WHY VOTING COUNTS(MORE THAN EVER IN 2015)

Renewing Democracy Through Cooperation

Federal Riding of North Okanagan-Shuswap

• Low voter turnout – 80% in 1970s, 60% in the 2000s

• Voter apathy and cynicism• Low engagement among youth, First Nations• Increased use of “corridor consultations” (no

record)• Lengthening time for FOI requests to be filled• Greatly expanded use of omnibus bills• “Muzzling” of scientists, aggressive audits of

ENGOs• Bill C-51(“Anti-Terrorism Act”) and Bill C-23 (“Fair

Elections Act”)• Increased undisclosed pre-election political

spending• All-powerful Prime Minister’s Office/PM• First-past-the-post electoral (voting)

system

Democracy Deficits

PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE/PM

Has more powers and fewer limitations than leaders in the USA, Germany, Britain, Japan, France, Australia, New Zealand – in fact, more than “any democratically elected leader in other advanced industrial countries” [Jeffrey Simpson: “The Friendly Dictatorship” 2001]

• Able to vote down or ignore almost all activities of the House of Commons, its committees and sub-committees (which comes from other parties)

• Controls all appointments besides the Commons speaker• Can alter/expand its budget by internal decision only• Unelected staff can over-ride and dictate to elected

Ministers and MPs• Most Parliament votes “whipped” – only rare free votes• Approves all candidates for the next election

We need to curtail the powers of the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Prime Minister (whoever that may be)

The Current Voting System

One vote can win, all others lose

Election vote breakdown

Party A Party B Party C 4th Qtr

Proportion of seats received

Party A Party B Party D Party D

A proportional voting (electoral) system is one in which the portion of votes received by a party leads to them having the same portion of seats: 30% of votes ≈ 30% of the seats.

Proportional Voting

CURRENT GOVERNMENT

•Elected with 39% of votes cast•Elected by 24% of eligible voters

FPTPProportional voting systems

Strategic Voting

Loss of Diversity

FPTP Proportional

FPTP can breed cynicism and apathy….

Again…

A Ray of hope….

Conservative MP Michael Chong’s “The Reform Act” passed the Senate vote June 22/15

• Removes party leader’s control over nominations• Party MPs decide on expulsions, not PM, and elect

their own caucus chairpersons• MPs can initiate leadership review with 20% in

favour, compel leadership contest if majority support it.

If you remember nothing else from this presentation….

Who to vote for:

* Any party that promises to limit the powers of the PMO and Prime Minister

* Any Party that promises to move to a proportional voting system

Thank you!

renewingdemocracythroughcooperation.com