Re - Electoral Reform

Edie Cairns | Feb 16, 2017

Did I wish/hope to see a different electoral system than First Past The Post?  You bet your socks I did!  Am I disappointed that will not be the case for the next election, yes, very.  The real question I should have asked and answered however, is,  “Was I surprised at the seeming turn around to explore different options?”  That would be a no. 

In April of 2005 I was visiting family in British Columbia.  All over were large highway signs promoting electoral reform options in the May referendum.  I was excited.  I was so pleased to see a jurisdiction actually addressing the discrepancy of First Past The Post and doing something about it.  The question in that referendum was heavily defeated  60% to 40%.

How very naive I was then, and apparently am now.  Next time you are out and about the village ask those you meet,  “Do you wish to see a change in our voting system?”  Not, ‘ is Trudeau a turn-coat, dishonest vote-grabber’, just ‘Do you want another system?’ I think you will hear the answer is no.   When asked and surveyed in much larger numbers and over a wider geographical area, the majority of ordinary Canadians said no.  Not the political junkies or the academics, just ordinary people like you and me.

It is not what I wanted to hear personally, but I can live with the decision to not try to force a change at great expense at a fragile time in North America. 

Sorry Mr. Editor, you and I almost always agree about these sorts of issues.  Not this time my friend.  Maybe I’m getting old.

Edie Cairns