Cullen to Hold Government’s ‘Feet to the Fire’ on Democratic Reform
Prince George, B.C. – Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen plans to hold the Trudeau government’s feet to the fire when it comes to its promise of reforming Canada’s voting system.
Cullen, who on Thursday was named his party’s critic for Democratic Reform, says a move away from that pledge would likely be frowned upon by voters.
“Any delay, any lag may be interpreted more cynically as the Liberals not wanting to change the (first past the post) system and that would be unfortunate.”
As for his preferred choice of voting system, Cullen says the “global gold standard” is the mixed-member and proportional system.
“It just very accurately reflects the percentage of votes that were cast for a party. So if you got 20% of the votes, under most of those systems you’ll end up with 20% of the seats.”
He adds it’s important the system that is ultimately chosen be easier to understand than the Single Transferable Voting system, which failed to pass the litmus test in two BC referendums.
“The STV and some of the other models that were used in the past were very hard for people to understand and were hard to apply to the real world,” says Cullen.
“So one of the tests we should have for whatever voting system we come up with is that Canadians feel confident in understanding it and it’s easy to explain.”
Does he think there’s enough time to have a new voting system in place by the next federal election?
“Oh, very much. Elections Canada has told us they need somewhere around 18 months give or take once the system is in place,” says Cullen. “So with the next election four years away that gives us enough time to consult with Canadians, experts, and other countries.”
Comments
Proportional is a gold standard for party hacks that enter parliament through appointments and are never directly accountable to the voters. Its about centralizing the power of a party at the expense of local representation and the independence of a candidate.
STV was not rejected by BC twice. The BCSTV which was complicated by its multi member riding’s received a huge majority of 59%, but failed only in that it didn’t meet the arbitrary 60% that Gordan Campbell choose as the litmus test for adopting that form of voting. Who can name the last government in Canada that was elected with 59% of the popular vote?
BCSTV received a majority of support (over 50%) in all but two riding’s in the province, which is far more than proportional voting or first past the post would ever get.
STV is used and well understood in Ireland as well as in the Australian Senate. In fact it turns out all the political parties in Canada also use the STV when selecting their leaders and local riding candidates… including the ndp in its recent riding nominations in Prince George Cariboo.
So STV is the best to use internally, but when it comes to the general election only a system that allows the party to appoint unelected members from a party list is the ‘gold standard’?
Leave the electoral system just as it is. Having STV or MMP will do absolutely nothing towards improving the quality of governance we get from our elected ‘representatives’, because neither of those systems do anything whatsoever towards reminding those people that that’s what their primary function is. To be our ‘representatives’. First and foremost. NOT our ‘delegates’. And there is a BIG difference. All both STV or MMP will do is give those we elect the idea that they are the latter. Their job, and that of the Prime Minister, is to “yield to pressure”. Our job, if we’re not happy with the way they’re governing, is to apply it. If we’re too lazy and unconcerned to do that, then we’ll deserve exactly what we’re going to get from them. And STV and MMP will just provide them with an excuse for their inaction they don’t need or deserve.
Cullen who?
Cullen hallucinates about having a spaghetti government like the Italians, where losers become winners, and anyone who has a wacky idea can become part of a Parliament that would have as much chance of getting a bill through as a snowball in hell.
Democracy is majority rules system of government, and any change to that system undermines entirely the basic principles of of the Westminster system of govt. that has stood the test of time for centuries. The only people who want to make the changes that Cullen wants are those individuals or parties has will never be popular enough to earn confidence and the votes of a majority of the Canadian people.
Edited for content
Election reform was a election promise so Cullen may get his dream, hold on to your hats and wallets, there were a lot more promises than just bringing in refugees.
Promises, promises. The Reformers weren’t going to sign on to the pension plan, were going to reform the senate and were going to clean up the corruption in Ottawa. Oh yeah, and I’ll love you till death do us part. Hahaha….
Digitus, speaking of promises, Justin and Co. promised an increase in infrastructure spending, funded by deficits!
Apparently today, it was revealed that Justin is following through with his election promise, by increasing infrastructure spending, IN INDONESIA!
