Longest Ballot Committee Responds to House of Commons Committee
Tomas Szuchewycz, official agent for the Longest Ballot Committee in the 2024 by-election in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, sent the following letter to the House of Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) concerning the amendment they are considering to block the Committee's protest. The Longest Ballot Committee was responsible for the ballot with the second highest number of candidates in Canadian history – the ballot for the 2023 election of Toronto's mayor had more with 102 candidates.
With firm hands and a clear
conscience, we, the Longest Ballot Committee, do address thee,
Oh, you gracious servants of the people, champions of the working and middle classes, defenders of the downtrodden, torchbearers of the purest integrity and most virtuous principles, whose wisdom and generosity are unrivaled, you, whose honour stands as a fortress against corruption, you paragons of ethics and stalwarts of justice, you, the architects of progress, the keepers of order, the voices of reason in an age of deception, you, the leaders, whose service to the nation is unmatched in devotion and purpose, whose legacy will forever be etched in the annals of our glorious history as the most blessed and revered lawmakers, you the esteemed members of the PROC.
Election Rules and a Conflict of Interest
You have surely noticed, that you, women and men whose names appeared on the ballot (and will likely be put on the ballot again) are the very same who now wield the pen to set the rules by which this contest shall next be played. What a curious situation it is, then, that one who stands to gain from the outcome of the electoral struggle should also be granted the authority to decide its terms.
This, we must declare, is a conflict of interest as glaring as the sun, and as foul as a spoiled harvest.
We do not seek to cast shadows upon your character -- far from it! For we know you are people of fine standing and good fortune. But the spirit of fairness and the laws of justice must hold sway, and here we see neither fairness nor justice. Here we are, with a contest where you are both the player and the referee. Does that seem to you an arrangement worthy of the people's trust?
Therefore, we do humbly request that you recuse yourself from the power to dictate the very rules by which your own victory might be won. Step aside, release your claim to the pen, and let fair impartial hands take up the task. The people must be assured that the game is not rigged, that the rules are not written for the benefit of whomever may have won the last election, but for the flourishing of all.
Electoral Boundaries and Lessons Learned
We must acknowledge the wisdom of those who came before you and acted to right this wrong when it came to drawing electoral boundaries. Many seasons past, your predecessors faced the question of drawing the boundaries by which their fortunes might be decided. They made the right call, though it was not an easy one. They chose to step aside, and rather than holding the pen of power in their own hands, they entrusted the task to independent boundary commissions -- bodies free from the sway of political winds, whose sole purpose is the upholding of fairness and the preservation of the public's trust.
By this act, they proved their noble spirits. For in stepping away from the very process that could favour their own ambitions, they demonstrated that the health of democracy matters more than the fleeting gain of the moment. Thanks to their foresight no ruling party can bend the lines to its own advantage. This decision was a triumph of principle, and one that should be held up as an example to follow. The commissions' independence has safeguarded the integrity of the process, and in so doing, ensured that boundaries are drawn with fairness, for the benefit of all voters, and not those in power.
Reflect and Recuse
As clear-sighted and honourable servants of the public you must recognize the wisdom of your predecessors and heed our request. For the sake of fairness and the integrity of our electoral system, please reflect and recuse yourselves from the setting of election rules. For the good of our shared democracy, stand aside and instead strengthen our democracy by establishing an independent, nonpartisan, and permanent body to take up the task. We believe an institution modelled on a citizens' assembly would be the most appropriate, however we recognize the details are yours to decide.
Let it be known that our resolve is firm, our hearts are bold, and spirits unyielding. You can try to block our way, but you will find no weakness here. Our course is set, and we shall see it through.
(November 24, 2024)
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 11 - November 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/M540113.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca