Great article by Craig Scott:
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/the-case-for-mixed-member-proportional-representation/
By voting for my motion, it seems at least half the current Liberal caucus now agrees with the NDP, even if Trudeau does not.And that is a very good thing, because there would be nothing healthier for the future of Canada’s parliamentary democracy than to have the NDP, Greens and Liberals all clearly and irretrievably committed before the next election to implementing proportional representation after the election.
. . . in our current system, voters have a single vote that is supposed to integrate one’s preference for which person should be MP and also one’s preference of a party to support. These preferences do not always mesh, for many voters. Voters are frequently faced with the dilemma of voting for a less preferred local riding candidate in order to support their favoured party, or for a less preferred party in order to support someone whom they see as the best person to be MP.
In contrast and what’s very important is that, under German, Scottish or New Zealand mixed-member proportional representation, a citizen can vote for a local MP from one party (or for an Independent) with her first vote and choose a different party to support with her second vote. This ability to separate the party from the local riding candidate makes it easier for local MPs to receive the support of people of all political stripes and to be supported for their constituency-representation credentials, versus only for the party they happen to belong to. This increases the nature and degree of support MPs bring with them into the House of Commons, thus strengthening their independence vis-a-vis party positions the MP may strongly oppose.
Is this type of electoral reform on the radar of most Canadians? It is supported by 70% or more.
I like to see the NDP getting a lot of press for its policies these days. The opposition position and the strength of their core team just makes it so hard to ignore them.
The Orange Wave has changed things for good now, and the Liberals are making a very serious mistake in thinking they can just coast on Harper's bad blood and win as the only "alternative" and as the "natural governing party". That was Iggy's pitch, and he took a dive on it.
The NDP is just not going to roll up and disappear, and go down to 15% to 17% protest vote status. I just don't see it.
As well, win or lose these policy planks are helping set the agenda. Trudeau basically has to respond to the "Prop Rep" challenge here. He looked so goofy with that shit eating grin while the vote on Scott's motion was going down.