September 14, 2016

Hon. Maryam Monsef

Minister of Democratic Institutions
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ont. K1A0A6

Dear Minister,
As members of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform, we would like to recognize your important
work towards our shared goal of renewing Canadian democracy.
Our committee is at a turning point, where we are moving away from the corridors of Parliament and
into communities across Canada. Over the next few months, Canadians will be turning their attention in
growing numbers to the work of our committee.
At this juncture, our work will turn from the abstract to the concrete. Canadians will want to know how
the various proposals for electoral reform would work and what they would look like in practice.
We are writing to propose that your department work with the members of the special committee to
select electoral experts who would create modelling of the electoral reform systems under
consideration for Canada. Specifically, we would like to have modelling done for mixed-member
proportional, single transferable vote, and the rural-urban proportional system proposed by former
Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley.
Some basic modelling of this nature is essential to any concrete discussion of proposals for a made-inCanada voting system whether for the committees own deliberations, or for the publics
consideration.

Canadians should be able to weigh these proposals as we continue the work of our committee and tour
around the country. We propose that sample electoral maps, ballots, and other concrete aids be drafted
to accompany each model as well. As this work is beyond the capacity of the committees staff and
budget, we are proposing that funding for this modelling be drawn from your departments budget,
which received $10.7 million in Budget 2016 for raising awareness about electoral reform.
We would be pleased to discuss this proposal at your earliest convenience.
Cordially,

Nathan Cullen
MP SkeenaBulkley Valley

Scott Reid
MP LanarkFrontenacKingston

Elizabeth May
MP SaanichGulf Islands