Select Committee Gathering Feedback on Democratic Participation

Your voice matters and the Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process wants to hear it.

The select committee is beginning to gather feedback from people throughout the province to help it try to discover ways to reverse the trend of fewer Nova Scotians voting in elections. By offering personal insight, Nova Scotians can help take a step toward a stronger, more representative government.

"We encourage Nova Scotians from all walks of life, in every community, to offer input on how to increase the number of people who vote," said select committee chair Michel Samson. "Participation in the democratic process is a cornerstone of a strong government and assuring everyone has a say in how the province is run."

Initial public comments, teamed with an analysis of past research, will help shape the actions of the select committee as it moves toward issuing a report and recommendations this winter.

The all-party committee, introduced by a resolution during the 2006 fall sitting of the House of Assembly, includes vice chairs Mark Parent and Maureen MacDonald as well as Pat Dunn, Keith Bain, Graham Steele, Charlie Parker, H. David Wilson and Harold (Junior) Theriault.

People can offer comments by calling, toll-free, at 1-888-388-6489 or 424-5787 in Halifax Regional Municipality, by fax at 902-424-0513 or e-mail at legcomm@gov.ns.ca . Comments can also be mailed to Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process, c/o Legislative Committees Office, 3rd Floor, Dennis Building, 1740 Granville St., P.O. Box 2630 Station M, Halifax, N.S., B3J 3N5.

For more information on the select committee, go to the website at www.gov.ns.ca/legislature and select the link on the lower left of the page.