Re. Proportional Representation

Besides a more Democratic and therefore more accurate representation of the electorate, proportional representation has several equally important aspects. Aspects seldom addressed in most discussions on this topic.

Since each party's members in the house are there in direct proportion to the number of votes each party received, they will have attained a seat by virtue of their party's platform. They will not represent a defined riding. They will be there based on their ability to best represent their respective party's platform. Their party will need to develop platforms through grass roots level meetings in the individual ridings. Party policies may be discussed, defined and fine tuned and taken ownership of by party members at these meetings. No longer will there be opportunity for party hacks who buy votes by way of federal grants, new roads, or other government spending designated for specific electoral ridings. The federal government will be truly federal in scope. Parliament will develop policy based on what's good for the federation, not for particular ridings. The national good will become the focus of the federal government as a platform for reelection.

In short, proportional representation:
forces each party to develop distinct policies, which are developed and owned by the party members, the electorate.

eliminates pork barrelling. Each party chooses a list of candidates which will attain a seat based on the percentage of popular votes the party receives.

• gets the best people into the house. The very best, most experienced members of each party would be chosen in order of expertise to represent the party in the house. The very best, most experienced, would be chosen first. The party list would be set before the election.
• forces debate to take place where it should, in the house. Consensus and compromise for the common good will be more common.
• allows Canadians from East or West to vote for policy and party philosophy. The constituency becomes all of Canada. Voting no longer will be based on local constituent interests which are issues that should be handled by local government, not federal. Election will based on ideas rather than popularity and verbosity.

These aspects of proportional representation are as important as the fair representation of all voters.

Canadian Christian Business Federation
J. Hans Vander Stoep, Executive Director