Electoral system referendum is still in the works
There was great hoopla in the spring sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature about the Electoral System Referendum Act. It was passed on June 12, 2018. Since then, there has been an amazing silence about the referendum to be held with the next provincial election.
It is fair to say that the majority of Islanders do not realize that there will be a referendum with the next provincial election, whenever that will be. Of course, this was not the hot topic over a lovely P.E.I. summer. Now, however, it is time to hear about what the current government described as one of the more serious decisions Islanders are asked to make: will we choose Mixed Member Proportional Representation or stay with First Past the Post? Some people may be confused by the dates outlined in the Act. Although the legislation was passed on June 12, 2018, the Act originally stipulated that a referendum commissioner would be appointed to oversee the vote and that this position was to be filled by June 1, 2018. Three months later, there has been no appointment. Then on Sept. 6, the legislative management committee announced that the job would be posted and potential candidates need to apply for the position.
The deadline for applications was Sept. 28. Another sign of faulty planning is that the Act indicated that groups which wished to register as “referendum advertisers” would have until July 1, 2018 to do so. Presumably those registrations were to be received and approved by the aforementioned Commissioner. So now is there a new date for groups to register?
On the matter of “referendum advertisers” as described in the Electoral System Referendum Act: what an unfortunate turn of phrase. This wording is not a P.E.I. original. It is copied from similar legislation in other jurisdictions. In fact, the concept is at the root of how election campaigns are run in most countries.
Here is the problem. Advertising is a multi-billion dollar business attached to the trappings of our consumer society. Anyone who listens to the CBC Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly knows the tricks required to convince people to buy one product over another. Many times these are psychologically geared to have us buying what we don’t want or need.
Important issues for advertisers are branding, convincing slogans, and endless gimmicks carefully designed to rope-in unsuspecting buyers. It works!
Unfortunately, this concept of advertising has long-since been adopted by political parties, and electoral campaigns. And here too, it works! However, we need to ask ourselves what do the trappings of advertising have to do with the ideals of democracy. There can be no democracy if people do not know the issues facing them.
A rock star political leader is no substitute for a sincere person committed to people’s rights. A glitzy platform, often based on unfounded promises, is no substitute for clear people-centered and eco-centered policies. Fast-talking campaigners are no substitute for honest dialogue which leads voters to a deeper understanding of what will make life better for most residents. The role of honest candidates and campaigners is to be policy educators and citizen promoters, not hoodwinking persuaders and self-promoters.
In a true democracy, citizens are not buyers of politicians’ lines, slick mottoes, or catchy slogans. Enlightened citizens vote according to what they know, not according to what they are told. Citizens have the right to know and the right to decide for themselves.