| Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) |
From: Jan Heynen <j.heynen_-at-_eyecan.ca>
To: nowar <nowar_-at-_flora.org>, no_to_nato <no_to_nato_-at-_flora.org>
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 16:25:22 -0400
It is time to take the democratic power that we should have. Proportional Representation would give us the power to reduce the influence of those who want Canada to join the US in military adventures. Of course with democratic representation we can put the proper phylosofies in action for all kinds of other things too! Jan Heynen -------------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN THE FIGHT FOR FAIR ELECTIONS www.fairvote.ca Dear Friends, On June 28, more than thirteen million Canadian voters spoke and, once again, the voting system garbled the message. A growing number of Canadians of all political stripes are fed up. Weıre tired of using the worldıs worst voting system, angry with distorted elections, sick of unrepresentative parliaments and disgusted with unaccountable governments. If that includes you, we need your help today! If Canada had a voting system based on proportional representation, like most other major democracies, the recent election results would have been very different. Based on the votes cast on June 28, the Liberals would have won about 113 seats rather than 135 seats; the Conservatives about 91 rather than 99; and the Bloc about 38 rather than 54. The NDP would have about 48 seats, rather than 19, and the Greens about 13 seats, rather than none at all. But national statistics donıt tell the full story. Liberals in the West and Conservatives in Quebec didnıt get the MPs they deserved. Supporters of every party are victimized where ever they happened to be in the minority. Enough is enough! Fair Vote Canada (FVC) is a nationwide multi-partisan citizensı campaign. We are calling on the new government to begin a national process where Canadians can learn about proportional, or fair, voting systems and then choose the best system for Canada through a binding referendum. In addition to our national advisory committee of prominent Canadians, the FVC campaign is endorsed by organizations as diverse as the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Canadian Federation of Students. During the election, Fair Vote Canada volunteers across the country mounted a spirited and very effective grassroots campaign across the country. The fight for proportional representation is now on the national political agenda. But we canıt win if supporters sit silently on the sidelines. Go to www.fairvote.ca. Sign the online petition and forward it to your friends. Become an FVC member, joining online or by mail. If you can volunteer to help our national or provincial campaigns, contact us at info@fairvotecanada.org . Democracy is about making every citizen matter by giving every citizen an equal voice and an equal vote. Join us today and help make it happen. Yours for a strong democracy. Larry Gordon Executive Director Fair Vote Canada