Wednesday May 28, 2025 | OTTAWA, ON reporting from VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Elizabeth May opened her comments in the House of Commons today by thanking the voters of Saanich-Gulf Islands for returning her to elected office.
“It is the honour of my life to do so,” she said in representing the riding where she has now been elected five times (2011, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2025).
She highlighted her gratitude to 350 volunteers who helped her succeed in what was a tough four-way race in Saanich-Gulf Islands during the federal election campaign in April.
Lone Green:
This past weekend, May announced that she would not seek election to the Speaker’s position of the House of Commons — something that was long a dream of hers, so that she could continue to be a voice for the Green Party in Parliament.
She was the only Green MP elected to the House of Commons on April 28, 2025.
She said on May 25 that she will alternate her messaging in the House of Commons in this 45th Parliament between addressing concerns about climate change and the need for electoral reform.
Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform:
On behalf of many constituents I’m rising to present a petition — and not for the first time — a petition pointing out that there’s a strong desire across the country for electoral reform.
An Angus Reid poll conducted recently (September 2024) showed that 85% of respondents want to see a citizens assembly “to choose a form of electoral reform to replace the perverse first-past-the-post system”, said May today.
The first-past-the-post system has been carried forward from the old British Parliamentary system that was first formed based on the assumption of two ‘natural ruling parties’, effectively what would be Liberal and Conservative in our Canadian parliamentary system.
First-past-the-post is based on ‘winner takes all’ rather than reflecting the blend of what a complex society wants or needs.
Reflecting the will of the voting public:
“The government of the day should put in place a mechanism to bind the consensus among Canadian citizens who want to see fair voting that reflects the will of the voting public to make sure that the Parliament voters get is the Parliament voters voted for,” said May in the House of Commons today.
The petition calls for a Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform to be completed within 12 months and recommended changes put in place before the next election.
===== RELATED:
- Elizabeth May chooses party over parliament (May 25, 2025)
- Elizabeth May on solo Green journey back to Ottawa (May 23, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: 45th PARLIAMENT OF CANADA | GREEN PARTY OF CANADA | FEDERAL ELECTION 2025