Open Letter: Correcting the Conservative narrative on BC’s carbon price

In recent weeks, the leader of the Conservative Party has toured British Columbia, claiming that should he ever be Prime Minister, he will “Axe the Tax” on carbon pricing.

But he must know that BC runs its own carbon price that predates the federal version by more than a decade.

BC’s price on pollution has been in place since 2008. That’s almost as long as Mr. Poilievre has been collecting a public paycheque as a Member of Parliament.

If the BC provincial government’s carbon pricing plan has been in place for fifteen years, how exactly does Mr. Poilievre intend to “Axe the Tax” in BC?

It’s easy: he doesn’t.

Mr. Poilievre is blatantly spreading misinformation about the carbon pollution price to British Columbians. As Prime Minister, he would have no power to tell BC to eliminate its carbon pricing plan. If the Conservative Leader is implying that he can tell BC’s Premier what to do and to cancel the carbon price, he should explain in detail how he plans to accomplish this.

The climate crisis is a serious reality we’re facing. We just witnessed the most dangerous wildfire season on record, which is being fueled by climate change. Mr. Poilievre has been the leader of the Conservative Party for over a year and still has not put forward a climate plan. In a summer when BC has lost 2.48 million hectares of forests, homes, and communities, his lack of action disrespects the plight of British Columbians.

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

Contacts:

Megan Waddington

Constituency Assistant

Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament

john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

Statement on the International Day of Democracy, 2023

Today, Canada is joined by like-minded partners from all over the world in the celebration of democracy and the international rules-based order that supports it.

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Together, we must continue to uphold our democratic values and protect human rights in Canada and around the world. We must use this opportunity to continue building a better, safer future for everyone.

Democracy is not only about free and fair elections. Democracy is about the freedom of the press, the rule of law, and the accountability of public institutions.

As Ukrainians continue to defend their country against Russia’s illegal invasion, they are also defending the values that define and unite democracies. My heart is with the people of Ukraine today as they fight to uphold the principles of democracy.

On the International Day of Democracy, we renew our commitment to upholding the democratic values and principles that are at the core of who we are as Canadians. Let us reflect on our democratic values.

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

Contacts:

Megan Waddington

Constituency Assistant

Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament

Megan.Waddington.807@parl.gc.ca

Editorial: 5 Ways Canada is Leading in the Clean Economy

As the Chair of the Natural Resources Committee, I have the pleasure of working with colleagues from every region of this country to study and determine the actions that are at the centre of Canada’s clean and prosperous future.

Certainly, we are experiencing transformative progress taking place in Canada’s clean economy. The federal government’s commitment to sustainable development and forward-thinking policies has positioned our nation as one of the best places to invest in this rapidly growing sector. This is thanks in large part to over six years of investments in strategic sectors, supported by programs like smart grids and infrastructure financing. In the newly passed Budget 2023, the government is building on this legacy by delivering both transformational and job-creating tax incentives for clean technology and a historic set of investments in the backbone of this clean economy: the electrical grid. 

The fact is, we are seeing remarkable clean economic opportunities flourishing across different regions of our country.

An Overview of Canada’s Clean Economy

The growth of our low-carbon industries is not limited to one specific region or sector. From coast to coast, Canadian provinces and territories are capitalizing on their unique strengths to pave the way for a greener future. 

“Clean economy initiatives have not only reduced greenhouse gas emissions but have also created numerous well-paying jobs for local communities.”

1. British Columbia’s Clean Economy

In my home province of British Columbia, the province’s leadership in clean technology innovation can be seen in our cutting-edge Carbon Engineering facility, where CO2 is being drawn out of the atmosphere. In terms of clean fuels, drivers in the interior can now benefit from the new federally-funded hydrogen refuelling station that opened recently in Kelowna. These clean economy initiatives have not only reduced greenhouse gas emissions but have also created numerous well-paying jobs for local communities.

2. Sustainable Agriculture in the Prairies

In the prairie provinces, vast expanses of arable land are being leveraged for sustainable agriculture and bioenergy initiatives. Through federal support, farmers have adopted innovative practices to reduce carbon footprints, harnessing biogas from agricultural waste and utilizing renewable energy sources to power their operations. These efforts have bolstered agricultural resilience while opening up new economic avenues for rural communities.

