One of the problems with having a four party system (Conservative, Liberal, NDP, and Green — I’m not counting the BQ), with only one that’s a right wing party, is that you can have the vast majority of people vote left, but end up with an election where the right wins… And… That’s what happened once again.
On one hand I’m happy because the party that I voted for picked up seats from the previous election (although we lost a good MP in our riding), but I’d really like to see Canadian election law changed so that a losing party can pledge their votes to another party — that is, some sort of system of runoff voting. I think without this it’s possible for a party with a view that’s quite distant from that of the average Canadian to get elected. As we just saw!
I understand that some people address this with strategic voting (a la “anyone but Harper”) but I think that strategic voting silences people’s real voice and is fundamentally contrary to the democratic process, so I’d much rather see changes in the voting system to make the system more accurately reflect the desires of Canadians as to how the country is to be governed.
Well, even if my vote “didn’t count” I can help out tonight by donating to my old community radio alma mater, CHRY, who are currently doing their annual fundraiser.
12 Comments
I think that our system needs a huge overhaul at the moment. I personally would like to see the BQ gone, and NDP and Green to join together. Oh, and if I could be so presumptuous to say that it will be great to see Trudeau as the leader of the liberals in a few years ;)
Although i new my NDP vote will go no where i will not give my vote to another party. Id rather see my vote go unused. Then it be used and cheap.
I was really torn about strategic voting this time, because I have never done it before. I did it, in the end. I’m fine with it.
I disagree with Krista that parties should be eliminated. There should be as many as need be. Instant run off would be completely awesome. Although as likely to happen as Canada going 2 party.
The system needs to be changed. I am thrown back by the results. I’ve been very active this election talking to people where ever I could. The results are opposite of the conversations I had. I feel the same way I did on November 7th 2006 with Bush.
At least you have more than 2 parties. Wish we had more than two viable parties here.
Runoffs typically don’t require a losing party to commit their votes to another candidate. They just take the top two candidates and hold another election between only those two.
Living south of the border, I don’t get the power the prime minister has to dissolve Parliment. If bush had that power, we’d have had congress dissolved every week of the last two years, here.
Krista: I have to disagree with you, if you look at the results the BQ got 50 seats… that’s 13 more than the NPD… and not even talking about the green party… and that’s just in a province… i think that it means that people in quebec really want to be eard in ottawa and (sadly) feel that it’s their only option…
It broke my heart to have to vote strategic this year, but where i it was a battle between the conservative and the BQ… so of course i vote for the BQ.. and they got elected in my area…
I think that has long as the conservative and liberal will be in a leadership position the BQ will have it’s reason to be there ( for the people in quebec of course.. )
I cant wait for the day where people will realise what great opportunities we could have with a NPD governement.
anyway… it looks like we lost anoter 350 million $…
The election depressed me. I worked as a poll clerk (the generally silent person who crosses names off a list) and we had less than 35% of the 500+ people in our registered list show up to “be heard.”
Keep in mind that your votes DO count: each vote that is received means that party can spend more on their campaign in the next election. So even if you’re not crazy about voting for your candidate, vote for your party.
one thing about the cdn system is that it favors the region that has its act together hence the Bloc has twice the representation with half the votes as the NDP.
On the other hand the NDP is second only to the Conservatives in acreage now and positioned to pop the liberals out here in canada as labour did the liberals in Britain a long time ago.
As for the liberals – almost all in Vancouver, Toronto and a few other locals where there is a Starbucks and you can have your lattee and your attitude –
That the slackers don’t vote. Thank god. Look at the damage don’t by the folks on walkers who do do.
thanks for the reminder about chry!!
i agree with you about the election. i truly believe, though, that the majority of people who vote conservative do so because they really don’t care about their fellow citizens. i’ve had a few random political discussions with the average joe (“six pack”?) who votes conservative, and they truly did not seem to give a flying fuck about anything or anyone outside of their own meager little existence.
that’s the part i find scary as hell.
I really think the Greens should just merge with the NDP. They are so similar on most issues.
Although I agree a runoff would be better. Why don’t we have this? It makes so much sense.
Pardon me. The Greens are right wing and the NDP left wing. In what ways are they similar?
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