A Citizen's Journey Part Two: Progressive Tuesdays @ Broken City

Shortly after I wrote my first article on my reasons for supporting multi-party cooperation, I crafted out a mock-proposal that synthesized my ideas and explored the potentials and challenges with it.  By sharing it with a few friends, I was guided to a gathering that, since the November by-election, has been occuring on the first Tuesday of every month at the Broken City Pub with the specific purpose of discussing party cooperation.  I went to the second meeting on New Years Day.  I shared my proposal which at the time was bold enough to suggest creating a new party for cooperation to occur.

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.