3. Electric Vehicles in Ontario

In Ontario, the automotive industry has embraced the electric vehicle revolution. Federal investments in manufacturing facilities and research and development have encouraged the production of clean, zero-emission vehicles, placing Canada at the forefront of this transformative industry. This shift to electric vehicles is not only reducing our dependence on fossil fuels but also positioning Ontario as a hub for electric vehicle innovation and manufacturing, attracting international investors and creating skilled jobs for our workforce.

4. Offshore Wind in Atlantic Canada

In Atlantic Canada, the vast offshore wind potential along the coastlines is unlocking immense clean energy opportunities. The federal government’s commitment to supporting offshore wind projects will be on full display this fall as we move forward with C-49 to create this new sector, and we need industry to be ready to deliver good projects and good jobs. These developments are not only providing clean and reliable energy sources but also driving economic growth and job creation in coastal communities.

5. Investing in the North

In the North, where the impacts of climate change are particularly pronounced, the federal government is working hand-in-hand with Indigenous communities to promote sustainable resource management and clean energy initiatives. Investments in solar and hydro projects are reducing diesel dependency, improving energy security, and empowering local Indigenous populations with economic opportunities rooted in their traditional knowledge and connection to the land. 

These examples represent only a fraction of the remarkable clean economic opportunities emerging across Canada. Through federal funding, incentives, and supportive policies, the government is fostering an environment where innovation thrives, businesses flourish, and sustainable practices are rewarded.

“By championing the clean economy in various regions, Canada is attracting domestic and international investors, generating jobs, and reducing emissions.”

As we continue our journey towards a greener and more prosperous future, it is essential to recognize the invaluable role the federal government plays in creating an enabling environment for the clean economy to thrive. By championing the clean economy in various regions, Canada is attracting domestic and international investors, generating jobs, and reducing emissions, all while positioning ourselves as global leaders in the transition to a sustainable future.

The time to invest in the clean economy is now, and Canada is the place to do it. Our message to industry, workers, and communities is simple: Let’s seize this historic opportunity, working together to build a prosperous and sustainable future for all Canadians.

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

Published in The Future Economy

Open Letter to Cloverdale - Langley City Residents

Dear friends & neighbours,

It has been truly an honour to serve you, and represent Cloverdale- Langley City, over the past four years.

Each weekend I’ve gone door knocking to hear what worries you. Your responses have been about jobs, the environment, healthcare, and the cost of living. I have heard these concerns and worked hard to address them.

Over the past 4 years, I am proud to say :

• Canadians have created over 1 million jobs and Canada has the lowest unemployment rate since the 1970s.

• The Child Benefit is no longer taxable income AND has been increased 2 times. This has brought in an additional $7.5 million monthly to families in our riding.

• We’ve implemented an effective plan to address climate change and transition away from fossil fuels.

• We’ve invested over $10 million into Cloverdale-Langley City for public transit, infrastructure, and recreational facilities.

These are just some of the things I am immensely proud of. Read below and see some of the other major accomplishments our government has made since 2015!

I look forward to your continued support and to what we can all achieve as a team in 2019.

Sincerely,

John Aldag
Member of Parliament | Cloverdale-Langley City

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Serving the People of Cloverdale - Langley City

16192 Telephone inquiries handled

5200 Constituency office visitors welcomed

1328 Constituent services cases closed

674 Meetings with Cloverdale - Langley City residents

370 Community events attended

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Laying the Groundwork for National Pharmacare

Canadians pay too much for prescription drugs and we’re going to change that. To make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to all Canadians, Budget 2019 proposes to:

• Create the Canadian Drug Agency, a new national agency that will work to lower prescription drug prices for all Canadians.

• Lower the cost and create equal prices for prescription drugs across all provinces and territories by creating a new national formulary of prescribed drugs.

• Negotiate prices with drug manufacturers to help Canadians struggling with rare diseases get the life-saving medication they need at an affordable price.

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Making It Easier to Buy Your First Home

We are introducing the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive that will help make home-ownership more affordable for middle-class Canadians by:

• Allowing eligible first-time buyers to apply to finance a portion of their home purchase.

• Offering a 10% shared equity mortgage for a newly constructed home or a 5% shared equity mortgage for an existing home through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

• Lowering monthly mortgage payments since no ongoing payments would be required with the Incentive.

Creating More Affordable Renting Options for Families

To provide more affordable rental options for middle class families, Budget 2019 proposes to:

• Build 42,000 new rental housing units across Canada.

