A sprint to the finish for NDP hopefuls, July 30

I have not decided my vote because none of the aspirants are pushing for what I think is the most important issue for the future of Canada; I speak of proportional representation.

Like many Canadians, I voted for PR in the last election based on faith in the solemn promise from Justin Trudeau and the belief that he would beat the Harper Conservatives. My belief was well founded, but my faith was dashed, because for Trudeau it was all pomp and circumstance.

However, the fact remains PR is critical for Canada: We Canadians are witness to the frightful partisan politics in the U.S. where their two parties are resolute on the destruction of the other whilst the majority of the American people are the collateral damage: their social institutions and future dreams in tatters. I am really frightened when our political parties look to the U.S. for inspiration. We do not need their brand of partisan politics; our antiquated “first-past-the-post” winner-take-all electoral system provides enough incentive for vicious partisan politics.

What we need is a multi-ideological government that would be a blend of political ideologies because, in my experience having lived in democracies run by socialists, conservatives and liberals, there is not one political ideology that has the best ideas for all the people. It also has the added advantage of making it more difficult for big money to capture and control the government’s agenda.

PR provides the opportunity to find the right blend of political ideologies. Therefore what I would like to see is an NDP party platform, fully supported by the leader, with its main plank being proportional representation. PR being the main plank does not mean that we cannot participate in all the other issues of concern for the country, but it does make it clear that we are taking the “high road” for the benefit of all Canadians.

We are a bilingual, multicultural country; we have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but our FPTP electoral system is a relic of a less-enlightened age. A just society cannot thrive if all political ideologies are not given the opportunity to participate in government.

Keith Parkinson, Cambridge, Ont.

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