ANTALYA, TURKEY–(Marketwired – Nov. 15, 2015) – Prime Minister’s Office
Introduction
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced $14.25 million in funding to strengthen infrastructure development in Indonesia, in order to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in the country.
Canada is partnering with the World Bank, through the Accelerating Sustainable Public-Private Investments for Infrastructure Renewal (ASPIRE) project, to assist Indonesia in preparing the legal and regulatory groundwork required for critical public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure projects. This includes the establishment and operationalization of a P3 Centre in Indonesia.
The announcement was made on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, following the Prime Minister’s bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Quotes
“Canada’s economic growth was made possible by building ambitiously. Our government believes that modern infrastructure is one of the key ingredients of a healthy economy-it creates jobs, makes economies more competitive, and strengthens our communities. With the project announced today, Canada will help Indonesia kick-start some critical infrastructure projects, promoting employment and growth, and reducing poverty.” – Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
How many people voted for Justin, thinking that his promised infrastructure spending meant spending in INDONESIA?
For this, we get deficits?
Maybe Cullen should hold Justin’s “feet to the fire” over this issue!
Gee, somebody keep Trudeau away from the other 18 leaders. We gotta save some money for inquiries. But on the bright side Hart Guy, he didn’t give it to the Saudi’s or the Israeli’s. So it is a different Canada.
Hart Guy.. so quick to judge the liberals… but when it came to harper driving us deeper in debt while he was saying we had a balanced budget ( pure lying to all of Canada)he is your god.. he could do no wrong.. lets see where we are compared to what trudeau got handed with in 4 years.. then whine all you want..but give the guy a chance to do something harper never did.. live up to his election promises.. he already has started..
P Val, I know that you think that the sun rises and sets on Justin, and that the entire planet revolves around him, but I have to ask you a question?
At today’s meeting of the G20, as the leaders talk tough about the fight against ISIS, where was our half-wit of a leader?
From Global News:
Trudeau on outside as leaders talk tough about fight against ISIS
Sun, Nov 15: At this G20 summit, leaders are talking tough about the war against ISIS. But prime minister Justin Trudeau is not part of this conversation. Trudeau finds himself offside at this summit; he’s still planning to withdraw Canadian CF-18 fighter jets from the fight against ISIS, while other leaders want to strike harder.
Offside? Perhaps you can correct me if I am wrong P Val, but wasn’t Justin too busy taking selfies to join in the discussions?
P Val, Justin is an embarrassment, but you keep on defending him because he’s going to need all the help he can get! He is in waaaay over his head!
PVal, if Harper had not run government deficits in a time of global recession the overall effects on the economy here would’ve been far worse than they turned out to be. That he was able to do this while it was necessary and then bring the government’s books back into the black WITHOUT raising taxes is a great credit to the Conservative’s fiscal management. Now lets see if Trudeau can build some infrastructure here through further deficit spending WITHOUT raising taxes. My feeling is that he can’t, and coupled with the inflation these tax increases are designed to try to combat, but will only add to, we’ll be paying for that infrastructure several times over. And it won’t be long before we’ll curse the long term pain we’ll endure for such little in short term gain.
I only said to give Trudeau time to show his worth.. Harper had 10 years and his worth was nothing but 163 billion deeper in debt and a long list of other failures. Justin said he was going to pull out of the war as a election promise.. And I know you aren’t used to a leader living up to his election promises but Trudeau did.. He said he would..he got voted in.. So can say that the smart voters agreed with him. By the way.. Our 6 jets would not sway any war against terrorism.. And the halfwit leader you are talking about is back in Calgary.
Socredible.. Harper cut transfer payments, cut to veterans, cuts to schools, cuts to environmental , and lots more cuts and he still couldn’t bring us a balanced budget..and he has a financial background.. How stupid is that.. So where was he spending the money? Bank accounts in the caymans perhaps? Paying off big business perhaps. Us Canadians weren’t seeing any of it.. And he did raise our taxes in a back handed way.. Due to his huge cuts in transfer payments the provinces raised our taxes.. So yes he did raise taxes, but in a very slimey way. Our kids will be paying for the long term pain Harper has left us with.
