Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
We should constantly strive to strengthen and improve our democracy. Most people recognize that FPTP is sub-optimal. The feds promised change and failed. Our provincial gov't is openly corrupt and flouts our democracy at every opportunity. Not to mention the open hostility to democracy happening across the United States, which is sadly very relevant given the playbook of the monster in the Premier's chair.
Frankly our civic gov't is our only remaining remanence of the "democracy" we all grew up believing in, but who knows how long that will last as this despicable legislature is actively working to dismantle it. It doesn't really matter where the discussion starts - it will be a long and thorough process to consider any change. As it should be. And this change would not really be monumental. That doesn't mean it isn't worth doing. This will go nowhere right now. Oh well, maybe like DST reform or HSR in Alberta it will happen eventually after another dozen false starts.
Now it's your turn. There has been plenty of good faith engagement throughout the thread...but I have yet to hear a single cogent argument justifying why the status quo is superior.
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Lots of good words about democracy but adding a few more voters isn’t going to save it.
Here’s where I’m coming from. I’ve already stated that there is no specific logic that proves allowing only citizens to vote is better than the alternative. It is a specific boundary chosen by those who define our citizenship and is enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:
Further the Department of Justice further adds this in their analysis of charter rights relating to the democratic process:
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https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sj...heck/art3.html)
Municipal voting rules are controlled by the provincial government and they can relax this requirement if they choose. The fact that it is enshrined as a unique right in the charter speaks to its importance as a principle. I don’t see a good argument for watering down that principle to let a PR vote a few years early or vote while delaying citizenship indefinitely.
Further it does nothing to help the city and is a waste of time and energy IMO. What happens if it passes? X% more people vote. If it doesn’t, X% more people continue to not vote.