The first issue of The Canadian Vindicator which went online in August 2001 carried an article dealing with the Canadian electoral system, in which the following statements were made, and a question was asked:

Canadians enjoy an electoral system by which a candidate who gains the greatest number of votes in a constituency in a General Election wins a seat in the House of Commons. Once elected, the Member of Parliament is expected to serve all the people in the constituency whether, as individuals, they voted for him/her or not.

It is a system they are familiar with, and they have abided by its rules election after election.

But is it fair? Is it the best democracy has to offer?

Twelve months later a poll jointly conducted by the Association or Canadian Studies and Environics/Focus Canada gave the views of Canadians. Almost two-thirds favoured an alternate voting system, 34% expressing their support for a system of proportional representation voting.

The view of the majority has now been made clear. The present system does not serve their needs. They want change, fundamental change. They want fairness. They want democracy made better.

In a country where an entire Chamber of Parliament, the Senate, can be appointed by one man, Canadians have lost faith even in the method they use to elect the other Chamber of Parliament, the House of Commons.

In a democracy there is no place for an appointed Senate. The power of one individual to appoint the members of the Senate must be curbed if Canada is ever to become a democracy. Elsewhere on this web site we have shown that that can be accomplished without constitutional change.

To change the system of voting for membership of the House of Commons will require other methods, methods tried and tested in other jurisdictions.

An informed public, aroused and articulate, can lead the way.

When a determined effort was made to abolish proportional representation in Ireland for political party purposes, an informed and articulate public successfully argued against the rabid partizans who sought to alter the system, and won a referendum on the issue.

Here in Canada an informed and articulate public can successfully persuade party politicians that change is necessary in the present first-past-the post voting system which denies wider choice in the election of their representatives.

To repeat what we said in that article in our first issue:

The Canadian Vindicator is an Internet publication under the registered domain www.vindicator.ca and has no affiliation with any political party or other organization. If you find it of interest, please notify your friends so that they may join with you in promoting the expansion of democracy in Canada.

Once again, the e-mail addresses of your Members of Parliament may be accessed at the Members List. Make your views known to them, again and again and again. The Internet can be a powerful force at the service of an informed and articulate public. Make use of the Members List, and "May the Force be with you."

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