In the spirit of bipartisanship I’m offering up this idea to the Green Party and its supporters.
After reading this post by Garth Turner it struck me how unreasonable it is that the leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May can only partake in the House of Commons as a spectator in the visitor’s gallery despite the fact that she represents more than 600,000 Canadian voters (4.5%). Now I realize this injustice could be corrected by replacing our first past the post electoral system with a proportional representation one, but the reality is that it’s not going to happen any time soon. The Liberals have never, to my knowledge, expressed an interest in such a change and the Conservatives have dropped their interest now that they’re once again a united party and can take advantage of FPTP.
So here’s the solution. Go for something smaller, like just getting May into the House of Commons. The way to accomplish this is to push for a change that would see the leaders of the federal parties no longer representing a riding but instead getting an automatic seat in Parliament for as long as they retain their party’s leadership.
This change wouldn’t burden our system since it would only add 5 additional people to the HOC (to be reasonable a minimum limit of say 1% of the popular vote would have to be reached before a party gained a seat in this manner).
These leadership seats would retain all the powers they now have but for one exception. To counter the fact that the leaders would no longer be directly elected by Canadian voters in a general election, it would be reasonable to strip them of their vote in Parliament. Since the party leaders generally run in safe ridings, the party would most likely retain those ridings so the current balance of power would not be affected. And as an added benefit, these ridings would actually get better representation than they do now by overworked party leaders.
This change would effectively give the Green Party representation in our democratic process and it’s a realistic plan that can be accomplished if the party and its supporters do the necessary work (ie. researching the legal aspect) to expand on my basic outline.
Robert,
I think you are onto a real solution there. Thank you!
Yes, this would be entirely reasonable and would be a small step towards greater democracy. Unfortunately our current group of “conservatives” do not believe in democracy. They’re more inclined towards tyranny and absolute power. Enemies are everywhere, is how they see the world.
Turner just got tossed from caucus.
Great idea, Robert! Will you pursue this?
Will you pursue this?
No. I just threw it out there for the Green party supporters to pursue.
Robert,
You are such a HOOT at times! LOL
One of the reasons we don’t see many parties in this country is because the ambitious people who want a voice in parliament know that they can only do so by joining one of the established parties. Now, if we changed the laws as you suggest, most of the keeners would still join one of the big players. However, we might just see a proliferation of two-bit losers running national campaigns trying to get over that 1% margin. And hell, why not vote for them. Might just get them over that low threshold. Somehow I doubt that the type of egocentric leadership parties this reform could create would add much to the political debate.
Also, I doubt party leaders would be too thrilled with the idea of the precarious ‘leadership’ seat.
Gee, is that what sarcasm looks like?
I suppose my question should have been: Do you have any further ideas on how to create some buzz around your very good idea? lol
In this morning’s Star Turner has been formally asked by Elizabeth May to join the Green Party. I sincerely hope he does. He will be an asset to a real political party who truly has Canadian’s interest at heart for now, and the future.
Jeez, I hope Garth Turner does join the Green (new progressive conservative ;)) Party and becomes a force to be reckoned with, then we can get back to splitting the right-wing vote like gawd intended it.
spek,
I would not classify the Greens as “new progressive conservative”, although they have far more realistic plans than the others do.
Please read their platform and then comment, if you have not already.
http://greenparty.ca/
and especially this exemplar on transportation:
http://greenparty.ca/transportation.html
(Note that is a true Green Plan)
or this which I consider a solid plan for improving employment and individual stability, not to mention family stability.
http://greenparty.ca/green_economy.html
I think the other three parties have fallen into the proverbial rut! I do not refer to Moose mating season, however, it seems about the same stench and results..a total cluster f—! LOL
I would love to see the Greens and NDP form a pact with each other. I think the Libs and CPC are out of touch, out of date, and hopefully soon to be out of power until they have a solid ‘Time Out!’
Maybe that’s Harper’s plan…drive more progressives to the Greens and fracture the progressive vote even more?
I’m not voting for marginal parties until we get proportional representation. Regardless of “principle” you cannot have votes distributed among five parties in a FPTP electoral system and not expect the results to be horribly skewed…which they are now.
As for Garth Turner joining the Greens…I take a dim view of people switching parties without switching their politics. I don’t see Turner being anything more than a Progressive Conservative. I don’t think the Liberals need any more Conservative either, so…maybe being an independent for now is probably best for us (maybe not for him, though).
Ti-Guy,
So do I, but that is still a WINNER over being a knuckle dragging, xenophobic, homophobic, Seig Heil neo-con…Don’t you think?
There are social sides and foscal sides to most issues. I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. As an example I believe in helping anyone who needs help, but with the wisdom of the old Chinese proverb. ‘If you give a man a fish you will feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you will feed him for a lifetime!’
That does not incluide those who are truly unable to fend for themselves and have a decent, normal standard of living.
Well, I never had real problems with Progressive Conservatives, except the usual…but I never understood why they went along so silently with the takeover and destruction of their party (by the Rightists). Maybe they thought they could influence it…who knows.
BY THE WAY (and off-topic)…Why haven’t we heard about this:
Read the whole thing. Harper’s softwood sellout was pushed through Parliament on October 12th. Something really stinks here…
Ti-Guy,
WHOA! That will put a hurt on Bush and Harper! Now watch the slithering to avoid it in the Supreme Court…their last recourse in the States!