We are entering a federal election cycle. We have to cope with the disconnect of voting for a local candidate who is beholden, more or less, to a national organization. One might agree with the local candidate, while disliking the leadership of that party, or vice-versa. But that’s just part of parliamentary democracy. Think it over and vote your
conscience.
Another baffling aspect of our present electoral system is the first-past-the-post system, whereby whoever gets the most votes wins all, as if everyone in the riding voted for that candidate, when the vote is almost always shared among four or five political parties. How is that fair? I don’t know.
I favour a minority government, because that means the governing party will have to make compromises to stay in power – they have to make a deal with another minority party, and that’s one small step toward proportional representation.
One thing we do not need, is an oligarchical dictator, slashing and burning social programs, as if only the rich count for citizenship. My family and friends in the US are treading water in a Fool Around and Find Out phase of post-electoral chaos. Ironically, Trumpist absurdity has unified Canadians to an extent not seen since that famous hockey game against the Russian Army team. Canada for the win!
Robert Wills,
Shawville and Thorne
Published in the Pontiac Journal on April 9, 2025.