• Help municipalities grow housing supply and unlock new solutions for Canadians searching for an affordable place to call home by providing $300 million to launch the new Housing Supply Challenge.

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Standing Up For the Middle Class and Those Working Hard to Join It

Since 2015 we have implemented measures to help make life more affordable for middle class Canadians.

Under our government:

• We cut taxes for the middle class and raised it on the wealthiest 1%. The average person making $48,000 per year is now saving $720 in tax annually.

• Implemented the tax-free Canada Child Care Benefit that gives families in Cloverdale-Langley City up to $6,639 per child. That’s an investment of over $7.5 million into our families every month. We’ve indexed the CCB twice to make sure it keeps up with inflation and the cost of living.

• Lowered the small business tax from 11% to 9%.

• Introduced new EI Parental Sharing Benefit to provide 5 extra weeks of benefits when parental leave is shared.

• Supported 40,000 new affordable child-care spaces across Canada.

• Canadians have created over one million new jobs since we formed government in 2015, and employment rates are at a historic low.

• We’re making vital services like mental health treatment more accessible and affordable for all Canadians. We firmly believe in a Canada that is inclusive of everyone.

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Celebrating Diversity as Our Strength

Canada is strong not in spite of its differences, but because of them. I am so proud of Canada’s longstanding tradition of inclusion and diversity. As the first country in the world to adopt a policy of multiculturalism in 1971, diversity is part of our vibrant national fabric.

Over the past four years, we have continued to make strides in building an even more inclusive Canada.

Last year, I introduced my Private Member’s Bill C-374, which amends the Historic Sites and Monuments Act to add three new Indigenous representatives on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (one each for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit).

Unfortunately, the Conservative Senate Caucus refused to debate this bill and as a result, Bill C-374 died on the Senate floor. I am hopeful that a similar bill can be introduced in the future.

In 2018, we mailed out over 450 certificates congratulating constituents on receiving their Canadian citizenship.

I also had the opportunity to second Sukh Dhaliwal’s Bill to proclaim April as Sikh Heritage Month.

Everyday, I am reminded of how lucky we are to live in a welcoming country of opportunity where, if you work hard, you can make a better life for yourself and your family, no matter your background.

It is inspiring to hear success stories from our community, like Reddy who came to Canada and opened Buns Master in 1987.

These stories and experiences drive my work as your Member of Parliament and motivate me to build an even better Canada!

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Introducing the New Canada Training Benefit

Canadians are among the most skilled and highly educated workers in the world, but in a changing world of work, many will need new skills to keep their current jobs or find new work in the future.

This is a real challenge for working Canadians who may not be able to take time off to get the training they need to succeed.

To help hard-working Canadians find and keep good jobs, Budget 2019 introduces the new Canada Training Benefit. Working Canadians will get:

• Four weeks of training every 4 years.

• Up to $1,000 to help pay for the training.

• Employment Insurance support to help cover lost income.

• Security knowing you’ll have a job to come back to when your training is done.

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Helping Students Get a Head Start

Students today still face barriers in accessing financial assistance and repaying their student loans. To better support the needs of students, Budget 2019 proposes to:

• Lower interest rates on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans, and ensure students don’t accumulate interest for the first 6 months after graduating.

• Allow students who have defaulted on their loan to apply for supports such as the Repayment Assistance Plan and start to make affordable payments on their outstanding debt.

• Allow students to take a medical or parental leave that is interest-free and payment-free in six-month stackable periods for a maximum of 18 months.

• Increase the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities from $8,000 to $20,000 a year and expand the eligibility so that more students with disabilities can afford the necessary equipment and services they need for their studies.

• Ensure that programs are working for Indigenous students by investing in First Nations, Inuit and Metis-led strategies to promote enrollment in post-secondary education.

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Providing Seniors the Security They Deserve

All Canadians deserve a secure and dignified retirement. We are taking steps to make sure seniors keep more money in their pockets, are able to stay active and involved in their communities, and receive all the benefits they are entitled to.

To better support our seniors, we:

• Ensured more low-income seniors keep more their hard-earned money by enhancing the Guaranteed Income Supplement earnings exemption.

• Encouraged seniors in Cloverdale-Langley City to participate in our community by increasing funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which supports local projects like new flooring at the Legion so Seniors can meet and socialize; or a music therapy program for those suffering from dementia.

• Protected Canadians’ pensions by requiring more transparency and fairness in insolvency processes, better corporate governance and empowering the courts to review executive compensation in insolvencies.

