September 17, 2024
Results of Federal By-Elections in Montreal and Winnipeg
By-Elections Provide More Evidence of Canada’s
Unrepresentative Democracy
• By-Elections Provide More Evidence of Canada’s
Unrepresentative Democracy
• Results in La Salle—Émard—Verdun
• Results in Elmwood—Transcona
• Message from Longest Ballot Project Organizers
Results of Federal By-Elections in Montreal and Winnipeg
By-Elections Provide More Evidence of Canada’s
Unrepresentative Democracy
By-elections are known for their low voter turnout. In this regard, the federal by-elections which took place in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun in Montreal and Elmwood—Transcona in northeast Winnipeg did not disappoint with 60.34 per cent of citizens eligible to vote not casting a ballot in the former and 60.92 per cent in the latter. This fact, however, is used to dismiss what is significant about the by-election results which is that the system called a representative democracy is representative in name only. In no way does it provide those elected with what is called a “mandate” from the citizens of a riding.
The by-election results once again underscore the need for the democratic renewal of the electoral law to eliminate the first-past-the-post method of counting votes. This method of counting votes is used to establish a “majority” which is then used on the federal level to form a party government. The electoral campaigns of these parties are run by marketing firms which do whatever they think it takes to get their “client” elected.
As for those who will now say the Liberal loss of the LEV riding rings their death-knell in Montreal and perhaps Quebec, we take note that the Bloc, Liberals and NDP each garnered approximately the same percentage of the votes cast. Whatever conclusions are drawn in this regard are fabricated to favour the Conservatives and wipe out the NDP and in no way change the unrepresentative nature of the democracy.
Our congratulations go to those who joined the Longest Ballot Project to raise the need to democratize the electoral law and encourage Canadians to participate in setting the direction of the economy and all matters of concern to the polity.
Results in La Salle–Émard–Verdun
A total of 31,711 citizens went to the polls in the La Salle–Émard–Verdun (LEV) federal by-election held on September 16, out of 79,966 citizens eligible to vote (this does not take into account those who registered on election day, Elections Canada specifies). In other words, 39.66 per cent of citizens eligible to vote cast a ballot and 60.34 per cent did not. Of the citizens who cast a ballot, 29,458 voted for one of the cartel parties and 2,253 voted for independent candidates and those who were part of the Longest Ballot Project.
The Bloc Québécois received 8,884 votes which is 28 per cent of the votes cast and 11.1 per cent of the total number of citizens registered to vote. This was a 248 vote lead over the Liberal Party whose candidate received 8,636 votes which is 27.2 per cent of the vote cast and 10.79 per cent of the eligible vote. The NDP candidate came in third with 8,262 votes which is 26.1 per cent of the vote cast and 10.33 per cent of the eligible vote. The Conservative Party with 3,676 votes got 11.6 per cent of the votes cast and 4.59 per cent of the eligible vote. The other parties and independents received 2,253 of the votes cast. Two candidates received no votes.
The election of Louis-Philippe Sauvé of the Bloc Québécois brings the number of Bloc MPs in the Parliament to 33. He is the second Bloc MP on the island of Montreal along with Mario Beaulieu, the MP for La Pointe-de-l’Île. The riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun had been Liberal since 2015.
Results in Elmwood—Transcona
Monday, September 16 was voting day in the by-election in the Manitoba federal riding of Elmwood—Transcona, in the northeast of Winnipeg. Only 28,261 of 72,325 citizens registered to vote cast a ballot. This is 39.08 per cent of the electorate in that riding, compared to 44,064 voters who did not vote – 60.92 per cent, well over half. Six candidates campaigned. Elections Canada reports that NDP candidate Leila Dance won the election with 48.1 per cent of the vote cast; the Conservative Party received 44 per cent; the Liberal Party 4.8 per cent, the Green Party 1.3 per cent, the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) 1.2 per cent, and Canadian Future Party 0.5 per cent.
