North Okanagan-Shuswap MP insists there is a need for Canadians to be more involved in the future of elections.
Mel Arnold has released the results of a survey on a proposed national referendum on the question of electoral reform.
“Canadians deserve a chance to vote on whether or not our system of democracy is changed," he said.
Arnold’s survey about electoral reform went out to North Okanagan-Shuswap residents in the summer and 2,627 responses were returned.
Of the responses received, 1.3 per cent were undecided, 25.1 per cent were opposed and 74 per cent were in favour of a referendum on electoral reform.
“It is encouraging to see a strong response from constituents,” said Arnold.
“Canadians have demonstrated that they are concerned about electoral reform and they want a national referendum to allow voters to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to changing Canada’s system of democracy.”
An all-party parliamentary committee established in May to study electoral reform is scheduled to submit a report and recommendations to Parliament by Dec. 1 and the government is expected to introduce an electoral reform bill in 2017.
"I will continue to press the government for a referendum that I and a majority of respondents from the North Okanagan- Shuswap both want and deserve," said Arnold.