Forty per cent. What is significant about the number? The answer: it is within one or two percentage points of the popular votes that have decided all but three of the most recent elections held at the provincial, territorial or federal levels. Only Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Manitoba have elected governments with more than 50 per cent of the popular vote - Saskatchewan had the most decisive results at 62 per cent. What that means is more than 50 per cent of voters in those other elections voted for the party that didn't win the election. How fair or infuriating that system of democracy is depends entirely on what side of the result you're on. In the last Alberta election it has been the conservatives' battle cry pointing to the NDP's lack of clear mandate. As of last week, it is the Liberal and NDP voters' argument in Ontario. Canadian politics follow a pretty predictable pattern. A liberal or conservative ideology rises to power and after a few years it flips and the cycle repeats. While that should create a political atmosphere that tends toward balance, that has not been the result. Instead, we have seen deeper polarization across the country and many reading this right now have just blamed their political counterpoint for the problems. Political ideology will always drive voters, but does it have to drive the nation? Surely both sides of the coin have ideas and strategies that make countries great. Strong public infrastructure, education and social supports with fair taxation, business autonomy and balanced spending should be the foundation of every government. Unfortunately, growing polarization has amplified the extreme sides of both the liberal and conservative ideologies. Combine that with the tow-the-party-line philosophy and we effectively have governments incapable of governing based on evolving needs. Instead, they tie a rope to the wheel and let the ship go. We need election reform in the country, at both the federal and provincial levels. Part of that reform should include the scrapping of the notion that MLAs and MP must vote with their party, the only people representatives should be beholden to are the voters. Maybe it's time for every representative to be an independent? What would happen if the cabinet was formed from members of every stripe, not just the dominant party? The goal should be for all elected members to work together to build this country, instead of one side believing only their ideas have merit. Watching governments appeal to their base and favour certain districts to buy or steal votes has become tiresome. Our provinces, territories and our nation are comprised of a diversity of people with an infinite number of needs and all of us deserve to be represented by our government. Wouldn't it be something if after every election our representatives and the public got to work building our communities and our nation into something better instead of starting the next campaign?
