Fair Vote Canada
NEWSLETTER
June 13, 2002
CONTENTS:
1) FVC to Campaign for PR Referendum
2) Canadian Labour Congress Endorsement
3) Fair Vote Ontario
4) Quebec Commission on Voting System Releases Timetable
5) PEI Group Calls for Royal Commission on Voting System
6) Chapter Updates
7) International Election News
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1) FVC to Campaign for PR Referendum
The National Council of Fair Vote Canada has decided to focus its
campaign on a push for a referendum on proportional representation.
"Canadians have a right to decide how they choose their
representatives," said Larry Gordon, FVC's executive director. "We can't
leave it up to MPs to decide how we will elect them. So Fair Vote
Canada is demanding a referendum in which citizens will pass
judgement on the voting system."
Given the millions of votes wasted in each federal election, Canadians
should have the option of replacing the current voting system with one
based on proportional representation. Fair Vote Canada aims to make this a public issue before the next federal election.
Fair Vote Canada maintains that alternative voting systems appropriate
for Canada should emerge from a broad public consultation. A series of
referendums may be required to find which particular voting system has
the broadest support among Canadians.
2) Canadian Labour Congress Endorsement
The Canadian Labour Congress passed a resolution at its convention in Vancouver this week strongly endorsing Fair Vote Canada and encouraging union members "to join Fair Vote Canada and to campaign strongly for democratic voting reform."
The CLC is the national umbrella organization of labour unions representing 2.3 million Canadian workers.
The resolution, put forward by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the National Union of Public and General Employees and several regional labour council and union locals, also reaffirmed the CLC's support for proportional representation and its committement to actively campaign for voting reform.
3) Fair Vote Ontario
Organization is underway for the Fair Vote Ontario campaign. The
campaign's co-chairs, Wayne Smith and Brian Gibb, met with members
of FVC's Toronto chapter at the end of May.
The multi-partisan campaign to change the voting system in Ontario will
be a partnership consisting of the Ontario chapters of Fair Vote Canada
and other Fair Vote Canada members, and various organizations
(unions, NGOs, civic groups, etc.) that seek to change the voting system
in Ontario.
FVC's National Council approved the creation of the campaign at its
meeting in Ottawa at the end of April.
4) Quebec Commission on Voting System Releases Timetable
A committee of MNAs studying reform of Quebec's voting system will
begin public consultations in the fall with the aim of releasing its final
recommendations in May 2003. Chairman Claude Lachance announced
his committee's timetable, Tuesday, including an initial report to be
released in September followed by a series of public meetings around
the province from October to January.
The committee's mandate is to evaluate the current voting system and
possible alternatives to it. Lachance said the committee will also consider
issues related to the voting system, such as fixed election dates.
The news release is available (in French) at
http://communiques.gouv.qc.ca/gouvqc/communiques/GPQF/Juin2002/
11/c4984.html.
5) PEI Group Calls for Royal Commission on Voting System
Every Vote Counts, a group of Prince Edward Islanders working for an
improved electoral system, have called for the government to consult
Islanders about introducing an element of proportional representation
into provincial elections.
In a news conference on May 8, the group called upon Premier Pat
Binns to consult Islanders about electoral change through a referendum.
But first, the group argued, the premier should strike a Royal
Commission to propose a "made in P.E.I." package of electoral reforms
that Islanders can consider as an alternative to the current electoral
system.
Members of Every Vote Counts were responding to a recent report by
the Chief Electoral Officer of P.E.I. on proportional representation,which
recommended a "made in P.E.I." approach that will satisfy the particular
needs of democracy in the province.
"Prince Edward Island has the opportunity to be an example for the rest
of Canada of democracy in action," said Jeannie Lea, spokesperson for
Every Vote Counts. "Think of this as an Island-wide conversation about the basics of
representative democracy."
The lead editorial in The Guardian (Charlottetown) on May 8 concluded,
"Given that the existing [voting] system here isn't providing for healthy
and vigorous debate in our legislative assembly - and that's crucial to
shaping effective public policy - we have nothing to lose by pursuing
other options."
