"Help Make 2015 Canada's Last Unfair Election" FVC Video Contest

A mind, like a book, works best when it is open.  A recent Environics poll by LeadNow asked "Some people favor bringing in a form of proportional representation. This means that the total number of seats held by each party in Parliament would be roughly equivalent to their percentage of the national popular vote. Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose moving towards a system of proportional representation in Canadian elections?"  Even with this brief description of proportional representation, it appears Canadian minds are open. 

Fair Vote Canada (FVC) believes opening minds through education is critical.  As well as print and visual resources for teachers and the public, it is looking to leverage the power of video.  In particular, it is looking for a video that will go viral—a video that will inspire action and unite Canadians.  After the deadline of May 30, the FVC YouTube channel will share the videos and start the process of voting for the Viewer's Choice Award.  There is also the Judged Panel Award.   If you are a videographer or know one, here is a chance:
http://www.fairvote.ca/en/FVC-news/fair-vote-canada-video-contest
to help make 2015 the last unfair election in Canada.

Saskatchewan Leads

On March 8, this Saskatchewan NDP resolution was passed unanimously at their 2013 convention, "WHEREAS there is little democracy in our current electoral system, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP work towards establishing a transparent proportional electoral system."  John Bidochka adds, "This resolution was passed unanimously by delegates from all 58 provincial constituencies across Saskatchewan. This represents the first time such a resolution has passed at the provincial level, effectively ending a longstanding contradiction between federal and provincial branches of the NDP."

While Fair Vote Canada is non-partisan, the Saskatchewan Chapter applauds the Saskatchewan's NDP recognition that there is "little democracy" in our first-past-the-post system and we encourage their willingness to direct energy to a "transparent proportional electoral system".

When asked, Ryan Meili, who was in the NDP leadership race, said, "I am supportive of moving toward a democratic system that is more representative of diverse views, be it proportional representation, preferential balloting, or another mechanism. The current winner-take-all system leads to democratic exclusion and lopsided decision-making."

In the book, Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell identified "The Law of the Few"; to tip an idea you do not need to convince the masses, you need only connect with the special few who are connected to the masses.
Gladwell examined Milgram's famous "Six Degrees of Separation" experiment and concluded, "Six degrees of separation doesn't mean that everyone is linked to everyone else in just six steps.  It means a very small number of people are linked to everyone else in a few steps, and the rest of us are linked to the world through those special few."

While Gladwell's Law appears true, proportional representation may be easier to tip than other ideas.  The NDP unanimous vote supports this hypothesis.  People sense that first-past-the-post offers "little democracy" and immediately recognize that proportional representation offers "big democracy".  So whether talking to the masses or the few, every opened mind counts.

Free Our MPs

Do you hear the federal election clock ticking?  Members of FVC Saskatchewan Chapter hear it loud and clear.  The Chapter is acutely aware that the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system leaves the winner's circle open to a majority government voted in by a minority in any election.  If the winner's circle was claimed by a minority in 2011, it can happen again and again.  We urgently need to reform our election system.

While some chastise the 40% of Canadians who did not bother to vote, we have to ask ourselves how many of us have tried strategic voting in the hopes of making our votes count?  Strategic voting is undemocratic.  You are not voting for someone who represents your voice but for the voice of a lesser evil.  This graph shows the past elections as seats (white bars) and what our House of Commons would look like if we had proportional representation (red bars).

The FPTP system makes parties more concerned with beating the competition than engaging in cooperation for a better Canada.  While the majority of us are wage slaves, it appears that the majority of MPs have become party slaves.  Like our scientists, our MPs may be kept in line with an economic whip.  Next election, let's free our MPs and elect a party committed to immediately implementing proportional representation. 

FVC Saskatchewan Meets Online

After a failed Skype meeting, FVC Saskatchewan members were open to trying an online meeting room and are enthusiastic about its potential.  In the meeting room, in addition to audio, there is a whiteboard to collaborate on documents or show presentations, chat, emot icons, web tours, and file transfer.  The online room has video capabilities as well but that it is typically used briefly during an introduction as it demands band width.  As wonderful as its features are though, the best thing it does is remove the tyranny of Saskatchewan geography.  Members can join from the comfort of their own home—no travel required so if is environmentally friendly.

In the February 11 meeting, a new executive was assembled.  Nancy Carswell and Rick Sawa accepted nominations to be co-spokespersons and Dave Walther is treasurer-organizer. Many thanks to past members, especially Past President Gord Hunter for carrying the torch of democracy.

Walther is eager to capitalize on the grassroots momentum in Moose Jaw.  While FVC is currently offering three petitions, Walther urged the group to focus on the "FairElectoral Representation: Petition to the House of Commons" 

An educator, Carswell is very interested in the power of video to help people understand how proportional representation is better than Canada's first-past-the-post system.  She hopes to have a video done in time to meet FVC Video Contest deadline of April 11.  Contest details available at http://www.fairvote.ca/en/FVC-news/fair-vote-canada-video-contest.

Interested in a democracy where every vote counts.  Join us.  Our email is fairvotesask@gmail.com. 

Fair Vote Visits Saskatchewan Youth Parliament

The Saskatchewan Youth Parliament is a non-partisan organization of young people that meets to discuss and debate political and social issues. Members learn about the mechanics of government, such as parliamentary procedure, decision making, and the rules of debate in a parliamentary democracy. Additionally, members are exposed to a variety of viewpoints from youth from around Saskatchewan.

At its annual Christmas session, Youth Parliament members are given the privilege of debating at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina, in the same seats as the real Members of the Legislative Assembly.

The Saskatchewan Youth Parliament is run for youth by youth and by a cabinet elected at the Annual Christmas Session each year. Cabinet does everything from planning the events, to finances and communications.

During the Christmas session Fair Vote Saskatchewan was invited to talk to the group over lunch about Fair Vote Canada, our Saskatchewan Chapter and the reasons that Proportional Representation provided a much more fair and equal representation that the existing first past the post system

Larissa Shasko, a member of Fair Vote and a former member of the Saskatchewan Chapter executive spoke to the group and fielded questions. The presentation was very well received and discussion that followed made it clear that Larissa challenged their notions about the fairness of the existing system and the need for electoral reform.

Executive Meets in Craik

The Saskatchewan Chapter of Fair Vote Canada Executive met May 9th at the Eco Centre in Craik from 10:30 until 1:40.

Because of the large distances members have to travel to such meetings these events are usually held by conference call so this was the first face to face meeting the executive has been able to have for some time.

There was wide ranging discussion on several issues and a planning session helped to map out acitvities for the rest of the year.

To read the minutes of the Executive meeting please follow the link on the right hand side of the page.

UK Election Prompts Canadians to Take a Look at FPTP

In an odd way the kerfuffle over the "hung parliament" may actually cause Canadians to take a look at our own system. Minority governments are nothing new here in Canada but, they are a big deal in the UK. I good deal is being written about the stupidity of the first past the post system our governments fight do hard to hang on to.

I particularly like this letter by Geoff Rytell printed in the Toronto Star.

Thomas Walkom notes that now, because no party has earned a majority in England, there is going to be a “fierce fight over who will govern.” In the first-past-the-post electoral system, a system that Canada shares with Great Britain, it’s all about winning the seat but not so much about representing all the voters. FPTP is good for horses. But unlike horses, voters pay taxes and deserve to be equally represented in parliament. First-past-the-post fails to recognize that voters who choose to vote for someone who doesn’t take a seat are just as important as those who choose to vote for a winning candidate. British Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg wants to fix that with proportional representation so that the “who will govern” fight becomes instead an amicable sharing of governance.

Let's keep this discussion going.