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Minister Stronach Eyes Fixed Federal Elections Dates |
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Written by Staff
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Monday, 28 November 2005 |
The Canadian Press is reporting that Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal Belinda Stronach is spearheading a series of electoral-reform process consultations across Canada in the coming months that will seek out the opinions of average Canadians on questions such as whether or not Canada should incorporate fixed federal election dates.
Stronach confirmed that the consultations will go ahead regardless of the outcome of a non-confidence vote later today in Ottawa. The process which has been allotted a budget of just under $1 million has already placed a tender call for at least 27 meeting organizers across the country. Stronach hopes the consultations will begin by late January, 2006. The entire process is expected to run until the Fall of 2006.
Fixed election dates are already in place at the provincial level in BC and Ontario with the latter scheduled to have its first fixed election in 2007.
Federal fixed election dates would change the way ruling parties govern. Governments tend to call elections only when their poll figures are high which in turn places a significant advantage for the party in power. Governments under our current system could be winning elections they might not under a fixed date rule.
A large majority of polled Canadians agree with the idea of fixed election dates. In 2004 the Environics Research Group reported "81% of Canadians preferred that elections be held at specific and fixed times, instead of "whenever the party in power wants to call it", according to UNB History and Politics Professor Don Desserud.
In 2003 Opposition Leader Stephen Harper who at the time was the leader of the Canadian Alliance Party called on then Prime Minister designate Paul Martin to implement fixed election dates to more closely emulate the United States by saying, "We shouldn't forget that Jean Chretien fueled a lot of cynicism about the electoral process in this country, during his 10 years in office, by calling an election whenever it suited his personal agenda." Harper added at that time, "Paul can begin to reverse this Chretien legacy and revitalize democracy in Canada, by committing today to fixing four-year terms between federal election dates."
Under the existing system, a prime minister may not only call an election at any time but like the impending historic event later today, an election must be called after the government is defeated in a confidence motion. |
