FELDSTED -- That is ass backward. He, or she, is in Ottawa to represent ‘Us’, not some political party

Using Statistics Canada population estimates for the third quarter 2019 and Elections Canada preliminary election results by province, it appears that 10.5 million Canadian residents (28%) were not eligible to vote in the 2019 election.

Of the 27 million eligible voters, 9.2 million (24.6%) chose not to cast a ballot. Ultimately 17.9 million votes were cast; the election was decided by 47.6% of the population.

The political talking heads, academic pundits and media screaming about the unfairness of our first past the post system are spouting drivel. When less than 50% of the population is casting ballots, tinkering with the selection process is adding a fresh coat of paint on a broken system.

There is something wrong when 28% of our population is not registered with Election Canada as eligible to vote. Immigrants cannot vote until they become citizens, but if we have 10.5 million residents who are not citizens our immigration system is failing us, and our security is at risk.

The reluctance of eligible voters to cast ballots is because the federal government is disconnected from the people it serves.

We elect Members of Parliament to represent us in Ottawa, and have them schooled in parliamentary process (the schools for new MPs have just been completed).  We then find the member we elected, to represent us, telling us what the party he or she represents is doing for us.

That is ass backward. He or she is in Ottawa to represent ‘Us’, not some political party.

That is where democratic reform must start. While the people we elect are not accountable to us, elections are an exercise in futility. Canadians are fed up with watching several gangs of political hooligan’s scrap over who will win the opportunity to order us about for the next few years.

The notion that if we don’t like how a political party governs us, we can kick them out in four years is insane. We have just witnessed the destruction a government can rain on us on four years. It will take at least 12 years to regain some balance and equilibrium to our economic and fiscal order.

Lack of accountability is killing our democracy.

We now face an irresponsible, wasteful minority government propped up by even more irresponsible socialist minority parties. Politicians and academics cannot understand why the population is anxious about its future. We don’t live in the Ottawa bubble and don’t have the power to change stagnant wage rates and increasing costs of living. Our budgets do not balance themselves, and if we accumulate too much debt, we risk losing all we own in a bankruptcy or creditor seizure of our assets.

We are personally responsible for our actions and decisions ... while those we elect to represent us in our provincial and federal governments are not.

That must change.

As an example, US trade tariffs and the US – China trade wars are hurting the Agricultural sector. In addition, poor weather has severely hampered harvest this year. This is not an insignificant sector, generating about $75.5 billion in income, using 2018 estimates.

The agricultural sector was not even mentioned during the recent election. Agricultural producers are left swinging in the wind and politician claim they cannot understand why people are concerned over their futures.

According to the government's own estimates, as of September 30^th, Canada has spent $1,865,269 on its campaign for a UN security council seat. That sum does not include salaries of thirteen government employees appointed to work full-time on Canada's bid.

We have every right to be cynical about government plans and policies. They do not include our safety and security; we are peons who pay the bills and are otherwise ignored.

John Feldsted
Political Commentator, Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba