Let’s take back the democratic process

Let’s take back the ownership of the democratic process – and not leave it all in the hands of the politicians and the corporate interests.

Most Canadadians would prefer to see a government with a different approach to that of the Harper Government specifically with regard to issues such as aboriginal justice, climate change and energy, food security, health care, national housing strategy, elimination of poverty, and our international role in ensuring justice, maintaining peace and providing development assistance.

At the moment all those who would prefer to see a Centre-Left government (instead of the Right-of-centre Harper Government) are being stymied by the consistent splitting of the Centre-Left vote. The ongoing determination of the Liberals, NDP and Greens to compete against each other continues to produce a minority government representing a minority perspective.  At the end of this next election we will likely again have a Harper Government that is in fact opposed by the majority of the Canadian electorate – unless we do something different! 

We can produce a more just outcome, despite the political parties. It is our Government and it is meant to represent our values and views.  And together we can make this happen.

In 2008, Conservatives won 57 of the federal ridings simply because the opposition vote was split (despite the combined Liberal, Green and NDP vote collectively being the majority within that riding). In the 2011 election 15 additional ridings (8 Liberal – and 7 NDP) are at serious risk of being lost to the Conservatives because of a split Centre-Left vote. The strong possibility is that the Conservatives will pick up 72 ridings (57 + 15) because of split votes.

  We can change all this and produce a far more fair and representative outcome. All we need to do is to persuade voters who oppose the Harper Government to:

1. Go to a “Let’s take back the democratic process” website where they will find an indication of which opposition Party (Liberals, NDP or Greens) received the most votes in 2008 in each riding that was lost (and/or could be lost in 2011) as a result of a split vote amongst the opposition Parties.
2. Vote in their Riding for the opposition Party that is identified in #1 above for that Riding
3. Register on the website the Party they would primarily prefer to support (i.e. indicate the opposition party for which they would normally want to vote – this could be the same one they are voting for in this election, or could be one of the other opposition parties)

 Implementing this approach in 2011, will ensure that:
a)      We do not surrender a majority opposition voice within a Riding to a Conservative representative
b)      We remain fully aware of the actual level of support there is for each opposition Party

 If we had implemented this approach in 2008, the results would have been:
Conservatives-86 (not 143), Liberals-124(not 77), NDP-45(not 37), Green-2(not zero), Bloc Quebecois-49, Other-2. 

 With a little effort, we can also ensure we reflect something of the current degree of support across Canada for the Green Party – by encouraging voters in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding to vote for Elizabeth May (Raising the Greens to 3 seats, based on the above).

In subsequent elections, we can use the votes registered in #3 above to revise the proposed opposition party for each riding – and thereby ensure we better reflect changes in voter support for each Centre-Left Party.

If YOU believe there is a critical difference between a Centre-Right and a Centre-Left government, and would prefer the latter, please consider supporting this initiative. We CAN take back the democratic process to ensure the government reflect the views and values of the majority. And YOU can help make that happen!