Origins of the Longest Ballot Initiative
In
the 2015 federal election Justin Trudeau promised that if his Liberal
Party was elected it would be the last first-past-the-post (FPTP)
election. Like other prime ministers before him, he broke his promise
once proposals for a system based on proportional representation did
not suit the chances of the Liberal Party winning more seats. When the
Conservatives were in power they too failed to bring about changes to
the electoral law in the interests of Canadians. Everything is done to
favour the interests of the cartel parties.
The original organizers of the Longest Ballot, Tomas and Kieran Szuchewycz, brought to the attention of electors that the democracy in Canada is one that is designed to keep the voices of ordinary people out and concentrate power in the hands of a few. They pointed out that people feel disillusioned with voting for those that don't represent them. Instead of accepting apathy and alienation, they decided to do the opposite; they engaged directly with the democracy to make themselves heard.
Now, on the eve of the anniversary of Confederation, they have succeeded in creating the longest federal ballot ever seen in the country's 157-year history.
The Longest Ballot Project was launched in the 2021 General Federal Election with the mobilization of ordinary Canadians from all walks of life and from a diverse range of political opinions to stand as candidates in a single riding at the heart of the country, St. Boniface-St. Vital (Winnipeg, Manitoba). Nearly 1,600 individual nomination signatures were collected from local residents who were excited to see regular people stand up for a better democracy. Fourteen candidates were fielded by the project.
In the Mississauga-Lakeshore (Ontario) by-election of December 12, 2022 there were 40 candidates, with 34 of them fielded by the Longest Ballot Project. Elections Canada decided to hold consultations on how to re-format the ballot, which is statutorily proscribed and would have allowed for only 26 candidates. Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault had to use his regulatory powers to adapt the ballot. It measured the size of a tabloid newspaper.
At the outset, the organizers pointed out:
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Commemorative
pin given to participants in 2022 and 2023 Longest Ballots"We believe a democracy in which everyday Canadians have a bigger voice will forever remain a distant dream until we start to exercise our democratic rights to their fullest extent and stand up with our own voices against the politicians who seek to speak on our behalf.
"Some will call the longest ballot frivolous, inappropriate, or just ballot clutter. We must disagree. There is nothing inappropriate about having regular Canadians exercising their Charter rights and engaging directly in politics. The rules and model of our democracy is determined by the winners of the last election; this is neither fair nor democratic. We have shown what a few people can accomplish, and we will continue to work hard to bear pressure on the administrative and conceptual limits of our electoral system until the widespread calls for democratic reform are answered."
This is as true today as it was when the Longest Ballot Initiative first began. In fact, the more Canadians are able to participate, the more it becomes clear that democratic renewal of the political process is the order of the day.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 38 - June 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54383.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca