To the Editor:
There's lots of talk about a big Cabinet shuffle coming soon as a way to rejuvenate the Harper government. Only time will tell whether that will produce any better results.
Part of the problem plaguing the Conservatives may be a matter of style and personality which new faces might address, but much of their malaise is also much deeper. Having some new messengers won't, for long, make up for a government message that no longer resonates, or for ethical standards that seem to have collapsed, or for abusive tactics that impair the quality of our democracy.
On this latter point - the quality of Canadian democracy - many people want to see a practical agenda for significant electoral and Parliamentary reforms to prevent abuses and improve our governance. Listed below, in no particular order, are 10 ideas to get things started. Which ones would you pick as the most urgent?
A. Open democratic nominations for all candidates to run as MPs - no pre-canned appointments.
B. In voting in the House of Commons, less "whipping" to enforce Party discipline, and more "free votes" to allow MPs to exercise their own judgment and shoulder their own responsibility.
C. The regular quarterly publication of expenses incurred by all MPs.
D. More explicit and effective Parliamentary scrutiny of government spending.
E. A truly independent and properly funded Parliamentary Budget Officer.
F. Clear legal boundaries to prevent government misuse of procedural tools like Omnibus Bills, Prorogation and Closure.
G. A requirement that every vote in every Parliamentary committee be open to the public.
H. The strengthening of Elections Canada to ensure it has the legal authority and the physical capacity to properly supervise fair and honest elections, investigate electoral fraud and prosecute wrongdoers in a timely manner.
I. Truly independent electoral boundaries commissions which are free from partisan interference or harassment.
J. A new voting system, such as a preferential ballot, to achieve fairer, more accurate election results, avoiding the distorted outcomes that so often flow from our current first-past-the-post regime.
What are your priorities? In what order would you tackle these ideas for change? Are there other action-items that you would add to the list? Which is the single most important initiative to get going first?
Please let me know what you think.
Ralph Goodale, MP, Wascana, SK.
