Prof. Roderick Wood and Patricia Paradis, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Studies, appeared as witnesses before the Parliamentary Special Committee on Electoral Reform, at a meeting held in Leduc on September 29, 2016. Prof. Wood and Ms. Paradis had 10 minutes to make an opening statement, and then each of the 12 Members of Parliament on the Special Committee was given five minutes to pose questions.
Prof. Wood was a Commissioner with the Law Commission of Canada when it issued its Report on Electoral Reform to the Minister of Justice in 2004. He outlined the problems with the existing first-past-the-post system, and explained why the Law Commission of Canada came to the conclusion that a mixed member proportional (MMP) system was to be preferred. Ms. Paradis addressed the constitutional implications of reforming our electoral system, what amending formula would be engaged given different reform scenarios and the option of a reference to the Supreme Court of Canada. Both discussed whether a referendum is required to ensure the political legitimacy of any new electoral system.