Although there has been a lot of talk about Canadian values of late, there is another, less scandalous discussion taking place that has the federal Liberals asking about our values as they pertain to democracy, specifically the election ballot. It is the basis for a new survey about electoral reform.
It is part of a dialogue on changing the way Members of Parliament are chosen, to be more representative of the overall vote.
The survey questions are not about specific types of alternative voting methods. They are about collaboration in decision making and accountability. It sounds a bit airy fairy and perhaps it is but the underlying theme of the questions is, should there be more parties in parliament and should parliament better reflect the diversity of the nation? This is an attractive proposal for people who do not feel represented by Canada’s three established political parties – Liberal, Conservative or NDP.
The Liberals were elected on a platform that included electoral reform. They committed to changing the voting method, replacing first past the post by the next election in 2019. As a result they struck a committee to study alternatives. That committee recommended holding a referendum on proportional representation.
This was a hot topic before the 2007 referendum on whether or not Ontario should change over to the mixed member proportional vote. The result: 63 per cent voted against the change.
It was a very interesting time because more people than usual were engaged in the ideology of our democratic system. Students were learning about the first past the post system but also about proportional representation as more than just theory, but something that could actually happen by the time they cast a ballot for the first time.
Of course that didn’t happen but those students who were learning about alternative voting methods in their Grade 5 classes would now be old enough to vote. To them, proportional representation is not a completely foreign concept and perhaps an attractive alternative.
It’s worth doing the survey, to let the feds know that we, as voters, are willing to engage in this very difficult discussion. It is complex and the Liberals may not be able to get this done by 2019 but if they get another kick at the can, it could have a long lasting and meaningful impact on the future of this country.
Visit MyDemocracy.ca to complete the survey.
Speaking of MPs, Simcoe-Grey rep and Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch did not appear at the Creemore Santa Claus Parade on Saturday but she did appear in the Stayner parade. Her people said Leitch was attending an event at the home of MPP Jim Wilson that day and also attended something in Collingwood.
Given everything that has happened, and that Leitch has a home outside of Creemore, it would have been big of her to join the parade and for the sake of her supporters and critics.