PVal, I think you’re confusing Harper with Paul Martin. Who was lucky enough to have been Finance Minister and then Prime Minister without having to face a full scale global recession, like the one that came on in 2008 and placed so many countries in a condition of virtual bankruptcy. We escaped that fate.
But perhaps you’re one of those people who actually LIKE paying taxes? That feel the government, particularly a left-of-center one, is going to be able to better manage your money than you could yourself? In such case, just which taxes would you like Trudeau to raise first?
Your personal Income Tax? Which Harper lowered? The GST? Back up to 7%, like it was before Harper lowered it to 5%? Maybe Trudeau could make it 9%, or even 10%? Easy to figure at the latter amount. And that’s still only half of what some European countries’ citizens pay that way, and we wouldn’t want to fall behind them, would we? Trudeau might even be able to use Gordon Campbell’s old line about making us “Number One” again. Counting from the bottom up, that is.
Looks like it’s “pick on P Val” night!
But, but, but P Val, you make it soooo easy!
You mentioned Justin’s promises! Hooray for Justin’s promises!
Justin promised infrastructure spending, to be paid for with deficit budgets!
Guess what! Today Justin announced his first infrastructure spending!
Wait, wait, wait for it!
“Prime Minister Announces Infrastructure Funding for Indonesia”!!
Oops, I mean for Canada! NOPE!
Justin announces $14.23 Million in infrastructure funding for Indonesia! Wow! How many of you “I love Justin” supporters thought that Justin was going to deficit spend on infrastructure FOR Indonesia??
From the news story:
November 15, 2015 02:11 ET
Prime Minister Announces Infrastructure Funding for Indonesia
ANTALYA, TURKEY–(Marketwired – Nov. 15, 2015) – Prime Minister’s Office
Introduction
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced $14.25 million in funding to strengthen infrastructure development in Indonesia, in order to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in the country.
Canada is partnering with the World Bank, through the Accelerating Sustainable Public-Private Investments for Infrastructure Renewal (ASPIRE) project, to assist Indonesia in preparing the legal and regulatory groundwork required for critical public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure projects. This includes the establishment and operationalization of a P3 Centre in Indonesia.
The announcement was made on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, following the Prime Minister’s bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Quotes
“Canada’s economic growth was made possible by building ambitiously. Our government believes that modern infrastructure is one of the key ingredients of a healthy economy-it creates jobs, makes economies more competitive, and strengthens our communities. With the project announced today, Canada will help Indonesia kick-start some critical infrastructure projects, promoting employment and growth, and reducing poverty.” – Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
So far, since the election, actually since long before the election, Justin has been even more embarrassing for Canada than Justin Bieber!!
Yup, P Val, Justin’s your guy, haha!
P Val, it looks like your boy Justin wants Canada to help Indonesia kick-start some critical infrastructure projects, promoting employment and growth, and reducing poverty!
Gee, you think that maybe here in Canada he should help kick-start some critical infrastructure projects, promoting employment and growth, and reducing poverty? Here, in Canada??
How nice of Justin to kick Canada in the gonads, but I guess that it’s ok as long as he’s helping Indonesia!
P Val, you voted for this guy? Shame on you!
Lest PVal think we’re picking on him, perhaps it should be pointed out that all the dough Justin is giving to Indonesia, money which will be recouped from taxes on us all, (not just “the wealthy”, as he promised), will actually be spent here in Canada. Canadian money is only ‘effective demand’ for Canadian goods and services. It won’t buy anything in Indonesia, anymore than their currency would buy anything here.
Indonesia MAY get some benefit from it. Though judging from what the article says it will be spent on, (and the hugs and kisses one other article said Justin received from the head of the World Bank) ~ maybe not. Looks to me like they’re being set-up to be picked clean by that great humanitarian-ally oriented body, like it’s done with many a Third World country before it. Just imagine, our new PM, the poster boy of the the debt dealer’s debt dealer. A true ‘Liberal’ if ever there was one!
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