Do the Tories have any experts on their side to defend Unfair Elections Act?

Pierre Poilievre, the minister of state for democratic reform stick handling the proposed new election law for the Conservative government, is seriously outnumbered here.

A week after Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada, delivered a detailed and devastating critique of the act before a parliamentary hearing, 160 academics issued their own analysis on Tuesday in an open letter to the government.

We, the undersigned — professors at Canadian universities who study the principles and institutions of constitutional democracy — believe that the Fair Elections Act (Bill C-23), if passed, would damage the institution at the heart of our country’s democracy: voting in federal elections.

 

We urge the Government to heed calls for wider consultation in vetting this Bill. While we agree that our electoral system needs some reforms, this Bill contains proposals that would seriously damage the fairness and transparency of federal elections and diminish Canadians’ political participation.

 

Beyond our specific concerns about the Bill’s provisions (see below), we are alarmed at the lack of due process in drafting the Bill and in rushing it through Parliament. We see no justification for introducing legislation of such pivotal importance to our democracy without significant consultation with Elections Canada, opposition parties, and the public at large.

Surely the Conservative government won’t try to dismiss all these political scientists, law profs and historians as partisan hacks or out-of-touch academics, right?

• Monique Deveaux, Professor of Philosophy, University of Guelph
• Melissa Williams, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Maxwell Cameron, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Yasmin Dawood, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Toronto
• Patti Tamara Lenard, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Genevieve Fuji Johnson, Associate Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Arash Abizadeh, Associate Professor of Political Science, McGill University
• Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Cameron Anderson, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Western Ontario
• Christopher G. Anderson, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Lesley Andres, Professor of Education, University of British Columbia
• Caroline Andrew, Professor, Centre on Governance, University of Ottawa, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Barbara Arneil, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Yildiz Atasoy, Professor of Sociology, Simon Fraser University
• Chloë G. K. Atkins, Associate Professor of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary
• Michael Atkinson, Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Gerald Baier, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Ryan Balot, Professor of Political Science and Classics, University of Toronto
• Keith Banting, Professor of Political Studies, Queen’s University, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Sylvia Bashevkin, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Ronald Beiner, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Davina Bhandar, Associate Professor of Canadian Studies, Trent University
• Laurence Bheher, Associate Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal
• Antoine Bilodeau, Associate Professor of Political Science, Concordia University
• André Blais, Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Charles Blattberg, Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal
• Pierre Bosset, Professor of Public Law, Université du Québec à Montréal
• Sophie Bourgault, Assistant Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
• Leah Bradshaw, Professor of Political Science, Brock University
• Penny Bryden, Professor of History, University of Victoria
• Gillian Calder, Associate Professor of Law, University of Victoria
• David Cameron, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Joseph Carens, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Don Carmichael, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Paul R. Carr, Associate Professor of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Lakehead University
• R. Kenneth Carty, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Julián Castro-Rea, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Simone Chambers, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Mary Chapman, Associate Professor of English, University of British Columbia
• Ryoa Chung, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Université de Montréal
• Colin Coates, Professor of Canadian Studies, York University
• Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• John Courtney, Professor of Political Science, University of Saskatchewan, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Hugo Cyr, Professor of Political Science and Law, Université du Québec à Montréal
• Rita Dhamoon, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria
• Alexandra Dobrowolsky, Professor of Political Science, Saint Mary’s University
• Stefan Dolgert, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Brock University
• Mathieu Doucet, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Waterloo
• Janique Dubois, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Brock University
• Pascale Dufour, Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal
• Avigail Eisenberg, Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria
• Lynda Erickson, Professor Emerita of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Patrick Fafard, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Katherine Fierlbeck, Professor of Political Science, Dalhousie University
• Craig Forcese, Associate Professor of Law, University of Ottawa
• Cristie Ford, Associate Professor of Law, University of British Columbia
• Andrea Geiger, Associate Professor of History, Simon Fraser University
• Elisabeth Gidengil, Professor of Political Science, McGill University, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Pablo Gilabert, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Concordia University
• Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Associate Professor Political Studies, Queen’s University
• Joyce Green, Professor of Political Science, University of Regina
• Rodney Haddow, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Blayne Haggart, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Brock University
• Marc Hanvelt, Adjunct Research Professor of Political Science, Carleton University
• Lois Harder, Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Kathryn Harrison, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Matthew Hayday, Associate Professor of History, University of Guelph
• Andrew Heard, Associate Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Joseph Heath, Professor of Philosophy and School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto
• Matthew James, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria
• Laura Janara, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Nancy Janovicek, Associate Professor of History, University of Calgary
