This is big

[terrym]

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...-next-election

I can see this gaining traction for Trudough. Not sure how it aligns itself with the Constitution though? Harper lost at the SCC when trying to democratize the Senate this may be viewed the same way. If this were to pass you would see the left rule forever as the Libs and NDP will outnumber the conservatives. So we would have the left running Canada and Wynne now virtually impossible to remove in Ontario with police and union protection. The NDP in Alberta now too. Maybe I will learn how to speak Greek and get ahead of the wave of destruction............

[Oddmott]

Many of the included reforms are very, VERY necessary.

Just too bad on the timing and the terrible Lib & NDP party staffs that'd be taking over from these Cons, and immediately benefiting from the changes.

[trimmer21]

Urban voters would hate the FPTP system. Simple math shows that the balance of elector control would shift from an urban to suburban demographic because that's where the voting majority base reside. It would,also,cause a greater rift between the two demographics,worse than it is,now,creating a virtual two-class society.....citiots and everyone else.LOL

[Oddmott]

Simple math shows that the balance of elector control would shift from an urban to suburban demographic because that's where the voting majority base reside. It would,also,cause a greater rift between the two demographics,worse than it is,now,creating a virtual two-class society.....citiots and everyone else.LOL

Fine by me.

Edit to add: We essentially have a two-class system already with urban voters determining the what's-what for everyone else, nation-wide.

Swinging that to reflect the whims of suburban voters isn't necessarily "balanced", but it's at least a bit of movement in the right direction.

[terrym]

If you're going to make voting mandatory and include fines for not voting then I say it's time to include a qualification exam too. If you have no clue who or what your representatives do or are even then you don't get to vote until you educate yourself. But yes, our system was designed in very different times so having it evolve isn't necessarily the wrong decision. Still, it would give us nothing but left leaning coalition governments going forward. That could seriously set us back as a nation. I can see this putting the Libs ahead of the NDP. I bet this sells big. If the facebook/smartphone Twitts could vote with their iPhones they would be all over this. My fear is a high school kid can likely hack into and bugger up the process too easily. Or, they could bring in a non government IT guy after hours, give him a clandestine password and he could wreak havoc. Not that Liberals would do this or this has ever happened in Ontario.....

[Oddmott]

If you're going to make voting mandatory and include fines for not voting then I say it's time to include a qualification exam too. If you have no clue who or what your representatives do or are even then you don't get to vote until you educate yourself. But yes, our system was designed in very different times so having it evolve isn't necessarily the wrong decision. Still, it would give us nothing but left leaning coalition governments going forward. That could seriously set us back as a nation. I can see this putting the Libs ahead of the NDP. I bet this sells big. If the facebook/smartphone Twitts could vote with their iPhones they would be all over this. My fear is a high school kid can likely hack into and bugger up the process too easily. Or, they could bring in a non government IT guy after hours, give him a clandestine password and he could wreak havoc. Not that this has ever happened in Ontario.....

I'd be fine with voter exams. However, you're talking about adding another whole arm to the public sector to run them.

Also, you're really, REALLY overestimating the knowledge and intelligence of conservative voters if you think - on the whole - they're any better than Liberal or NDP voters. You would have the exact same rate of voter exam failures across all party supporters.

[terrym]

I'd be fine with voter exams. However, you're talking about adding another whole arm to the public sector to run them.

Also, you're really, REALLY overestimating the knowledge and intelligence of conservative voters if you think - on the whole - they're any better than Liberal or NDP voters. You would have the exact same rate of voter exam failures across all party supporters.

No argument there. But over time you would eventually get voters making educated decisions on personal reasons/values as opposed to we are a Liberal/PC/NDP family and that's how we vote regardless. Democracy wasn't cheap. We have allowed it to be disrespected far too much by all politicians.

[trimmer21]

Fine by me.

Edit to add: We essentially have a two-class system already with urban voters determining the what's-what for everyone else, nation-wide.

Swinging that to reflect the whims of suburban voters isn't necessarily "balanced", but it's at least a bit of movement in the right direction.

Absolutely! The sooner the better. It's the only glimmer of hope that Trudeau isn't completely brain dead. Um,wait a minute.....I wonder who thought that up for him? The Liberal voter base is largely urban and immigrant,so,they'll never buy into Rep by Pop. JT may have just shot himself in the head instead of his usual foot.

I'd be fine with voter exams. However, you're talking about adding another whole arm to the public sector to run them.

Also, you're really, REALLY overestimating the knowledge and intelligence of conservative voters if you think - on the whole - they're any better than Liberal or NDP voters. You would have the exact same rate of voter exam failures across all party supporters.

Right again,Oddmot. Every party has it's fair share of people that vote for them simply because Dad did and so did Grandpa. They've never actually thought about it past that. I see people every day that do absolutely stupid things and/or make ridiculous statements and it's scary to think that these people can vote.

[mosquito]

Great system for someone that likes dictatorships, it would make the head of the party almost a dictator and local representation worth squat.

Under Asselin’s proposal, eligible voters would be legally required to vote but would have the option of voting for “none of the above.” Those who didn’t vote would face a small fine.

Liberals and NDP in power..... might make people look at the realities of their parties and definitely not vote for their local candidate anymore, as there won't be one in reality. Assuming the Canadian public isn't as dense as it seems most times, looking the realities of the parties policies, goals, leaders and plans should benefit the Conservatives as who would be dense enough to want Trudope or Mulcair in power..... voter exams would be Canada's best hope for a balanced budget, a military worth anything, firearm ownership etc......

I can picture the Liberal questions now...

What is the best way to balance a budget... pick all that apply

1) Careful planning and prioritization
2) spend it all and increase taxes
3) why worry budgets balance themselves.
4) Combination of Items 2 and 3.



or if I am wrong about the intelligence of the Canadian Public... maybe somewhere warm all year...
Grand Cayman?
http://www.immigration.gov.ky/

Belize?

Antigua?


... hmmm.

[terrym]

Great system for someone that likes dictatorships, it would make the head of the party almost a dictator and local representation worth squat.

Most left leaning voters consider Harper a Dictator already and JT has proven himself to be probably worse. He has messed with riding nominations, told all non prolife Liberals the party had no room for them and booted the Liberal Senaters from the party ( which is BS really and an attempt to deflect from spending scandals by Liberal Senators). Mulcair hasn't been tested as a PM but my guess is he would have no choice of being a dictator if for no other reason than to control the bunch of bartenders and college kids that make up the protest vote caucus he has. Rachel Notley in Alberta has had to import a bunch of non Alberta operatives in her government because of the same reason. She has a bunch of kids elected as MPP's some of which live in their parent's basements. Democracy isn't without it's warts.