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The genesis of this book was a Fraser Institute
conference on democratic reform in November 2001. This, in turn,
was inspired by the evident openness of the new government of
British Columbia (elected in May of 2001) to consider these
topics. Indeed, one of the first measures of that government was
to pass legislation providing for fixed-term elections (with
exceptions in case of defeat on a confidence motion). Further
promises included a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, now
constituted, and less clear commitments to parliamentary reform.
In this climate it seemed to us that the timing was right for a
new focus on democratic reform, building on the BC example. While
the central government was resisting any reform in its procedures
and institutions, other provincial forces - all parties in
Quebec, the Liberal Party of Ontario and the PEI legislature -
were actively considering some changes of this sort. There is
good reason for hope that progress in one part of Canada on this
or that reform may prove contagious to the benefit of the overall
system.
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