Of the total number of registered voters, the NDP was elected with 18.81 per cent of the registered vote. The Conservative Party received 17.21 per cent of the vote of those registered to vote; the Liberal Party 1.88 per cent, the Green Party 0.51 per cent, the PPC 0.58 per cent and Canadian Future Party 0.18 per cent.
Our Sincere Congratulations to All Those Fighting to Modernize the Canada Elections Act and Demanding Change!
The Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada (MLPC) extends its sincere congratulations to all candidates from small parties and independents, including Normand Chouinard, MLPC candidate, who ran under the banner of the Longest Ballot Project in the by-election in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun (LEV). The Party congratulates all activists who participated in the election to collect candidate signatures, to meet citizens in the neighbourhoods, subways and in the street and, thus, work towards change which favours the people.
They have made public the demand to end an outdated method of counting votes, refusing to accept a system that marginalizes the entire body politic. It allows a candidate to be elected, as in this by-election, with 28 per cent of votes cast — 11.1 per cent of citizens registered to vote. This then entitles them to speak on behalf of all those who reside in the riding, and the Bloc Québécois to claim victory. Called a system of “representative democracy,” this system is neither democratic nor representative. The results of the September 16 by-election in LEV demonstrate, above all, that the system of so-called representative democracy is a fraud.
The Longest Ballot Project deserves credit for giving citizens the opportunity to denounce this fraudulent method of claiming majorities that do not represent the people. Citizens from all corners of Canada and Quebec directly expressed their opposition to the unrepresentative electoral system and gave voters in one riding the opportunity to do the same.
The MLPC also extends its congratulations to independent candidate Tina Jiu Ru Zhu who courageously ran to exercise her democratic right to run for office and freely express her views. Her call to “Stand up and speak out!” while the Canadian state, in the name of fighting foreign interference, wages a smear campaign of defamation and denigration against the Chinese community deserves respect and support.
The monopolized media repeat that voting is important, that it is a democratic right, that we should be proud to have this right in a democratic country and that we must exercise it. Those who do not vote must then bear the blame for this or that government or elected candidate. But the awareness of voters is much more advanced than what we are told, while the election is reduced to promises, marketing and competition between cartel party factions. Citizens cannot be blamed for refusing to get involved in these schemes. The interest and the many discussions in the constituency on the need to modernize the Canada Elections Act are a fact. The impasse in which citizens are placed when it comes to elections as we know them, which is reflected among other things by the low turnout, is a problem that has been posed and must be resolved.
With this election, the crisis of credibility and legitimacy of the electoral system will not be alleviated. The by-election in the constituency highlights that the demand for democratic renewal of the electoral act is essential and on the agenda. Let’s move forward for the renewal of the political process!
Message from Longest Ballot Project Organizers
“The results are in and the longest ballot candidates brought in a combined total of 1114 votes!!! A big thank you to the voters of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, the 79 brave candidates who put their names on the ballot and everyone who helped make the longest ballot possible.”
Kieran and Tomas Szuchewycz, Longest Ballot Project
Reader’s Comment
As the dust settles over the results of the LaSalle—Émard—Verdun (LEV) and Elmwood—Transcona federal by-elections, pundits went into analysis mode of what these results mean for the future of this or that cartel party in the House of Commons. What is noticeable in most of these analyses is their dismissal of what the results of the 79 candidates who ran for the Longest Ballot Project in LEV mean. Some ignore its significance while others brush it aside by making comments such as “If those thousand votes that went to the Longest Ballot Project candidates could have gone partly to the runner-up candidates it could have changed the outcome of the by-election.”
Silly to say the least because the votes for the one have absolutely nothing to do with the votes for the others.
It shows that these sideline election commentators don’t want to recognize what is in front of their eyes, that close to 1,200 people who voted by supporting the Longest Ballot Project in LEV are telling these cartel parties loud and clear: “Renew the electoral process!” or expect citizens to further abandon the cartel parties and organize for a real alternative where the members of the polity themselves become the decision-makers.
A Montreal reader
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