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LeBlanc, pressed on whether Candians could choose to keep the current system, known as “first past the post,” initially indicated that all options are possible, and nothing as being excluded. Shortly afterwards Monsef contradicted him, asserting that “our commitment to end the first past the post system was clear” during the election campaign, and that it was therefor “the will of the people” that a new process be adopted.

Neither had a good answer when asked why, if they were committed to greater fairness, they gave Liberals six of the 10 seats on the special committee, which will report to a government with a Liberal majority. Nor could they explain how they could suggest all options remain on the table – including the status quo – while also insisting they will keep their promise to introduce a new system before the next election.

As the questions went on the discrepancies piled up. The special committee is to deliver its findings by Dec. 1, 2016. The next election is due in the fall of 2019. Elections Canada has indicated it needs two years to implement a new electoral system, which leaves just a few months after the report is due for the government to pick a system that will upend more than 150 years of democratic success and replace it with an entirely new form of choosing governments. How could LeBlanc and Monsef hope to complete their broad, exhaustive, representative evaluations given such a tight window?

The answer came from Monsef, and hinted at the approach the Liberals will take to their reform agenda. Liberals, she said, hope that “narrow partisan interests” can be kept out of the debate, enabling a quick turnaround between delivery of the report and the government’s decision.