Weekend rally for electoral reform in Waterloo Town Square

As elections in Canada increasingly become a two-party race, a local group is hoping to elevate the voices of those calling for change.

On Sunday, the public is invited to Waterloo Town Square for the Better Late Than Never Rally hosted by Waterloo Region 4 Proportional Representation Now (WR4PRN).

As it stands, Canadian elections are held under the first-past-the-post system, which is a winner-takes-all contest that awards the government to the party that receives the most votes, even if it is not the majority of the votes.

Electoral reform was a key component of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal election platform in 2015. While the issue proved popular with voters, the Liberals ended up moving away from the topic.

One of the potential alternatives to first-past-the-post is proportional representation.

Héline Chow, with WR4PRN and one of the lead organizers of the rally, spoke to 570 NewsRadio and explained how proportional representation works.

“It’s the idea that all of our votes count equally and that our government represents the share of the votes as they are. Let’s say someone gets 20 per cent of the vote, they get 20 per cent of the seats. It’s our belief that is actually a more democratic way of running a government.”

Ten years after the Liberal’s promise of electoral reform, the desire for change remains strong amongst voters of all political stripes.

Chow says that desire is, in fact, getting stronger.

“From the last two election cycles we had this year here in Ontario, it’s clear to us — the organizers of this group, but also many of us in Waterloo Region — that it’s time for change and that people want their votes to start counting in a way that feels more representative of what the general population feels.”

Chow explained that this rally isn’t about trying to convince people to join their cause, it’s about elevating the voices of the public who overwhelming support the idea of electoral reform.

“Most people are already on board. There have been many surveys that show Canadians are ready for change in the electoral system. And, it’s just a matter of making sure our voices are loud enough that the people in power have to listen.”

Some of those powers that be, will be speaking at the rally. Kitchener Centre MPP, Aislinn Clancy, Guelph MPP and Green Party Leader, Mike Schreiner, former Kitchener Centre MP and Green Party Deputy Leader, Mike Morrice, representatives from Fair Vote Canada and others will address the crowd.

The rally in Waterloo Town Square begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14.

Speeches begin at 2:00 p.m.