6) Chapter Updates
Following are the updates and contact information for Fair Vote Canada
local chapters. Further information is available on the Chapters page of
the FVC website.
-- Toronto -- Wayne Smith, toronto@fairvotecanada.org or 416-407-
7009.
St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Festival
Saturday, June 15, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
The Toronto Chapter will have an information table at the St. Lawrence
Neighbourhood Festival. This annual picnic takes place on the
Esplanade between George Street and Frederick Street, near the St.
Lawrence Market. Pamphlets, books, mugs and t-shirts will be available.
If you're available to help out at the table between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30
p.m., please contact Linda Sheppard, lwshep@sympatico.ca, 416-691-
8894.
Business & Strategy Meeting
Tuesday, June 25, 7:00 p.m.
130 Carlton Street
This is the chapter's regular fourth-Tuesday-of-the-month meeting, including meetings of all standing committees and the executive committee. Orientation will be available for new members. All are welcome.
-- National Capital Region -- Contact info@fairvotecanada.org.
-- Peterborough and Area Raphael Thierrin, raphael@infoshaper.com or
(705) 749-9890. In Port Hope-Cobourg area contact Wilf Day,
dayphope@on.aibn.com or (905) 885-5456.
-- Greater Vancouver -- Arn Keeling, vancouver@fairvotecanada.org or
(604) 874-9046.
About 25 people crowded a room at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood
House to elect the chapter's first board of directors, adopt bylaws, and
discuss ongoing efforts to improve the voting system. Elected to the
board were Arn Keeling, Stephen Broscoe, Karen Etheridge, Stuart
Parker, Sara Irvine, and Trent Payton.
The chapter will now begin its public education campaign that will bring
its message to local social groups and public interest organizations. This
week, chapter members are manning an information table at the
Canadian Labour Congress convention in Vancouver.
-- Calgary -- Matt Emmett, fvc-calgary@emmett.ca.
The Calgary chapter will be hosting a PR information booth during the
upcoming Group of 6 Billion (G6B) conference at the University of
Calgary, June 21 to 25 .
The next chapter meeting will be in September, but you can join us on-
line for summer at http://fvc.emmett.ca or by email at fvc-
calgary@emmett.ca.
-- Edmonton -- Doug Bailie, doug.bailie@fairvotecanada.org.
The Edmonton chapter made a presentation to the provincial Electoral
Boundaries Commission pointing out that no matter how the boundaries
are drawn single member districts will never be able to provide fair
representation.
The next general meeting will be held in the fall.
-- Victoria -- Bruce Hallsor, Hallsor@creaseharman.com.
-- Winnipeg -- Chris Billows, cpb@accidentaldesign.com.
--Saskatoon -- Jason Hanson, komrade@shaw.ca.
If you are interested in helping start a local chapter in your area, please
contact info@fairvotecanada.org or phone 416-410-4034.
7) International Election News
-- New Zealand -- New Zealand's third PR election will be held on July
27. Normally, the election would be held in the fall. Prime Minister Helen
Clark said one reason for the early election is the split in the Alliance --
the junior partner in the Labour-led coalition government. Opinion polls
show Labour's support is high enough that it might be able to form a
government on its own.
New Zealand's election system is called Mixed Member Proportional
(MMP). About half of the MPs are elected in single member districts by
"first past the post," and the other half from party lists. The system was
first used in 1996. General elections are held every three years. For
election news, see .
-- Republic of Ireland -- The May 17th general election had a rare ending
-- the government was re-elected. Prime Minister Bertie Ahern now
becomes the first PM since 1966 to serve two consecutive terms. His
Fianna Fail party has renewed its coalition with the Progressive
Democrats.
Ireland has used the single transferable vote (STV) for national elections
since 1922. Each constituency elects between three and five MPs,
depending on its population. Voters rank as many candidates as they
wish in order of their preference, and they are not bound to vote for the
candidates of one party. For results and analysis, see
www.ireland.com/focus/election_2002/.
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[ This Message was edited by: admin on 2002-09-06 12:03 ]