Women and Electoral Reform

RECOMMENDATIONS
Women and Electoral Reform Policy Guide
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The following guiding principle informs the Prince Edward Island
Advisory Council on the Status of Women’s recommendations on
Women and Electoral Reform:
Governm ent’s responsibility
to update the electoral
system
That, regardless of the results of the November 2005 plebiscite on PEI’s
Electoral Future, the Government of Prince Edward Island is responsible to
make a public commitment to ongoing review and reform of our electoral
system and legislative practices to ensure they
a)
b)
c)
Goals for future electoral
reform
September 2005
match the evolving democratic values of citizens,
meet the principles upheld in the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms, and
model the best international standards and practices in advancing
human rights, equity, and diversity.
Government should measure progress towards goals including
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
a provincial legislative assembly that more truly reflects the diversity of
the province’s population, including increased representation of women
in the legislature,
increased and better balanced representation of women and diverse
Islanders on appointed boards, commissions, and tribunals,
increased priority for policy, legislation, and economic development that
promote women's equality and diversity,
processes for meaningful public consultation in decision-making,
including a strong role for women's equality-seeking groups,
analysis of electoral processes through a gender and diversity lens,
gender- and diversity-responsive budgeting.
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR GOVERNMENT
Actions for governm ent if
Islanders choose M MP
If the November 2005 plebiscite results indicate support for a mixed member
proportional electoral system, the ACSW recommends
a)
b)
Actions for governm ent if
Islanders choose FPTP
that government proceed swiftly to put in place a mixed member
proportional electoral system based on the model proposed by the
Commission on Prince Edward Island’s Electoral Future.
that policies related to implementing the mixed member proportional
electoral system be applied to their best advantage to support the goal
of improving women's representation in PEI's legislature.
If the plebiscite results indicate insufficient support for a mixed member
proportional electoral system at this time, the ACSW recommends
a)
b)
c)
that government move quickly to make a commitment to ongoing
electoral reform on a very specific timeline and with concrete targets.
that any electoral reform broadens the conception of fairness in the
electoral system beyond geographic and population balance.
that government ensure that women’s equality-seeking groups and
politically under-represented groups (including women, Aboriginal
Islanders, Acadian and Francophone Islanders, visible minorities,
Islanders with disabilities or low incomes, and others) are included in
future discussions of electoral reform.
PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Women and Electoral Reform Policy Guide
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR GOVERNMENT
(continued)
Regularly reviewing
electoral reform s
September 2005
That any model of electoral reform put in place be reviewed on a regular
basis and be formally, publicly reviewed following the second election run
under the new or updated electoral system.
Accepting electoral
boundaries report
That government act immediately (even in advance of the Nov. 2005
plebiscite) to approve the electoral boundaries set forth in the October 5,
2004, report of the PEI Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Setting boundaries in
advance of elections
That electoral boundaries be set at least one year in advance of any election,
to ensure that political parties are able to approach women candidates and
those candidates are able to make arrangements to be ready to run.
Setting fixed election dates
That government implement fixed election dates for provincial elections.
Passing referendum
legislation
That government develop binding referendum legislation, in consultation
with the public and especially women's equality-seeking groups.
Prom oting work/life balance
for elected officials
That government commit to an open public consultation on reforming the
way the legislature works, with a special focus on improving work/life balance
for politicians and developing job descriptions for MLAs..
Equity in appointm ents to
boards & com m issions
That government review its policies and practices regarding appointment of
boards, commissions, and tribunals and apply gender-based analysis to
identify barriers to women's full and equal participation.
Providing caregiving
subsidies
That government members and members of all provincially appointed
boards and commissions be offered caregiving subsidies for the time that
they commit to work for the public good.
Financial incentives for
nom inating wom en
That government implement financial incentives for parties to meet targets
and goals for nominating women candidates.
Establishing a wom en’s
com m ission
That government immediately initiate an all-party women's commission, to
include all women MLAs.
Developing curriculum on
wom en in politics
That the Department of Education develop curriculum materials that support
increased participation of women in all aspects of political life.
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR POLITICAL PARTIES
Accepting plebiscite results
That provincial political parties and all MLAs publicly commit to accepting
the results of the November 2005 plebiscite on PEI’s Electoral Future and
further commit to collaborating to ongoing electoral reform to keep our
electoral system up to date.
Nom inating nine wom en
That provincial political parties meet their public commitment to the PEI
Coalition for Women in Government to each nominate at least nine women
candidates in the next provincial election.
M aking nom ination
processes m ore equitable
Supporting efforts to
increase wom en’s
participation
That provincial political parties review rules and policies for nominations to
identify and eliminate barriers for women’s participation. If PEI chooses a
mixed member proportional electoral system, this review should lead to clear
policies on both district and list nomination processes.
That provincial political parties support non-partisan and multi-partisan
initiatives to increase women’s participation in government, such as
Women's Campaign Schools and an all-party women’s commission.
PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
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