The Wednesday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories
Highlights from the news file for Wednesday, Feb. 1
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TRUDEAU ABANDONS PROMISE TO CHANGE VOTING SYSTEM: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is abandoning his long-held promise to change the way Canadians vote in federal elections — an about-face that has opposition rivals seeing red. In a mandate letter for newly appointed Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould, Trudeau makes it clear that electoral reform — once top of mind for the Liberal government — is no longer on the agenda. “Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate,” the prime minister writes in the letter, released Wednesday. A variety of consultations across the country have shown that Canadians are not clamouring for a change in the way they choose their federal government, the letter continues. It also rules out the possibility of a national referendum.
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