Reform evaporates in summer heat

In his article, Jonathan Rose writes, “This summer as meetings take place across the country ...” and that says it all about the importance the Liberals have put on this. Parties long ago decided that there would be no substantial debate on major issues and no big announcements on government policy in the summer, when people were on holidays, at the cottage, golfing or holding backyard parties. The last thing on people’s minds was politics.

The logic behind holding town hall meetings in the midst of summer, on arguably one of the most important topics ever to come before Canadians, is a mystery. The minister of democratic institutions suggests that this is an opportunity for those voices that are never heard to express their views, and everything will be recorded and sent back to the electoral reform committee. If there are points given out for being naïve, then Maryam Monsef gets plenty, as those not engaged in politics are probably the least likely to show up at these events, summer notwithstanding.

If the idea of holding these events in summer is to limit participation, then the odds are that the government will succeed. Which then leads to the conclusion that for all the posturing and weighty pronouncements that this would be the last election under first past the post, electoral reform town hall meetings are where this election promise has been sent to fade away. Jeff Spooner, Kinburn