• Proactively enrolled Canada Pension Plan contributors who are 70 or older but have not applied yet to receive their retirement benefits. This will help 40,000 seniors across the country.

• Lowered the age of eligibility for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement to 65, and increased the CPP by 50%.

• Increased OAS and GIS on July 1, 2019. The average senior now has $2,000 more in their pocket than in 2014.

• Secured the age to collect CPP at 65 and are committed to keeping it there.

• Invested in the first ever National Dementia Strategy to help those suffering from dementia and their caregivers.

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Open Letter: Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis

Dear residents of Cloverdale - Langley City,

On April 13, 2017, the Minister of Justice tabled Bill C-45, which calls for the legalization and strict regulation of cannabis.

This proposed legislation is the culmination of months of work by the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, which heard from hundreds of experts in many fields – including health, public safety, justice, and law enforcement – and over 30,000 Canadians before the bill came before Parliament.
 
What Bill C-45 recognizes is that the current system of outright prohibition of cannabis simply doesn’t work:

• It has allowed criminals and organized crime to illegally profit, while failing to keep cannabis out of the hands of Canadian youth.
• It is easier for our kids to buy marijuana than cigarettes, a situation that thousands of Canadians – including many from Cloverdale-Langley City – clearly told us was unacceptable.

We know we can do better.

Our plan will therefore create a framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada. We will also invest in a strong public awareness campaign so that Canadians are well informed about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis.
 
While the proposed legislation has set the lowest allowable age of majority for the sale of marijuana to be 18, the provinces will ultimately decide the age at which it may be legally purchased. In the weeks and months ahead, our Government will continue to consult with the provinces, territories, municipalities, and our Indigenous partners who share with us the responsibility for implementing cannabis legalization and regulation.
 
Recognizing that impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada, our Government has also introduced legislation that would reform the entire impaired driving regime in the Criminal Code. It would strengthen existing drug and alcohol-impaired driving laws by creating new offences, making the law easier to enforce, as well as simpler, more coherent and efficient.
 
This legislation makes Canada a global leader by taking an evidence-based, public health approach to the legalization and strict regulation of cannabis.

I look forward to further engaging with the constituents of Cloverdale-Langley City to develop creative solutions that help address our community’s needs and keeping our youth safe.

Sincerely,

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

Open Letter: Budget 2017

Dear residents of Cloverdale - Langley City,

Yesterday, the Government of Canada tabled Budget 2017, “Building a Strong Middle Class.” Budget 2017 is the next step in our Government’s ambitious plan to make smart investments that will create jobs, grow our economy, and provide more opportunities for the middle class and those working hard to join it. Budget 2017 puts Canada’s skilled, talented, and creative people at the heart of a more innovative future economy – one that will create middle class jobs today and tomorrow.

Following in the footsteps of Budget 2016, this year’s federal budget offers immediate assistance to those who need it most and helps ensure that everyone has a real and fair chance of success. With these smart investments and a commitment to fairness, the Government ensuring that Canada’s best days lie ahead.

With its strong focus on innovation, skills, partnerships and fairness, Budget 2017 takes the next steps in securing a more prosperous future for all Canadians and will directly benefit people living in Cloverdale-Langley City.

Some key measures for British Columbians are:

