Say ‘no’ to a referendum on electoral reform

The committee studying electoral reform may as well recommend no change and save Canadians the cost of an inessential exercise and the trouble of trooping to the polls once again.

Conservative MP Scott Reid has dismissed the cost of a referendum: 'If we’re worried about the cost of democracy, then we should suspend having any future elections, shouldn’t we?'The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Opinion

BY NELSON WISEMAN

August 15, 2016

TORONTO—If Parliament decides on a referendum to determine the fate of electoral reform, it will prove to be an expensive and unnecessary flop. Past experience indicts such a foray. A referendum will entail amending the Referendum Act, cost well over $300-million, and require significant lead time...

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