Fair Vote Canada
NEWSLETTER
Sept. 4, 2002
CONTENTS:
1) On the Record: Party Leadership Candidates and Voting Reform
2) NDP Leadership Candidates Favour PR
3) David Suzuki Joins Advisory Board
4) Political scientists back FVC's petition campaign
5) Membership Renewal
6) Web Tech Volunteers Needed
7) Tory Convention Supports Voting Reform
8) B.C. Initiative Campaign Evidence of Support for PR
9) Chapter Updates
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1) On the Record: Party Leadership Candidates and Voting Reform
As the leadership contests for the Liberals, the Progressive Conservatives and the NDP unfold, the Make Every Vote Count campaign will press the candidates for their positions on voting system reform.
By doing so, Fair Vote Canada aims to make all of Canada's federal party leaders aware of the growing public support for a referendum on a new voting system. By getting future party leaders to make public statements on the issue now, we can keep the pressure on them to act.
Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper confirmed his support for a referendum on the voting system during his party's leadership contest last spring. Responses from some of the NDP leadership canidates are below.
2) NDP Leadership Candidates Favour PR
Three of the contenders for the NDP leadership say that they would make a referendum on a new voting system a condition for supporting a minority government.
Fair Vote Canada has asked all the candidates about what they would be willing to do as leader to support voting reform. Bill Blaikie, Lorne Nystrom and Jack Layton all responded positively to the following question:
"Would you make a public consultation on proportional representation and a referendum process on a new voting system conditions for supporting a minority government?"
We will publish the responses of other candidates as we receive them.
3) David Suzuki Joins Advisory Board
Fair Vote Canada is pleased to announce the appointment David Suzuki to the Advisory Board.
David Suzuki is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. He is well known as the host of the CBC-TV's The Nature of Things.
He joins the 29 other board members including current and former MPs of all major parties and representatives from cultural, academic and social spheres. To read about the Advisory Board members, follow the link on the About Us page of the website www.fairvotecanada.org.
The FVC Advisory Board is comprised of high profile Canadians supporting FVC's mandate who can be called upon for public support, and strategic and expert opinion.
4) Political scientists back FVC's petition campaign
FVC's "Make Every Vote Count" petition campaign received a kick-start from 12 political scientists as a first step to wider circulation within Canada's political science community.
The 12 who have agreed to be listed as initial supporters are Peter Russell, Sylvia Bashevkin (both former presidents of the Canadian Political Science Association), Matthew Mendohlson, Paul Howe, Louis Massicotte, Henry Milner, Dennis Pilon, John Trent, David Bell, Norman Ruff, Hugh Thorburn and J. Paul Johnston.
The Make Every Vote Count petition campaign calls on the governemnt to initiate public consultations on a more proportional voting system to be followed by a referendum in which Canadians choose the best voting system.
For copies of the petition, contact info@fairvotecanada.org, or 416-410-4034.
5) Membership Renewal
As FVC is now well into its second year, it is time for many members to renew their commitment. A membership renewal form will soon be sent out to everyone who joined prior to May 1, 2002. You may renew your membership any time by visiting the "Join Us" page of our website.
6) Web Tech Volunteers Needed
Fair Vote Canada is looking for experienced website developers to help us expand and maintain our website. If you are interested in volunteering, contact doug.bailie@fairvotecanada.org.
7) Tory Convention Supports Voting Reform
The federal Tories, at their convention in late August, supported a process for changing Canada's voting system.
Delegates voted to adopt the party's working paper on democratic reform, which included a strong criticism of the current voting system and a promise to look at other ways of electing MPs. The party's policy now 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."
8) B.C. Initiative Campaign Evidence of Support for PR
The nearly 100,000 signatures presented on August 12 to Elections B.C. by the Free Your Vote campaign are just the latest example of increasing nationwide demands for voting system reform, according to Doris Anderson, President of Fair Vote Canada.
"The only questions at this time are which province will be the first in
Canada to introduce some type of proportional voting system," said
Anderson, "and how soon we will have a national referendum to change the federal voting system."
The Free Your Vote campaign in B.C. was attempting to force an immediate provincial referendum on proportional representation. Under the B.C. referendum initiative legislation, more than 212,000 signatures, including ten per cent of all registered voters in each constituency, were needed by August 12.
"Even though these requirements for initiating a referendum make it nearly impossible," said Larry Gordon, executive director of Fair Vote
Canada, "the Free Your Vote campaign sent a strong message to the B.C. government. People will now be expecting the Campbell government to move quickly on their pledge to convene a citizens' assembly on electoral reform."
9) 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.
The Annual General Meeting of the Fair Vote Canada Toronto Chapter will take place on Tuesday, September 24, at 130 Carlton Street in Toronto. The meeting will elect the five-member executive committee and consider amendments to the chapter's bylaws.
For more information on the election or bylaw amendment process, contact the Chair, toronto@fairvotecanada.org.
There will be no business & strategy meeting in August.
The Toronto Chapter will hold a barbecue and social at Fair
Vote Canada National Headquarters at 26 Maryland Boulevard on Saturday, August 10, 4-8 p.m. Admission is $20.00, which includes all you can eat (proportional degustation) and soft drinks. B.Y.O.B., and B.Y.O. lawn chair. Tickets are available in advance, and attendance will be limited, so get your tickets now.
-- 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.
-- Calgary -- Matt Emmett, fvc-calgary@emmett.ca.
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 next general meeting will be held in the fall.
-- Victoria -- Bruce Hallsor, Hallsor@creaseharman.com.
-- Manitoba -- Chris Billows, chris.billows@fairvotecanada.org, 204-488-4091.
The Steering Committee of Fair Vote Manitoba met for its initial meeting on July 24 in Winnipeg. The group made a commitment to build a province-wide chapter that would work for voting system reform at both the federal and provincial levels. A founding convention is being planned for October.
--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.
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