After broad consultations, the all-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform made a historic recommendation for the adoption of a Proportional Representation voting system in Canada. CUPE congratulates the committee for bringing all Canadians’ interests to the table and finding solutions.

“CUPE members have embraced a more representative voting system from the get go,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “It is exciting to see the committee, after consulting thousands of Canadians, follow suit and take this big step towards modernizing Canadian democracy.”

The committee report also recommended that a referendum be held on the issue. However, CUPE maintains, along with the Greens, the New Democrats and a variety of experts and civil society organizations, that a referendum is not necessary for this project to move forward.

“The Prime Minister has been abundantly clear in his commitment that 2015 would be the last election under the first-past-the-post system,” said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury. “With this clear path towards proportional representation, the ball is now in the government’s court. The time for consultation is over. It is time for action.”

CUPE supports a form of PR called Mixed Member Proportional. For more information on MMP click here.