For Immediate Release December 18, 2002

Mark outraged: Liberals kill democratic reform

Ottawa – On December 10^th, Liberal MP’s reversed themselves and voted down a parliamentary reform proposal that would have increased the opportunity for each Member of Parliament to introduce votable legislation.

At present, bills and motions introduced by individual Members of Parliament are put into a lottery. Only 30 are drawn every few months.  The Members whose bills or motions are drawn, present their case to a screening committee.  That committee declares 10 bills (motions) votable meaning they can be voted on by the House of Commons.  Those deemed not votable are debated and discarded.

Last month, the House Procedure Committee voted to support new rules allowing every M.P. to have one votable bill or motion each year.  Yesterday, the same committee reversed this decision.

Inky Mark, M.P. for Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette commented, “This idea had been discussed in the House of Commons for about 10 years and would have been a great step forward in parliamentary reform.”

“Canadians would have had the opportunity to introduce changes to federal laws directly through their M.P.’s.  Instead, the Liberals have buried their hopes for democratic reform on the Hill.  Where is Paul Martin?  His silence is deafening.”

“What happened between the time the committee unanimously agreed to the idea and their reversal?  Canadians deserve better than to be invited to the table only to be turned down at the door without explanation,” Mark concluded.