Hey Flanagan, the Liberals weren't elected because of  their commitment to electoral reform. Nobody in the country had been talking about it before last year's election. And it was not a mandate. It was one of many promises that can't be kept by the current government. You are a political scientist TOM and it is for personal reasons that you support the idea of electoral reform. It will give you and your many colleagues at universities something to do. It will help you maintain your "importance" with the media and among politicians.  Uh-oh. committees and task forces and federal-provincial-territorial talks touring the country. Yaawwn. 
Change/abolish the Senate before treading down this dangerous and grand waste of time with electoral reform. Ironically, change to the Senate does "require" a referendum constitutionally. Change to the House doesn't. I see attempts at change to the House of Commons system dividing the country far more than need be. All goes well.  Relax, professor.