Over the past month of online discussions and political gatherings, I realized the feasability issues with that idea were staggering and have shifted to supporting joint nominations where the resulting candidate runs under their original party banner. As well, my ongoing involvements led me to be asked to facilitate a federal election specific discussion at the most recent Progressive Tuesdays @ Broken City gathering. The conversation yielded fruitful notes that I have included below.
I am hoping that we can start moving towards more concrete action tasks and am taking the steps to do so.
Progressive Tuesdays @ Broken City, February 5, 2013
Next Federal Election
Discussion
Notes by James
Davidge
Initial Thoughts
Get the country to
view Calgary as an experiment in some new form of multi-party cooperation. We are a maverick city with a nothing-to-lose
political situation.A new government should bring in some form of proportional representation that reduces the need for cooperation or merger.
New Ridings Discussion
There are 2 new federal Calgary ridings:
Some
redistricting of boundaries (ex. Inglewood is no longer in Calgary East).
Low
voter turnout in the east and well, really everywhere.
It is important that we get people voicing their support for
multi-party cooperation to as many constituency offices as possible.
We must seek out strong candidates.
The two new ridings would only be able to form “shadow”
EDA’s as the new ridings won’t officially exist until the writ is dropped.
Candidate Discussion
It is worth supporting Joyce Murray to help create a
national voice for cooperation.
To avoid the parachuting in of a candidate from one of the
national parties that thwarts local cooperative efforts, the eventual approval
of the national leaderships will be almost necessary. The federal leader must sign a candidate’s
election form to represent that party.
Are there Calgary organizations that represent any of the
federal parties or “progressive” groups (ex. Is there an active Calgary Liberal
Party Association? Or something similar for the NDP? Or the Green?).
People don’t want to lose the right to vote for their party.
Will people vote for other parties?
When one considers all the stakeholders – The political
brass, the voters and any grassroots movement – no action will ever make
everyone happy.
Candidate Selection
Suggestion # 1: Hockey draw – assign various ridings to the three
parties.
Is
efficient. Ensures the three parties
will each still have candidates in our city.
If people aren’t able to work for
their party they can go to a nearby riding that has their party in play.
Candidate Selection
Suggestion # 2: Run a Progressive Primary – preselect a candidate.
Allows for the various parties to
still drum up support for their platforms.
Gives voice to all three platforms in every riding.
Has to be pre-writ (2 months
before? 6 months before? Even earlier to allow that candidate to really lay
some ground work?)
Make
the voting open to everyone in the riding.
The
candidate should not run as an independent.
How many ridings this may occur
in was discussed –ranging from one in Calgary Centre to three in (for example)
Centre, East and Northeast to the go-big-or-go-home suggestion of all ten
ridings (That makes the best story!).
Fusion
ticket is a possibility (Stéphane Dion may have knowledge on this).
Any
National Party could override all effort in this regard if they choose.
Collective Agreement
Support for all or fewer ridings in Calgary to cooperatively select one
progressive candidate per riding who ultimately runs under their original party
banner.
