Article content

Have the Liberals abandoned their efforts to gerrymander the electoral system to their advantage?

An interview on the weekend with the hapless democratic institutions minister, Maryam Monsef, suggested they may be wavering in their commitment to make the 2015 election the last held under the current first past the post system.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or John Ivison: Signs Liberals may be wavering on electoral reform Back to video

“Canadians can rest assured that unless we have their broad buy-in, we’re not moving forward with any changes,” she told the Toronto Star.

At first blush, this looks as if the Liberals have recognized their efforts to stack the parliamentary committee looking at the options might upset even those normally friendly to the government. “Broad buy-in” would suggest a majority of Canadians supporting any new voting proposal in a referendum.

Opposition parties rubbed their palms and looked forward to grilling the minister in question period.

There is a cruel natural selection process in the parliamentary jungle and the rookie minister has been identified as the weakest link.