Fair Vote Canada
NEWSLETTER
Feb. 20, 2002
CONTENTS:
1) Members to Decide on Council Election Timing
2) Annual General Meeting Update
3) More Campaign Endorsements
4) Quebecers to Discuss New Voting System
5) PC-DR Coalition Proposes Policy on Reform
6) Stephen Harper Supports Changes to Electoral System
7) Dutch PR Expert on Speaking Tour
8) Local Chapter Updates
--------------------------------------
1) Members to Decide on Council Election Timing
Fair Vote Canada members are considering a proposed amendment to FVC's bylaws. If passed, the amendment will allow an election for all 15 seats on the National Council, FVC's main governing body, to go a head at the end of April.
Most members will vote on the amendment through the mail. Others will vote at the special meeting to be held in Toronto (130 Carlton Street) on March 9 at 8 p.m. The sole purpose of the meeting is to make the decision on the proposed bylaw amendment.
All members in good standing as of January 9 are eligible to vote on the amendment. If the amendment passes, all members in good standing as of February 26 will be eligible to vote in the council election and stand for a position on the council.
If the amendment is defeated, the election will take place when the organization's membership passes the threshold of 1,000.
The National Council proposed the bylaw amendment so that the election could coincide with the annual general meeting.
For full details on the amendment vote and the election procedures that will be used in the event that the amendment passes, go to www.fairvotecanada.org/eng/annoucments/announcements.htm.
2) Annual General Meeting Update
FVC's Annual General Meeting will be held April 26 and 27 in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. The meeting will provide an opportunity to hear from engaging speakers and discuss FVC's campaign strategy. Further details will be announced soon.
For those members not able to attend the meeting, under FVC's bylaws, all members have an opportunity to put forward resolutions for consideration. Details for submitting resolutions are available at
www.fairvotecanada.org/eng/annoucments/announcements.htm.
3) More Campaign Endorsements
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) has officially endorsed the Fair Vote Canada campaign. Along with the endorsement, PSAC made a donation of $500.
FVC also received an endorsement from Let's Discuss It, a seniors citizens' group in Toronto. Prior campaign endorsements have come from the Canadian Taxpayers Federations, Ontario Federation of Labour, Southern Ontario Newspaper Guild, Centre for Social Justice, Fair Voting BC, Citizens for Public Justice, and the Communiations Energy and Paperworkers Union.
4) Quebecers to Discuss New Voting System
As a committee of MNAs prepares to study alternative voting systems for Quebec, the Mouvement pour une démocratie nouvelle (MDN) will hold a public meeting to discuss the issue on Saturday, February 23, 1 p.m., at the Old Montreal Cégep (255, rue Ontario est, room 482).
The meeting will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss which principles should guide voting system reform in Quebec. For more information, visit www.democratie-nouvelle.qc.ca.
5) PC-DR Coalition Proposes Policy on Reform
The coalition of Tories and dissident Alliance MPs released a collection of proposed policies this month which included a proposal for voting system reform.
The proposed policy states: "Upon formation of government, a commission will be immediately struck to hold public consultations on the most appropriate electoral system for Canada. The commission will be empowered to make recommendations to Parliament regarding any changes in the electoral system. Parliament, if possible, will implement changes in time for the next election."
The paper put forward by the coalition's Working Group on Democratic Reform strongly criticized the current voting system, although it did not mention any specific alternatives.
6) Stephen Harper Supports Changes to Electoral System
Stephen Harper, one of four candidates in the Canadian Alliance leadership contest, says he supports the party's current policy to hold a referendum on changing the voting system.
Responding to a questionnaire sent by Fair Vote Canada and Fair Voting BC jointly to all the candidates, Harper wrote, "Since the mid-1990s, I have been writing and speaking about electoral reform. I am not committed to any one model, but believe that all options, including, PR, MMP, AV, and STV, should be studied to see which is best suited to Canada's needs. Properly designed electoral reform could help to reduce regional antagonism and promote cooperation among parties in Canada's badly fragmented political system."
The other candidates have yet to reply to the questionnaire.
7) Dutch PR Expert on Speaking Tour
Dr. Paul Lucardie of the University of Groningen, Netherlands, is speaking on proportional representation in Peterborough, Kitchener-Cambridge, London and Toronto this week. His speaking tour is co-sponsored by Fair Vote Canada and the Council of Canadians.
His next and final stop will be in Toronto on Thursday, Feb. 21, where he will speak on "Proportional Representation in the Netherlands" at 130 Carlton Street at 7 p.m.
Dr. Lucardie received his PhD from Queen's University, Kingston. He is a member of the Canadian Studies Centre in the field of Political Science at the University of Groningen. His interests are alternative forms of democracy; new political parties especially in the Netherlands, Germany and Canada; and ideology.
8) Local Chapter Updates
Here are the updates and contact information for Fair Vote Canada local chapters:
-- Toronto -- Wayne Smith, toronto@fairvotecanada.org or 416-407-7009.
Dr. Lucardie of the Netherlands will speak on "Proportional Representation in the Netherlands" on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. at 130 Carlton Street.
The chapter will hold a Business and Strategy meeting on February
26, at 7:00 p.m. at 130 Carlton Street. All standing committees will meet,
followed by an executive meeting. All members are welcome to attend.
The Toronto Chapter will host the special meeting for FVC members on the proposed bylaw amendment on Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m., at 130 Carlton Street. The meeting will be followed by a social event/fundraiser featuring a cash bar, refreshments, dancing and live music.
Larry Gordon, president of FVC, and Dennis Pilon, PhD student at York University, will lead a public education session on proportional representation March 19, 7 p.m., at the Secord Community Centre, 91 Barrrington Avenue.
-- National Capital Region -- Contact info@fairvotecanada.org.
-- Peterborough and Area -- Mark Finnan, mwf@nexicom.net or (705) 939-2556, or Raphael Thierrin, raphael@infoshaper.com or (705) 749-9890. In Port Hope-Cobourg area contact Tom Lawson (905) 885-5396,
or Wilf Day (905) 885-5456.
Committee meeting on Thursday, February 28, 7.30 p.m. in the Friendship Room at St. James United Church (Romaine and Aylmer Sts), Peterborough. All welcome to attend.
Workshop on alternative voting systems with Larry Gordon, FVC president, and Gail Turner, member of the National Council, on Saturday, March 16, 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. James United Church (Romaine and Aylmer Sts), Peterborough. All are welcome.
-- Greater Vancouver -- Arn Keeling, vancouver@fairvotecanada.org.
The inaugural general meeting will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting will feature an open house to launch the local chapter, and include speakers and possibly a panel on electoral reform. The Greater Vancouver Chapter will encompass members from the Lower Mainland region of B.C.
-- Calgary -- Matt Emmett, fvc-calgary@emmett.ca.
-- Edmonton -- Doug Bailie, doug.bailie@fairvotecanada.org.
The chapter will hold a meeting to adopt its bylaws and elect its executive at the end of March. Time and place will be confirmed later this week.
-- Victoria -- Bruce Hallsor, Hallsor@creaseharman.com.
-- Winnipeg -- Chris Billows, cpbillows@gatewest.net.
If you are interested in helping start a local chapter in your area, please contact info@fairvotecanada.org or phone 416-410-4034.
--------------