No need for a referendum on electoral reform
Re: The People’s Choice, Rex Murphy, Dec. 26. I disagree with Rex Murphy on the need for a referendum on electoral reform. I think this idea shows a misunderstanding of how our parliamentary democracy works. Our system is based on the Westminster and it is there that we should look for precedents. Much of British domestic politics in the 19th century was preoccupied with electoral reform and in no case was a referendum called over the issue. The reform bill of 1832, which largely abolishing the rotten boroughs, was a simple act of Parliament, as were successive measures throughout the century, gradually extending male suffrage and culminating, in the years immediately after 1918, in the enfranchisement of women.
All these measures were at least as significant as it would be to change the system from first-past-the-post to a ranked ballot or some other form of proportional representation. Yet no referendum was ever deemed desirable. We elect MPs to represent us and make decisions on our behalf. Let them make these decisions. If the decisions are subsequently found to be flawed, they can be amended or repealed. Samuel Johnson defined patriotism as “the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Perhaps he should have defined the referendum as the last refuge of a demagogue.
Richard Platt, Richmond, B. C.
Rex Murphy is adamant that any change to how Canadians vote should be submitted to them as a referendum. But Canadians were not consulted when the current first-past-the-post voting system was instituted, nor were we asked to vote on allowing indigenous people or women to vote. Had Murphy been around when these things happened, presumably he would have raised his voice and insisted on a country-wide referendum.
The Liberals won the election and they promised to consult Canadians about the change, so they should just get on with changing the voting system and ignore people like Murphy.
Geoff Rytell, Toronto.
Rex Murphy has a bizarre understanding of how our representative democracy works. The Liberals weren’t the only party to promise electoral reform. The NDP and the Green party also included proportional representation on their platforms. The Bloc have also endorsed proportional representation in the past.
Three Canadian provinces changed their voting systems more than once without referendums. Internationally, referendums on electoral reforms are rare. Most countries simply accept that the representatives of the majority of the voters are empowered to act on their behalf.
It’s only if the Liberals decide to bring in some little-used system like ranked ballots (only used by Australia), for the purpose of giving themselves some partisan advantage, and use their phony majority to bring in something that’s opposed by the representatives of 60 per cent of the voters that we would have cause for concern.
Gary Dale, West Hill, Ont.