evidence, powered by people

The quality of our democracy is facing unprecedented threats. Low voter turnout, mistrust in institutions, polarization, and hostile partisan politics are of deep concern to many.

Making progress on electoral reform requires political leadership, but politicians alone won’t fix the system that elected them.

What is a Citizens’ Assembly?

A Citizen’s Assembly is a “mini-public” convened to study and give recommendations on a specific issue.

Citizens’ assemblies have a strong track record around the world and are recommended by the OECD as a path to meaningful citizen engagement and evidence-based decision-making.  They have been used with great success in Ireland, France, Scotland, Belgium and across the OECD to tackle complex and challenging issues. Citizens’ assemblies are growing in popularity in Canada, most notably the recent Citizens’ Assembly on Democratic Expression, funded by the Government of Canada.

A National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform:

    • Is a non-partisan, independent, trusted process
    • Is composed of citizens selected at random, like a jury
    • Includes Canadians from all walks of life, with special care to ensure that participants reflect Canadian society, including by age, gender, ethnicity and region of Canada
    • Engages citizens to learn from experts, thoughtfully consider an issue, and make a recommendation

Without pre-judging various kinds of electoral systems, a citizens’ assembly will review options to improve our current electoral system. They would be free to recommend keeping the status quo (first-past-the-post), ranked ballots, or a proportional system (including proportional ranked ballots, or any other made-for-Canada PR).

Who supports a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform?

 

In February 2023, Green Party MP Mike Morrice put forward a private members’ motion for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. Private members’ motions can have a maximum of 20 joint seconders, and all the spots filled up fast! Directly below, you can see MPs from three different parties who seconded the motion.

In addition to the MPs who have seconded Mike’s motion, click here to see a growing number of other MPs (past and present) and notable partisans who support this idea. Would your MP like to add their name to this webpage in support? To be added, an MP simply needs to fill out this form.

On May 6, 2023, the Liberal Party of Canada officially adopted a policy to support a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.

Later in 2023, NDP MP Daniel Blaikie will be re-introducing a motion to the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) to take the first step: a study of how a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform would work. In 2021, this passed at the PROC Committee by a vote of 7-4. Unfortunately, an early election was called so the work did not go forward at that time.

Notable non-partisan Canadians also back a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform – click to see who’s in support.

 Joint seconders of MP Mike Morrice’s motion
for a National Citizens’ Assembly on
Electoral Reform

Other MPs (past and present) in support of a
National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform

These past and present MPs below also support a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform!

They were not able to jointly second Mike Morrice’s private member’s motion (above) because motions can only have 20 joint seconders (there were no more spots left), Parliamentary rules prohibited them from seconding a private member’s motion due to their position (a Parliamentary Secretary, for example), or they are not a current MP.

We invite all MPs to support a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform! If your MP would like to be added below, they can simply fill in this form.

Notable NON-PARTISAN endorsers
of a National Citizens’
Assembly on Electoral Reform

EKOS Poll: A strong majority of Canadians back a National Citizen’s
Assembly on Electoral Reform

In December, 2022, EKOS found that 76% of Canadians,supported a Citizens  Assembly on Electoral Reform. See the full poll results here.

 Support for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform by party voters:

Motion M-76, Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform