New Brunswick Liberal Leadership Race: Where Do They Stand on Proportional Representation?
The New Brunswick Liberal Party is electing a new leader. It’s hard to overstate the importance of the party leader to progress towards electoral reform.
The deadline to join the party to vote for a delegate to the leadership convention has passed (members needed to submit an Intent to Vote form by June 15, 2022). Voting period begins 2 pm on July 30th, 2022 and ends 2 pm on Convention Day, August 6th, 2022.
Fair Vote Canada’s Fredericton Chapter sent a questionnaire to all of the leadership candidates. See their responses below. Candidate responses are listed in the order received. TJ Harvey and Robert Gauvin did not respond.
Even if you are not a New Brunswick Liberal Party member, you can encourage the party to adopt a strong policy on proportional representation and citizens’ assembly by sharing the positions of the candidates.
Important Notes
Fair Vote Canada supports an independent, non-partisan Citizens’ Assembly as an evidence-based process to build consensus that we can trust. A Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform would fairly consider all options, free of partisan self-interest. Learn more about citizens’ assemblies here.
Fair Vote Canada does not support the winner-take-all ranked ballot (properly called Alternative Vote). Winner-take-all ranked ballots can deliver results that are equally or more disproportional than our current first-past-the-post system. Learn more about the problems with winner-take-all ranked ballots.
You can contact the Fredericton chapter of Fair Vote Canada at [email protected]
Donald Arsenault
I do believe in a preferential ballot where a winning candidate needs to receive 50% + 1, as we are currently doing in the NB Liberal Leadership race. I categorically will not entertain or implement a mixed proportional representation system.
Susan Holt
Yes, electoral reform will be a priority for me as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party.
Full Responses from Liberal Leadership Candidates to Fair Vote Canada’s Questionnaire
Donald Arsenault
Q1 – Do you believe the current electoral system accurately represents the will of the electorate in New Brunswick?
There are always improvements that can be made, including in our electoral system.
Q2 – If not, what sort of reform do you believe is needed?
I do believe in a preferential ballot where a winning candidate needs to receive 50% + 1, as we are currently doing in the NB Liberal Leadership race. I categorically will not entertain or implement a mixed proportional representation system.
Q3 – If elected as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal party, would electoral reform be a priority for you?
Focusing on reducing the financial and emotional burden on families is my top priority. Although some type of electoral reform is needed, there are many pressing issues that need to be focused on. But if I can, I would make some changes as mentioned in my response to Q2.
Q4 –If elected as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal party, would you favour creating an independent, non-partisan citizens assembly to recommend what is needed? (See here for more information about a citizens’ assembly). What do you see as the next step after the citizens’ assembly delivers a recommendation?
Susan Holt
Q1 – Do you believe the current electoral system accurately represents the will of the electorate?
No, I do not believe the current electoral system accurately represents the will of the electorate of New Brunswick.
Q2 – What sort of reform do you believe is needed?
I believe we need to examine alternative voting systems, and expand the right to vote.
Q3 – If elected as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal party, would electoral reform be a priority for you?
Yes, electoral reform will be a priority for me as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party.
Q4 -If elected as leader of the New Brunswick Liberal party, would you favour creating a citizens assembly to recommend what is needed and how to proceed?