• Making ambitious investments in public transit projects that will shorten commutes, decrease air pollution, and allow Canadians to spend more time with their families – through an investment of $20.1 billion, over 11 years, in partnership with the provinces and territories.
• A major transfer of $6.7 billion in 2017-18, an increase of $194.9 million from the previous year. Of this, British Columbia will receive:
  • $4.9 billion through the Canada Health Transfer, an increase of $142.3 million from the previous year
  • $1.8 billion through the Canada Social Transfer, an increase of $52.7 million from the previous year.
• Providing more – and better – home care and mental health supports for Canadians who need it – through an investment of 11 billion, over ten years. More specifically, the Government will provide British Columbia with an additional $1.4 billion in the next decade, of which:
  • $785.7 million will be dedicated to better home care – including addressing critical home care infrastructure requirements
  • $654.7 million will be allocated in support of mental health initiatives.
• $100 million to combat Canada’s opioid crisis, including urgently needed support of $10 million to the Government of British Columbia in February 2017, to address its opioid-related public health emergency.
• As part of a new National Housing Strategy, the Government will invest more than $11.2 billion in a range of initiatives designed to build, renew and repair Canada’s stock of affordable housing and help to ensure that Canadians have adequate and affordable housing that meets their needs.
• Budget 2017 proposes to invest an additional $7 billion over 10 years, starting in 2018–19, to support and create more high-quality, affordable child care spaces across the country. Over the next three years, these investments could increase the number of affordable child care spaces for low- and modest-income families by supporting up to 40,000 new subsidized child care spaces.
• Establishing a National Strategy to Address Gender-Based Violence that will help the government make informed decisions to advance the goals of gender equality, fairness, and stronger workforce participation – through an investment of $100.9 million over five years, beginning in 2017-18, and $20.7 million per year thereafter.
• Supporting a Community Heroes benefit that will give the much-needed help to families of public safety officers who have fallen in the line of duty – through an investment that will be announced in 2018-19 - $80M over 5 years starting in 2018/19.
• Strong support for business-led innovation “superclusters” – in key sectors such as digital and clean tech – that have the greatest potential to accelerate economic growth, through an investment of up to $950 million over five years, starting in 2017–18.
• Making Parental Leave more accessible by extending eligibility to allow parents to choose up to 18 months of benefits at a reduced rate.

Budget 2017 is a continuation of our Government’s commitment to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

By investing in the economy today, we will create a stronger economy for decades to come, and benefit Canadians today, and well into the future.

I invite your questions and look forward to your feedback and ideas on how we can work together and use the opportunities created by Budget 2017 to build a stronger future for Cloverdale - Langley City.  

Sincerely,

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

Open Letter: Statement on Anti-Islamophobia Motion (M-103)

Dear Cloverdale - Langley City residents,

In recent weeks, much attention has been given to Ms. Iqra Khalid’s (Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Erin Mills) Private Members’ Motion. This motion concerns systemic racism and religious discrimination, and is otherwise known as the “Anti-Islamophobia Motion.” A great deal of misinformation has been circulated regarding M-103, and concerns have been raised about its implications on Canadians’ right to freedom of speech, and its emphasis on one particular religion. 

While I unequivocally uphold the value and absolute necessity of free speech in Canada, M-103 is not in any measure an infringement on this right. This particular motion addresses rising anti-Islamic sentiment, and responds to dangerous and potentially violent undercurrents of thought amongst a slim minority of Canadians. 

According to police reports, hate crimes are declining in Canada but have doubled against the Muslim community since 2012. Although it should be noted that this motion was tabled before the horrific attack in Quebec City, this tragic event reaffirms the need for us to take action on Islamophobia.

A significant piece of misinformation that has been circulated about M-103 is that it would make criticizing religiously motivated violence a crime. Such an idea is categorically false. This is because M-103 is a motion, not a bill. The distinction is that while a passed bill does become law in Canada, a motion is a non-binding resolution in the House of Commons. What M-103 aims to accomplish is to condemn racist anti-Islamic sentiment and initiate a study in the Standing Committee on Heritage to explore ways to address the issue. 

This is also not the first such motion to be debated in the House of Commons, many of which have passed, often by unanimous consent. Relevant examples would be a unanimously adopted motion condemning anti-Semitism in early 2015 and most notably on October 26 a motion condemning all forms of Islamophobia was unanimously adopted in the House of Commons and supported by members of all parties.

In the same way that Canadians took a stand against hatred and violence perpetrated upon the Jewish community, M-103 decries similar acts carried out against our country’s Muslim population. It in no way limits an individual’s right to freedom of speech or alters the Criminal Code of Canada. Just as we must condemn violence in all forms, so too must we extend this condemnation to violence carried out upon Muslim Canadians who are our neighbours, classmates, colleagues and friends.

The Government of Canada firmly believes that diversity is our strength, and religious freedom is a value that Canadians hold dear. M-103 calls for a holistic way of combatting hatred, fear and violence across our country and is a victory not just for those targeted by these crimes, but for all of us who believe that Canada is made stronger by the diverse thoughts, opinions and faiths of all those who call this country home.

John Aldag
Member of Parliament
Cloverdale - Langley City

Open Letter: Electoral Reform in Canada

To the people of Cloverdale - Langley City,

On Wednesday, February 1st, the Government of Canada announced we would not continue pursuing changes to the way we vote in our federal elections. This came as a surprise to many Canadians who have been advocating for a change to our existing First Past the Post System, and I certainly understand the disappointment felt by many people across the country. As a member of the former Special Committee on Electoral Reform (ERRE), I would like to take this opportunity to explain the rationale behind our Government’s decision this week, and my thoughts on this decision.

