And bold move over electoral reform, Jack. Another committee to study it. Way to go. With initiatives like that, we will see electoral reform sometime after Jesus comes back to Earth.
Here's a counter proposal. Adopt a position, publicly, before an election, that the NDP will not form a coalition with any party that will not agree to the immediate abolition of the Senate and to implement electoral reform. Let the election be your referendum. That is how responsible government is supposed to work.
Update: Rob Silver provides an almost instant taste of the stuff the Liberals would spread during an actual referendum. They specialize in this kind of thing. You see according to Rob Silver, we can't do anything, ever, in this country, because maybe Hitler will rise from his grave and demand equalization payments, if we do. As I said Jack, the only thing these bastards listen to is a kick in the balls. Use whatever leverage you have after the next election wisely. Your coalition partners are evil pricks.
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Is reforming the Senate something which requires all ten provinces' consent?
ReplyDeleteNope.
So the referendum works fine.
As for electoral reform -- yes, absolutely you get action only when you have the other guys over a barrel. Common sense, that.
While I think that abolition of the Senate is an option, I would prefer if the NDP could focus on abolishing the existing Senate and be open to either abolition or reform. In a federal country like Canada where no one place is the centre of Canada (unlike London, UK or Paris, France), Canada needs a political structure that recognizes its multi-centred regional nature. A reformed Senate may help do that.
ReplyDeleteOn the issue of voting reform, I do think that the NDP motion of just studying it is too weak, and this demonstrates that Jack Layton may not be serious about supporting voting reform that includes some form of proportional representation. I want the NDP (and any other party) to state that it supports proportional representation because it is fair, and it is also democratic. Anything voting system that does not include some form of proportional representation is not democratic. I will not support a political party that does not express a firm commitment to support voting reform which includes proportional representation.