Electoral reform plebiscite and not referendum

Electoral reform will be decided by a “plebiscite” as per the White Paper on Democratic Renewal (excerpt below).

A referendum is a legally binding public vote on a matter of public interest. This means the government that initiated the referendum must take necessary action that changes or implements new legislation and programs in response to the result of a vote.

In contrast, a plebiscite gauges public opinion on a matter of public interest but the results of the referendum are not binding on the government to act upon.

The issue is that a referendum would be a better choice for deciding matters of electoral reform because it is legally binding on the government, as opposed to a plebiscite which is only advisory or consultative.

References

• The Guardian: Premier MacLauchlan now cool to electoral reform?
  • “The Special Committee on Democratic Renewal tabled its initial report on Nov. 27. It recommended a second series of public consultations from mid-January to mid-March, 2016. It recommended that a public education campaign on electoral systems is required prior to a plebiscite taking place.It also noted that: “the system most advocated was proportional representation.”In the premier’s year-end interview with the CBC, he stated: “I’m not a believer in proportional representation.”

    He also said: “We shouldn’t be trying to upset the apple cart.”

    As of today there is no mention of further public meetings on the democratic renewal website. In the Nov. 12 Guardian editorial “the premier says he’s all for discussion and debate but there comes a time to make a decision.”

    The countless hours dedicated to this process by the committee members and the people who presented to it, were of little value, it seems, to the premier. His decision was made before the process began.“

• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Referendum: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/referendum/
• PEI Democratic Renewal: http://www.assembly.pe.ca/democraticrenewal/
  • Excerpt from White Paper on Democratic Renewal:
    “Hearing from Islanders: Engagement Processes 
    Electoral reform affects every Islander, and Government is committed to gaining the broadest possible public input on the important issues raised in this paper.
    A Special Legislative Committee will be struck to guide the process. The Committee will engage with experts, interested groups and Islanders to clarify the issues and options.
    Importantly, the Committee will define the plebiscite question to be presented to Islanders with regard to the future voting system. The Committee will present this question in the Legislative Assembly in its interim report, to be submitted by November 30, 2015. Further, the plebiscite question itself will be guided by a preferential ballot on the three voting options: (i) first past the post, the current system, (ii) a preferential ballot, (iii) proportional representation.
    During the fall and winter of 2015-2016, the Legislative Committee will reach out to Islanders to hear their views. In keeping with this Government’s commitment to maintain a face-to-face relationship with Islanders, public meetings will be held across the province. Written submissions will be welcomed, with comment on any or all of the matters set out in this discussion paper, as well as other democracy-related issues of concern. Comment can be submitted by mail, email, or on the Committee’s website.
    Islanders will also be invited to take part in the conversation about democratic renewal on the Committee’s Facebook page, and via Twitter.
    The Committee will work over the winter to finalize its report, in order that it may be tabled during the Spring 2016 sitting of the Legislative Assembly, to direct any proposed legislative or statutory changes, and to inform the work of the Electoral Boundaries Commission to be appointed in May 2016. “