Who Has Called for Democratic Reform in Canada?
The need for democratic reform in Canada has not been lost on leading political and media voices in this country. In fact, calls for reform have been steady throughout recent decades. In 1979, the report of the Pepin-Robarts Commission called for changes to the electoral system. The Commission proposed that 20% of the seats in Parliament be assigned according to the proportional vote received by parties. In 1992, Senate reform was a major element in the Constitutional proposals included in the Charlottetown Accord. A 1997 report commissioned by and presented to the Privy Council called for proportional representation in Parliament and an elected Senate. On occasion, leaders in the major political parties give a nod to reform initiatives, though their interest generally rises or falls based on their parties’ most recent performance under the current system. The Progressive Conservative Party recently reviewed an approach to electoral reform requiring a minimum of 50% voter support for a
