CANADA SHOULD ADOPT PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

It is unfortunate in this great country of Canada that we have much less of a democratic society than we think we have. I had the misimpression all my life, that Canada had the one true democracy. (The Americans, of course, believe that they have the best system as well, but to me it is a strange bird with two right wings.)

Because of Canada's 'first past the post foot race' electoral system, we are often governed by a majority government that has received far less than the majority of total votes cast. It is unjust when the elected government represents only a minority of it's citizens.

Most other western countries in the world have chosen Proportional Representation as the fairer method of representing the electorate. In our current system, a political party could win 20% of the vote and still not have a seat in the government, whereas with Proportional Representation the number of seats represents the percentage of the population supporting the platform of the parties.(New Zealand has recently made the transition to just such a system.)

My concern at this stage of my life stems from a personal point of view. I was quite content in my cozy little world until I undertook a three year study of the pollution problems affecting the planet. Since that time I have been looking for a way to have the environmental voice heard. (This is my personal agenda.)

A good number of world citizens are concerned because of the environmental crisis, and there is indeed a crisis. These same people form organizations, financially support them, canvass, and for their efforts are rebuffed, belittled, called radical, anti-progressive or tree huggers, etc. M any simply give up and fall back into the mainstream of life. They each have a pet agenda that often conflicts with that of other organizations which are just as concerned and dedicated to their own cause. Because of this fragmentation and public apathy, they tend to get very little support.

Since these organizations of concerned individuals are divided, they will never have great success. (Divide and Conquer has long been a strategy that wins wars.) As a fledgling organizational voice for its concerns is weak, or not heard at all, little can or will be done. Inasmuch as Canada's 'Democracy' does not include Proportional Representation, the members are further hampered, even if they could agree on which platform to vote for.

In a Proportional Representation System, the electoral representatives tend to be a more homogenous mix of the general population. This system grants a better representation of the needs, desires, morals and expectations of the general population. It is not the predominately middle-aged, middle-class, white male who get all the voice in policy-making. Women tend to be elected more often and their concerns better represented, as are those with so called fringe issues (like the environment degradation is, to some).

Proportional Representation would have a positive effect on the attitude of the voter. The apathy that many have for the present system would evaporate when a person realizes that his or her vote does indeed count in this system. The voice may still be weak, but it is counted and represented, according to its combined strength. It is not counted simply to find the most popular candidate and then ignored, as in the present system.

Have a nice day.