Special Committee on Electoral Reform

Comité spécial sur la réforme électorale

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 30, 2016 -

The Special Committee on Electoral Reform is inviting Canadians to participate in its review of the electoral system as it studies various voting systems and examines mandatory voting and online voting. The information selected will not only enhance the Committee members’ understanding of the issues involved, but also assist them in drafting their final report.

“Our voting system is an issue of concern to all Canadians citizens. It is vital that we hear their views on this subject, which affects the way we are represented in government and is therefore central to the democratic process,” said the Chair of the Committee, Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia.

The Committee’s mandate was set out in a motion adopted by the House of Commons on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. The Committee must present its report to the House no later than December 1, 2016.

Canadians who are interested in contributing to the Committee’s study can do so in the following ways:

—TWITTER: The Committee members will monitor Twitter (#ERRE #Q) for comments and questions from Canadians. Members may relay these questions to the witnesses in real time.

—REQUESTS TO APPEAR: Requests to appear may be sent to the Committee by email (erre@parl.gc.ca) or by using the appropriate button on the Committee’s website. Please note that the Committee clerks will contact only those who are selected by the Committee members to appear. Requests to appear must be submitted to the Committee no later than October 7, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).

—WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: Any person or organization can submit a brief to the Committee. To be accepted, the brief must be no more than 3,000 words in length (including the summary and footnotes) and be submitted to the Committee no later than October 7, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The Committee recommends highlighting any recommendations to support the principles set out in the motion mentioned above. Briefs may be sent to the Committee by email (erre@parl.gc.ca) or by using the appropriate button on the Committee’s website. Once they are translated, briefs will be distributed to the Committee members and posted on the Committee’s website.

Canadians who wish to follow the Committee’s work may do so by visiting its website (http://www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/ERRE).