The Pollcast: The summer of electoral reform - Action News
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The Pollcast: The summer of electoral reform

As the committee on electoral reform hears from experts this summer, MPs are talking to their constituents about what electoral system they think is best for Canada. In the first of a series of interviews, host ric Grenier is joined by two Liberal MPs, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Jol Lightbound, to discuss what they're hearing.

Host ric Grenier is joined by Liberal MPs Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Jol Lightbound

Host ric Grenier is joined by Liberal MPs Jol Lightbound (left) and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (right) to discuss electoral reform on this week's episode of the Pollcast. (House of Commons)

The CBCPollcast, hosted by CBC poll analyst ric Grenier, explores the world of electoralpolitics,political polls and the trends they reveal.


The summer of electoral reform is upon us, and your Member of Parliament wants to know what you think about it.

As the special committee on electoral reform grills experts and meets with Canadians over the summer, MPs are quizzing their own constituents on what system they think best fits the needs of the country and whether or not a referendum is required to put a new electoral system into place.

On this week's episode of thePollcast, hostricGrenieris joined by two Liberal MPs to hear their views on electoral reform, as well as what their own constituents are telling them.

NathanielErskine-Smithis the MP for the riding of BeachesEast York in Toronto andJolLightboundis the MP for the Quebec City riding ofLouis-Hbert.

Upcoming episodes will feature MPs from the opposition parties.

According to the Liberal government, all options are on the table. These include a form of proportional representation or a preferential ballot. The latter system is one that Prime Minister JustinTrudeauhas said he personal supports, raising concerns that the Liberals will adopt the system that could benefit them most, no matter what the committee concludes.

But not all Liberal MPs agree that the preferential ballot is the way to go.

"I don't think alternative voting or a ranked ballot system will get at the real crux of the problem," said Erskine-Smith,"which is the distortion in outcomes that first-past-the-post engenders. So, I'm not in favour of it."

But Erskine-Smithnotedthatsingle-transferable voting (STV) has an element of ranked balloting and could be a viable solution.

Listen to the full discussion below orsubscribe to the CBCPollcastand listen to past episodes.

We ask two Liberal MPs - Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Joel Lightbound - what they think about electoral reform.

Follow ric Grenieron Twitter.


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