Conservative Senator Linda Frum started a storm of controversy on social media this week when she said Elections Canada has no role in encouraging people to vote.
I think that she has a point. Elections Canada should concern itself with running fair, accessible and efficient elections. The rest of it is up the the carpet-baggers who run for office.
It's aboutELECTIONS in That's why its called ELECTIONS CANADA! Anything about elections in Canada is their business, except telling someone who to vote for.
If the voters choices are so dismal, or if the issues are not so pressing, low voter turnout has nothing to do with the competence of Elections Canada and everything to do with the competence of our political leadership. Elections Canada doesn't make the product, sell the product, doesn't package the product. They run the checkout counter.
Notice how she also didn't want the CEO to tell the public about the robocalls. That's what this is really all about. That and the in and out scam. The Cons got caught with their hands in the cookie jar, and now it's time for revenge, no matter what. Harper's fingerprints are all over this. Too bad the media isn't focusing more on his attempts to prevent the CEO from investigating election fraud. Guess the Cons are planning to go all out in stealing the next election and don't want anybody telling on them.
"Jabberwalker" said If the voters choices are so dismal, or if the issues are not so pressing, low voter turnout has nothing to do with the competence of Elections Canada and everything to do with the competence of our political leadership. Elections Canada doesn't make the product, sell the product, doesn't package the product. They run the checkout counter.
If the product is "get out and vote, how to vote and how to run for office" than yes, they have lots of business doing it. Federal money well spent. Who to vote for is up to the candidates and if they are such an horrid lot people don't want to vote for them, than Elections Canada should be showing us how to vote and spoil our ballots!
"Get out and vote" is a decision of the voter unless you want to use the Australian model and make voting mandatory. Sometimes, not voting IS a vote although I have never registered my dissatisfaction, that way. One provincial election back in Quebec, the choices were so dismal for us, I voted for a Rhino Party candidate named Yo Gurt. So did thousands of other in that riding, I should mention.
"Jabberwalker" said "Get out and vote" is a decision of the voter unless you want to use the Australian model and make voting mandatory. Sometimes, not voting IS a vote although I have never registered my dissatisfaction, that way. One provincial election back in Quebec, the choices were so dismal for us, I voted for a Rhino Party candidate named Yo Gurt. So did thousands of other in that riding, I should mention.
Of course it is, but it is the business of Elections Canada to try and get people to do so. And of course, make sure the elections are fair.
I agree with the second part but not with the first. Perhaps, we SHOULD borrow a page from the Australians and make voting a mandatory duty of a citizen. I actually like that idea. At that point, it becomes a responsibility of Elections Canada.
"Jabberwalker" said I agree with the second part but not with the first. Perhaps, we SHOULD borrow a page from the Australians and make voting a mandatory duty of a citizen. I actually like that idea. At that point, it becomes a responsibility of Elections Canada.
Not me. I don't really want people voting who don't care enough except to be forced. I don't see how Australia's politics are any better or even much different than our own with forced voting.
At the very least, if voting is mandatory is should be via internet, and I'm not sure I'm all that big on internet voting.
If the voters choices are so dismal, or if the issues are not so pressing, low voter turnout has nothing to do with the competence of Elections Canada and everything to do with the competence of our political leadership. Elections Canada doesn't make the product, sell the product, doesn't package the product. They run the checkout counter.
"Get out and vote" is a decision of the voter unless you want to use the Australian model and make voting mandatory. Sometimes, not voting IS a vote although I have never registered my dissatisfaction, that way. One provincial election back in Quebec, the choices were so dismal for us, I voted for a Rhino Party candidate named Yo Gurt. So did thousands of other in that riding, I should mention.
I agree with the second part but not with the first. Perhaps, we SHOULD borrow a page from the Australians and make voting a mandatory duty of a citizen. I actually like that idea. At that point, it becomes a responsibility of Elections Canada.
I would agree that voting should be mandatory!
At the very least, if voting is mandatory is should be via internet, and I'm not sure I'm all that big on internet voting.
A NON ELECTED Senator has a view on how Elections Canada should be operating.