Letter to the Editor

And so with these words announced Feb. 1 by Karina Gould, the newly appointed Minister of Democratic Institutions, Justin Trudeau has killed his promise for electoral reform: “A clear preference for a new electoral system, let alone a consensus, has not emerged. Furthermore, without a clear preference or a clear question, a referendum would not be in Canada’s interest. Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate.”

This shocking announcement comes on the heels of the just released mydemocracy survey results which indicate that 80% of Canadians are only marginally satisfied with Canada’s democracy. Forty-four per cent of  Canadians admitted they don’t vote because they are “frustrated with politics”.

That’s not surprising given that the Broadbent Institute found that 46%, almost half of voters, did not vote for the political party of their first choice in the last election. In spite of the survey’s misleading language, an overwhelming majority of Canadians expressed strong support for more cooperation, compromise and collaboration in their government. Those are all hallmarks of proportional voting systems.

Just prior to the government’s mydemocracy survey, the all-party special committee on electoral reform, ERRE, produced their comprehensive report on Dec. 1. They spent the summer and fall consulting with the highest level of researchers and practitioners of democratic systems from Canada and around the globe as well as with Canadians all across the country.

Their majority report found that 80-90% of Canadians want a proportional voting system, albeit with a referendum. The Liberals on the committee disagreed, saying that change before 2019 would be too radical.

So how does Justin Trudeau leapfrog from the mydemocracy survey results this past week and the ERRE report of Dec. 1, 2016 to today’s announcement in which he blamed Canadians?  Simple. He lied. He ditched his promise to make 2015 the last election under FPTP and to make every vote count, adding that it would be a wrong decision for Canadians.

When politicians make strong promises and then break them for self-serving reasons, it undermines democracy in a most cynical way. We have every right to be angry. When Trudeau won the election he said, “In Canada better is always possible.” Well, he’s right, we deserve much better.

Do not let your silence give consent. Write an email, send a letter, phone Justin Trudeau.

Come out to a rally at noon on Saturday, February 11, amenity area, 400 block Baker Street. Let them hear us roar.

Ann Remnant, FairVote Kootenays and

Sandra Nelken, Council of Canadians,

Nelson

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