How the new system will affect leadership
by Giuseppe Gori

The shortcomings of the current electoral system, used both federally and provincially are so clear that awkward procedural corrections are necessary to avoid obvious problems.

For example, there is an unwritten rule by which a party will not seriously contend the seat of another major party leader. It stands to reason that if a person is chosen to represent several million people as a party leader, it is not reasonable to revisit the decision in a local by-election where the margin of victory may be determined by a few thousand votes.

Federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion has recognized another fault of the current system and has taken “reform” in his own hands. He recently promised that he will not run a candidate in the riding where Elizabeth May, the leader of the Federal Greens, will run.

He recognized that the Green Party has a relevant support across the country and that it is fair for the leader of that party to have a chance to gain at least one seat in Parliament. A seat that the current system of election would negate.

These corrections, as I mentioned, are awkward, because they are not designed in the system and cause some other unfairness.  How do you think the long-time Liberal supporters of that riding will feel as they are told by the leader of their party that they cannot vote Liberal?

Similar problems happen in Ontario.

With our current system, when a party changes it leader an artificial by-election needs to occur to guarantee the new leader a seat in the Legislature. It happened with almost every Leadership change. The elected representative of a “safe” riding, usually one of the most successful representatives elected in the previous election, has to resign his seat, for the new leader to have a legitimate place in the Legislature.

Most recently both Ernie Eves and John Tory chose to run in the “safe” riding of Dufferin-Peel.

Their election was hardly contested by the token Liberal opponent.

How frustrated do you think are the voters in Dufferin-Peel who do not agree with the Progressive Conservative party? Every time a PC leader wants to run, the PC will spend enough resources in time, money and events to make sure that no other candidate has a chance in their riding.

There have also been also cases where the new leader of a party has failed to be elected in his own riding during a regular election. What then? Another artificial correction: Another by-election, dislodging another duly elected representative.

All politicians may fail in their moral conduct. However, some may be tempted more than others. The leader of a federal party may become our Prime Minister. The Leader of a provincial party my become our Premier. It is important that these people maintain themselves above any possible allegation of corruption. 

While this is normally the case, our system actually tempts these people, seeking for local approval, to use their position to grant unusual perks to the people of their riding.  Every candidate is tempted to “buy” votes, but the PM and the Premier are those in the greatest danger. Do you remember the fountains, golf courses and hotels allegedly associated to Chretien in his riding? While I could mention here many allegations of similar bribery, the point I make here is just to recognize that the current system “structurally” encourages national leaders to stoop down to bribery for the sake of re-election.

Furthermore, national leaders should represent ALL the people, not just the people in a riding. Would the attitude of several Liberal Prime Ministers have been different, if they represented BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as all the other provinces, instead of representing just a Quebec riding? I think so.

Should not the Premier of Ontario represent all of Ontario? In fact should not a party leader represent its party ideology and, if elected, represent all of the party supporters in Ontario?

Finally, would it not be better if, at election time, party leaders could campaign nationally, instead of concentrating in one riding? Again, awkward corrections already happen. People do not really expect the Prime Minister or the Premier to show up at local candidate debates. Often nobody is there to represent the party in power and to answer questions from the very people who elected him! 

The new electoral system simply solves all of the above problems. Party leaders are usually the first name on the party list. That’s the safest seat. The leaders of major parties then do not have to worry about running a personal campaign or about being elected or re-elected.

If a party leader has gained the confidence of thousands, or even millions of people across the province, does it not make sense that he should spend his time representing the party position, the party policies and ideology, and the Platform for the election? 

Does it not make sense that he is not subject to undue pressure form local groups, vocal groups or the media, under threat of losing his seat?

Of course leaders will always under closer scrutiny than anyone else and they can lose their job and be replaced, even faster, with the new system, is the majority of their supporters lose confidence in them. That’s’ the way it should be. Leaders should be judged on the basis of how they represent a particular ideology (the “cause” they represent on behalf of the members of their party) not by the opinion of the majority or by the media.

Since the leader will not run as a riding candidate, the leader can also avoid allegations of favoritism for that riding.

In addition, no by-elections will be necessary at the time a party leader changes and no resignations are necessary to “free” a seat.

Finally, and most importantly, the leader will not need to make promises he cannot maintain in order to ensure his election.

Of the more than 200 promises that McGuinty did before the 2003 election, only a few could be maintained. In fact, Mr. Sorbara, only a few days after the 2003 election, admitted on TV that promising more than they could deliver was the only way to ensure victory!

This brings me to open another subject: Why with the new system politicians do not have to make false promises just to be elected (See "False promises at election time").

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