Petition Against Liberal Election Changes

[smitty55]

I don't know exactly what these changes entail, but I do know I don't trust them further than I can crap and these changes won't benefit anyone but the liberal party. So I would encourage anyone who believes in Democracy to sign this petition and force a referendum on this matter.

https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Sign/e-48

Cheers

[terrym]

Unfortunately when Canadians gave him a strong majority like they did "forcing" him to do anything went out the window. He can paint Parliament hill red if he wants. The hypocrisy in all this is if you go back to Confederation power has gone back and forth between Libs and Cons regularly and if anything slanting to the Libs. How this system is so broken escapes me. You could make it illegal for ridings to publicly report results until 24 hours after every poll in the country closes and that would go a long way to making the West not feel like they don't matter or prevent the bandwagon effect.
the other issue is individual MP's are mostly trained seals who are paid to vote as the PM wants them to. Creating a system where an MP is more influential/useful would be better than jigging the system to favour the Libranos into perpetuity would be far more democratic. JT has said he will revoke the transparency measures for First Nations Chiefs. How this will help the bands escapes me. For a government with less than 40% of the vote to change the fundamentals of our electoral system without a Referendum smacks of dictatorship and totalitarism. Wait a minute didn't he say he admired the Chinese?
I would like to see term limits in all levels of government, prevents the rot and corruption from getting too deep.

[Bo D]

For a government with less than 40% of the vote to change the fundamentals of our electoral system without a Referendum smacks of dictatorship and totalitarism.

Somehow that remark resembles that of his Dad...

[terrym]

Junior has very few useful thoughts of his own. He owes everything to his father and name so him copying him is inevitable.

[buckchaser]

First Past the Post is broken and we need to change. Proportional representation (in some form) is much superior. I fundamentally oppose the notion of a "majority government" as it is essentially dictatorship by democracy - regardless of the political party in control.

[terrym]

Improving things is a good thing. In this case I fear JT will use his majority to rewrite our system to help his party. To do it without a referendum is wrong. If Harper had done this there would have been rioting in the streets. We elect governments with 4 yr mandates to manage the taxes they take and deliver services. Not to rewrite the electoral system without popular input.

[JBen]

I'm with Buchaser, somewhat surprised you aren't Terry. Like some here you follow politics fairly closely.

First past is badly broken. We can see the evidence of how its hurts us Federally in small ways. Be that increasing division between
East-Western canada
Rural-Urban Canada
PS and Privtae

Liberals chirped about Harper dividing the country. When in fact they are no better, and largely to blame.

However you need only look at Ontario to see how bad it really is.

First past is what allows the liberals (fed and prov) to buy their wins. Lock up key ridings/blocks and that's all anyone from any party needs. It's a numbers game.

Consider how powerful the Unions are, despite representing just 20% of the population. They get a ton of attention, love, world a lot of power, for such a small segment of society.

It's a joke, and as a result we are now paying steep prices, for the mismanagement, corruption, and favouritism, vote buying.
*****

That said, when JT promised to do away with first past. Most everyone assumed it would be replaced with PR. Today, we hear he prefers Ranked Ballots.Not rocket science to figure out why the Liberals would opt for that.

Quite agree if his name was Harper the left would be going ballistic. And quite agree not that he "has come out" and shown his stripes a referendum should be held.

[JBen]

Though of a very good illustration of all that's wrong with "First Past".
How many decades now has the North complained they have no voice in Ontario? Almost as long as I've been voting (Since 1982).

Fast forward to today and not just Northern Ontario that has no voice, gripes (rightfully imo) about citiots, and the GTA and the pandering, favoritism.

Its now Rural Ontario and the North.
Anyone check the electoral following Ms Wynnes "landslide" majority?
Anyone keep tabs on whats shes done for rural Ont (squat) versus the GTA or Unions?

Further, what do many people point out for low voter turnout (apathy?). First Past and people feeling their votes don't matter/count

In theory:
Party A could get 51%
Party B could get 49%
Party A could in theory have 100% of the seats

[trimmer21]

The funny thing is that the gate swings both ways. If the Conservatives were to suggest that FPTP was broken and decided to change it,the screaming and wailing from the Liberals would be deafening.,but,seeing as how the shoe is on the other foot.........

[fishermccann]

Oh you mean just like you are doing now... Pot calling kettle..