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Bill C-344

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First Reading

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	2nd Session, 36th Parliament, 48 Elizabeth II, 1999
	The House of Commons of Canada
	BILL C-344
	An Act to provide for the study of proportional representation in federal elections and a national referendum on the recommendations that result from the study
	Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short title	1. This Act may be cited as the Proportional Representation Review Act.
Definitions	2. The definitions in this section apply in this Act.
``Minister'' « ministre »	``Minister'' means the member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada designated by the Governor in Council under subsection 4(3) of the Canada Elections Act.
``proportional representa- tion'' « représenta- tion proportion- nelle »	``proportional representation'' means an election process that provides for the allocation of some of the seats in a House to members democratically designated by parties so that the overall proportion of seats held in the House by each party approximates to the proportion of votes cast for the party on a national basis.
``Proportional Represen- tation Committee'' « Comité sur la représenta- tion proportion- nelle »	``Proportional Representation Committee'' means such committee with representation from all recognized parties in the House of Commons as the House may appoint for the purpose of this Act.
Committee study	3. The Proportional Representation Committee shall
	(a) conduct a process of public consultation on the question of whether the electoral process for membership of the House of Commons should include the principle of proportional representation;
	(b) study election systems outside Canada that include an element of proportional representation;
	(c) report to the House on its recommendations; and
	(d) include in the report a draft question to be put to the electors of Canada in a referendum under the Referendum Act in the form:
	``Are you in favour of replacing the present system of electing members of the House of Commons with (here is to be stated the proposed new system), YES or NO?''
Timing of study	4. The Proportional Representation Committee shall commence its deliberations promptly on receiving its instructions.
Public hearings	5. The Committee shall include public hearings in every province and territory during its process of public consultation.
Information to public on recommenda- tions	6. (1) When the House of Commons has concurred in the report of the Committee and the question or the report or the report and question as amended by the House, the Minister shall cause to be prepared and tabled in the House a detailed plan by which electors will be informed of the report and the text of the question and given sufficient information to allow them to make an informed decision when the referendum is held, and move a motion seeking the concurrence of the House in the plan.
Public informed	(2) When the plan referred to in subsection (1) has been approved by the House, the Minister shall cause it to be carried out in a timely manner having regard to the date the referendum is to be held pursuant to section 7.
Proclamation of referendum	7. The Governor in Council shall, by proclamation issued in the manner provided in section 3 of the Referendum Act, direct that the opinion of electors be obtained on the referendum question by putting the question or the question as amended by the House of Commons, as the case may be, before or at the same time as the next general election of members to the House of Commons.

Bill C-344

BILL C-344