• Leslie Jeffrey, Professor of History and Politics, University of New Brunswick, Saint John
• Candace Johnson, Associate Professor of Political Science, Guelph University
• Rebecca Johnson, Professor of Law, University of Victoria
• Richard Johnston, Professor of Political Science, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Luc Juillet, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Darlene Juschka, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Women’s Studies, University of Regina
• David Kahane, Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Willeen Keough, Associate Professor of History, Simon Fraser University
• Loren King, Associate Professor of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Rebecca Kingston, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• David Laycock, Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Patrick Leblond, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Jean Leclair, Professor of Law, Université de Montréal
• Lawrence Leduc, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Theresa Lee, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Guelph
• Rémi Léger, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Hester Lessard, Professor of Law, University of Victoria
• Dominique Leydet, Professor of Philosophy, Université du Québec à Montréal
• James Lightbody, Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Mary Liston, Assistant Professor of Law, University of British Columbia
• Catherine Lu, Associate Professor of Political Science, McGill University
• Audrey Macklin, Professor and Chair in Human Rights Law, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
• Colin Macleod, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Law, University of Victoria
• Jocelyn Maclure, Professor of Philosophy, Université Laval
• Patricia Marino, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Waterloo
• John McGarry, Professor of Political Science, Queen’s University
• Michael McGregor, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Studies, Bishop’s University
• Loralea Michaelis, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Mount Allison University
• Éric Montpetit, Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal
• Margaret Moore, Professor of Political Studies, Queen’s University
• Suzanne Morton, Professor of History and Classical Studies, McGill University
• Catherine Murray, Professor of Communication, Simon Fraser University
• Christian Nadeau, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Université de Montréal
• James Naylor, Associate Professor of History, Brandon University
• Jennifer Nedelsky, Professor of Law and Political Science, University of Toronto
• Carmen J. Nielson, Associate Professor of History, Mount Royal University
• Geneviève Nootens, Professor of Social Sciences, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
• Nancy Olewiler, Professor of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University
• Brenda O’Neill, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary
• Michael Orsini, Associate Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
• Martin Papillon, Associate Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
• Steve Patten, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Omid Payrow Shabani, Professor of Philosophy, University of Guelph
• Dennis Pilon, Associate Professor of Political Science, York University
• Florence Piron, Professor of Information and Communication, Université Laval
• Pablo Policzer, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary
• Philip Resnick, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Kent Roach, Professor of Law, University of Toronto
• Douglas A. Ross, Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Jason Roy, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Claudia Ruitenberg, Associate Professor of Educational Studies, University of British Columbia
• Peter Russell, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Toronto, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Paul Saurette, Associate Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
• Carol Schick, Associate Professor of Education, University of Regina
• David Schneiderman, Professor of Law, University of Toronto
• Christa Scholtz, Associate Professor of Political Science, McGill University
• Richard Schultz, Professor of Political Science, McGill University
• Leslie Seidle, research director, Institute for Research on Public Policy
• Ozlem Sensoy, Associate Professor of Education, Simon Fraser University
• Grace Skogstad, Professor of Political Science, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Harry Smalier, Associate Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, York University
• David E. Smith, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, Ryerson University, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Jennifer Smith, Professor Emerita of Political Science, Dalhousie University
• Miriam Smith, Professor of Law and Society, York University, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Patrick Smith, Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Robert Sparling, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal
• Mark Spooner, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Regina
• Maxime St-Hilaire, Assistant Professor of Law, Université de Sherbrooke
• Christine Straehle, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Veronica Strong-Boag, Professor Emerita, Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice/Educational Studies, University of British Columbia, and Past President, Canadian Historical Association
• Lisa Taylor, Professor of Education, Bishop’s University
• Melanee Thomas, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary
• Reeta Tremblay, Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• James Tully, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Law, Indigenous Governance and Philosophy, University of Victoria
• Luc Turgeon, Assistant Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
• Patrick Turmel, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Université Laval
• Ian Urquhart, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
• Robert Vipond, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
• Jennifer Wallner, Assistant Professor of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
• Jeremy Webber, Dean of Law, University of Victoria
• Mark Warren, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
• Lorraine E. Weinrib, Professor of Law, University of Toronto
• Daniel Weinstock, Professor of Law, McGill University
• Steven Weldon, Associate Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
• Graham White, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto at Mississauga, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association
• Lisa Young, Professor of Political Science, University of Calgary
• Margot Young, Professor of Law, University of British Columbia
• Robert Young, Professor of Political Science, University of Western Ontario, and Past President, Canadian Political Science Association

Photo: emmettgrrrl. Used under a Creative Commons BY 2.0 licence.