Columba

Thank you all for responding to this "earned vote" proposal. My first experience with an "earned vote" system was my first experience at voting: the election of a student council, when I entered Grade 9 at Jarvis Collegiate Institute, in downtown Toronto. Because the Grade 9 and 10 students outnumbered the Grade 11, 12, and 13 students, the candidates who had themselves carried into the auditorium, throwing candies to the students on either side of the centre aisle and accompanied by musicians and dancing girls, garnered the majority of the popular vote. The school staff was not pleased with the outcome of the election and re-valued the votes, giving Grade 9 students one vote for each ballot cast, Grade 10 students two votes for each ballot cast, Grade 11 students three votes for each ballot cast, Grade 12 students four votes for each ballot cast and Grade 13 students five votes for each ballot cast. The adjusted vote counting resulted in a much more mature and conscientious student council and was not disputed by any of the classes. I am confident that there were some students in Grade 9 who were more mature and conscientious than some of the students in Grade 13. And I'm sure that Grade 13 had its share of mean, bullying students. But the result of the overall "earned vote" valuation was a better student council. In our current society, the only officially recognized ways to evaluate a person's potential contribution to our society is through the achievement of qualifications such as are outlined in this proposal. There are bound to be people with these qualifications whose attitudes and behaviours are unacceptable to some of us. But my observations, experiences and faith in humanity lead me to believe that the overall "earned vote" process will result in a better parliament. The extremely rowdy and disrespectul behaviour of our Members of Parliament during Question Period is an embarrassment to Canada and certainly indicates that there is lots of room for improvement in the election of mature and conscientious MPs.

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, "No problem can be solved from the same awareness that created it." All of the discussions which I have read about electoral reform seem to be stuck in the concept that the "one person, one vote" system is the only fair system, and they try to manipulate this system with all kinds of complicated proportional representation schemes which all seem to lead to permanent minority governments without any firm and consistent direction. Well, I don't think it is fair that the vote of an educated, informed citizen who is concerned about the future of Canada can be nullified by the vote of a poorly educated, poorly informed crackhead whose primary concern is how he can get his next fix. I suggest that it is time for us to start to consider the quality of votes, as well as the quantity of votes. Back in the early days of democracy, the privilege of voting was limited to a relatively small percentage of the population. During the 20th century, the privilege of voting was extended to women, to First Nations (Canadian Indian) people, and to people of younger age. Since the majority of these new voters seem to think that a policy that assures to each member of society an equitable share of goods, services and welfare benefits, means that everybody should be treated the same regardless of what contributions they make to society, the popular vote has skewed our politics in one direction and lessened the value of self-responsibility in our society. I suggest that it is time for us to give people, who make commendable contributions to our society, an opportunity to have a greater say in who gets elected to govern our country. The purpose of the proposed "Earned Votes" system is to enhance the balance of votes between the majority of the electorate and the minorities who have demonstrated values and behaviours, in manners which are readily measurable, which are desirable in the selection of Members of Parliament. BASIC: Each Canadian citizen, who is of the age and standing as defined in the Canada Elections Act, is entitled to one vote. During the registration process for each election, a citizen is entitled to apply for additional votes, as outlined below, with submission of evidence of qualification. EDUCATION: Each Canadian citizen, who has acquired a degree from a recognized university, or who has acquired an officer's commission in the Canadian armed servcies, is entitled to an additional vote. FOREIGN SERVICE: Each Canadian citizen, whose primary family income has been earned while serving outside of Canada for a minimum of two years, is entitled to an additional vote. This includes members of Canada's diplomatic, military and information gathering services. FAMILY: Each Canadian citizen, as a spouse in a legally constituted marriage, who has raised at least two children to the age of fourteen years, without having a divorce or legal separation, is entitled to an additional vote. ENTERPRISE: Each Canadian citizen who, as an owner, senior partner or majority shareholder of a profitable Canadian business, has employed at least ten people for a period of five years, is entitled to an additional vote. AWARD: Each Canadian citizen who receives the Order of Canada for outstanding achievement and service to the country or to humanity at large. The system of voting and of counting votes would be the same as now. The polling clerk would give each elector the number of ballots to which they are entitled and confirm that the marked ballots are deposited in the ballot box. May I please have your comments and suggestions concerning this proposal. If you think that the proposal is worthy of consideration by your Member of Parliament, then please tell him about it.