Canadians care about voter reform

Re: The political fallout of breaking a promise — Feb. 3

The story by Joanna Smith on Justin Trudeau’s broken promise regarding electoral reform asks: “But what of the majority of Canadians? Do they care? Does it matter?”

It matters. In our system of first-past-the-post (FPTP), votes cast for a Green candidate who loses are useless, for example. The planet-caring, environmentally conscious, politically aware voters in the particular riding have no say in Ottawa.

It matters because these environmentalists should have their say in the structure of government. It matters because they may not vote in the next election, knowing that their votes won’t count. It matters because, due to discouragement, they may cease to engage in the political discussion and the environment will suffer for it.

Smith writes that “there is a much larger group that knows little and cares less about ER” in reference to the Canadian electorate at large. This is simply cause and effect. Unfortunately, it is difficult to excite the electorate about electoral reform possibilities when they “know little.”

New Zealand solved the problem by having a trial run at mixed member proportional representation (MMPR) for four terms. The electorate was educated by experience and when consulted after the trial, voted for MMPR over the former FPTP system. Their experience demonstrates that an educated public will choose a proportional alternative to our antiquated and unfair FPTP. Donald A. Fraser Waterloo