From June to December of last year, I, along with colleagues from all parties in the House of Commons conducted a far-reaching study on changing Canada’s voting system. This experience gave Members insight into the various strengths and weaknesses of a wide array of electoral systems. What became clear quite quickly was that there is no perfect electoral model. Each one has its strengths, and each its downsides. This is true of all electoral systems, and is not why the Government of Canada is not pursuing electoral reform. 

At the same time, the Minister of Democratic Institutions attempted to engage Canadians on electoral reform in many ways. Despite these numerous efforts to consult with people across the country, what became evident was that Canadians, by and large, were not engaged with the process. Several polls conducted during the Committee’s study showed that electoral reform was the least, or near the least important issue to the majority of Canadians. There was, and continues to be, a commendably vocal community pushing for electoral reform. These individuals attended town halls across the country, wrote to their Member of Parliament, and participated in the variety of processes that were underway. I greatly enjoyed meeting these dedicated citizens and seeing their dedication to this issue. However, the argument that too few Canadians engaged in the process to confer a mandate to change the voting system is indisputable.

Another consideration that quickly became apparent once exploration of electoral reform began was that even among the community of individuals advocating to change our voting system, there was little consensus to be found. Those who participated indicated that Canada should transition to a proportional system of government, and the Committee’s majority report reflected this. With that being said, there are dozens of different systems of proportional government, and often, proponents of one proportional system had grave concerns about another. 

Electoral reform differs from many issues a Government faces on a daily basis. It concerns the fundamental way that Canadians connect to their democracy and their representatives, as well as how Government functions in our country. During the 2015 election campaign, the Liberal Party made a commitment to change the voting system. This commitment has now been retracted, but this decision was not done lightly. Much effort went into promoting this issue across the country, and both the Minister of Democratic Institutions and the ERRE Committee were deeply committed to hearing input from across the country. 

Some people have argued that input from Canadians is not inherently necessary to change the way we
vote. This is a perfectly reasonable argument, but I will explain why I disagree. While it is true that a government cannot conduct intensively broad consultations on every decision that is made, I believe that changing the nature of our democracy requires a unique level of explicit support from the citizens participating with it. Despite the efforts of all parties to engage in the issue, this was not reached, and pursuing sweeping changes without the expressed consent of Canadians would be a troubling breach of their confidence. This concern notwithstanding, the lack of consensus among those advocating reform adds another layer of ambiguity on how this would proceed.

Despite all this, I still believe there is substantial merit to electoral reform. Being on the ERRE Committee gave me the opportunity to study the issue closely and many experts in the field, both from Canada and internationally, gave insightful testimony into how change could benefit Canada. The Committee’s majority report recommended some measure of proportionality to be added to Canada’s electoral system, and I see the value in this change. For me personally, my conviction that the Government of Canada should not unilaterally change the electoral systems stems not from a disagreement with the value of electoral reform, but from my view that the way we vote is too fundamental to our society to change without adequate support. We must maintain the integrity of our electoral system and the trust Canadians have in our system. Changes cannot be rushed.

Although the Government of Canada will not be changing the voting system by 2019, this does not spell the end to democratic reform. The Minister of Democratic Institutions, Ms. Karina Gould, is continuing reforms to Canada’s Senate appointment process, making the Chamber less partisan and more responsive to the needs of Canadian people. We are also changing the way federal appointments are made, placing the emphasis on merit and technical ability, and making them less conducive to patronage appointments. In addition, our Government has tabled legislation that will repeal undemocratic aspects of the previous Government’s “Fair Elections Act,” which will abolish partisan politically-motivated changes that were made to the way Canadians vote. I will also continue to advocate for changes to our electoral system that will address concerns such as declining participation, particularly amongst youth.

While I respect and acknowledge that these words will not satisfy those who passionately believe in the necessity of electoral reform, I hope I have been able to articulate by beliefs surrounding the issue, and have clarified our Government’s reasons for not pursuing with the initiative. As always, I welcome response and feedback from all constituents, and I would encourage anyone who wishes to have a conversation about electoral reform, or any issue, to contact my office. Both I and my staff are always doing our best to serve the people of Cloverdale-Langley City.

Sincerely,

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City