Public ignorance of our political system is a scourge. Tackling that is the first step to meaningful electoral reform in Newfoundland and Labrador. The second priority is to make sure the players do not set the rules for everyone, as they have done repeatedly, and disastrously, since 2003. Most of all, we need to get on with reform, as soon as possible.While there are many good reasons for electoral reform in Newfoundland and Labrador, most of the recent talk of changes to how elections run in the province is from people who want to give an advantage to a party they like.
Take the decision in 2015 to slash public representation
in the House. The Conservatives who were
behind the notion, figured it would be easier to win a majority of 20 seats
instead of 48. They knew they couldn’t get 24 but hoped they could cling to
power with 20 or 21. Depending on how
the count goes on Thursday, they might be right.
The Liberals who backed the cuts, like Dwight Ball, were
concerned only that the idea appeared popular.
They thought that by siding with a popular initiative they would gain
favour with voters.
Lots of popular things don’t drive votes and this was one
of them. If they thought about the
electoral math – and there’s no sign they did – then they likely hit on the
same self-serving reason the Conservatives did.
Depending on how the count goes on Thursday, they might be as right or as
wrong as the Conservatives when they last held power.
Then there’s the business of fixed election dates.
