Without approval via referendum, changes to Canada’s electoral system might be unconstitutional

TORONTO—The federal government must hold a national referendum on any changes to the country’s electoral rules, in order to abide by well-established conventions, otherwise any changes are likely unconstitutional, finds a new essay released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Any changes to the way Canadians elect their federal government, without consent from the electorate, might be unconstitutional because it would violate conventions established over the years,” said Lydia Miljan, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Windsor, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and editor of The Imperative of a Referendum.