Canada lacks a practical ability to channel frustrations from citizens to governments
A vast gulf exists between Canada’s chattering classes – many politicians, some journalists and a plethora of academics – and citizens on multiple issues, including most recently the self-described Freedom Convoy. It has much to do with the lack of the feedback mechanisms found in other countries: direct democracy, otherwise known as referendums, on laws…
An Alberta Taxpayer Protection Act, recall legislation, and a fair deal for the province within Canada a good place to start
With the Alberta government steamrolling towards a $100-billion debt tab, things aren’t exactly rainbows and lollipops for taxpayers these days. Fortunately, there are three ways MLAs can help taxpayers get ahead in the upcoming legislative session: increase government accountability, find savings at the top of the bureaucratic pyramid and reignite Alberta’s fight for fairness. It’s…
The shambles of the Iowa caucuses reconfirms that electronic voting is still a long way off
The recent Iowa caucuses debacle reminded me of two things. First, my about-face as a member of the New Brunswick Commission on Electoral Reform with respect to electronic voting. Second, further confirmation that the electronic infrastructure continues to be an impediment in advancing digital democracy. The 21st century has empowered humanity with electronic connectivity and…
How a government can claim consensus without asking the question is quite a head-scratcher
Quebec Justice Minister Sonia LeBel recently announced that the government is moving forward with electoral reform. Yet unlike other provincial governments, rather than proceed with a referendum, the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government will table a bill to move Quebec to a mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system before Oct. 1. LeBel claims that the…
No electoral system has a monopoly on either preventing or fostering far right parties
By Seth Klein and Vyas Saran Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Endlessly repeating that proportional representation should be rejected because it will enable far right or extremist political parties is clearly a core assertion of the No side in B.C.’s electoral reform referendum debate. It’s a bogus claim. No electoral system has a monopoly on either…
In all three models being considered in the B.C. referendum, every MLA will be accountable to either a local riding or region
Local representation in our democracy matters to most of us, and rightly so. While our current first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system has many faults, one of its most popular features is that every member of the legislative assembly represents – and, in theory, is accountable to – a local constituency. To speak with a political representative…
Former NDP Premiers Glen Clark and Ujjal Dosanjh may be against electoral reform, but retired lawyer Ian MacLeod expresses his opposition best
We’re in the midst of a mail-in referendum in British Columbia that could dramatically change – and not for the better – how democracy does or doesn’t work in the province. We should really suspect that something is wrong with the proposed changes when people from both major political parties are opposed to the initiative,…
Replacing the existing system with proportional representation will result in a government of chaos
The B.C. referendum on how citizens elect those who govern them is fast approaching. The current system has given us viable government for a long time. But like most things in the real world, it’s not perfect. Those who live in a riding that’s considered safe for a party other than the one they choose…
B.C.’s electoral reform referendum could lead to more shaky coalitions and less effective government
Some see the upcoming B.C. referendum on electoral reform – whether the province should switch to a proportional representation (PR) voting system – as a blatant attempt by the B.C. Green Party to secure more power. While it’s clear that under any form of PR, the Greens could increase their seat share, there would also…
Ontario’s recent election results signal Canada’s wider democratic dilemma
Ontario’s June election was one for change and Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives emerged the victors. Unfortunately, many voters believe their vote didn’t count. Thanks to our first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, they’re right. Once again, there’s an overwhelming majority provincial government in Canada elected by a minority of voters. Just over 40 per cent of voters supported Ford's Progressive Conservatives.…