Save Democracy from Politics - Elizabeth May tours Calgary 2013
Channel: gordonmcdowell
Date: 2013-10-11

In Town Halls across Canada, Elizabeth May invites you to share concerns and seek solutions to the democracy deficit created by our current First Past the Post electoral system.

"Electoral reform has always been a priority of the Green Party. I think most Canadians would now agree First Past The Post has to go. But there is no consensus on how to achieve this vital reform. I don't think it can happen unless political parties cooperate for the higher good of the country," -Elizabeth May

0:00:00 Chantal Chagnon welcome's audience. Announces the 2014 (August) Green Party Convention will be hosted in Calgary. Introduces Chris Turner.

0:01:25 Chris Turner. "The War on Science" book.

0:08:15 Elizabeth May. This is a town hall, not meant to be partisan.

0:18:48 We do not elect a Prime Minister in Canada. We elect Members of Parliament. Then MPs choose Prime Minister.

0:25:00 Parliament prorogue in 2008 was unconstitutional, but legal. Very few legal restraints on abuse of power by Prime Minister.

0:31:50 Elizabeth May recalls how a functioning Canadian government worked. Cooperation. Give and take improved legislation.

0:40:17 Q&A begins. Why did Governor General permit prorogation of parliament in 2008?

0:45:28 Can Greens bypass First Past the Post dysfunction by use of Instant Runoff Vote POLLING before election?

0:50:24 How do we get accountability? Change the system?

0:55:20 People with power to make changes are those with least interest in doing so?

0:59:13 Lyme disease - status of proposed act of Parliament regarding Lyme disease? (Private member's bill.)

1:05:00 Mandatory voting?

1:07:05 Can we limit size of omnibus bills?

1:12:41 Abuse of Prime Minister's Office a bell that can't be unrung? Constitutional reform needed?

1:19:20 Is it time to move beyond capitalism?

1:24:25 Lyme disease - Alberta Lyme Movement. When proper diagnosis & treatment? What can we do?

1:28:10 How are you not old looking?

1:29:09 What is biggest obstacle to sustainable, functional, educated society?

1:30:00 Views on electronic voting?

1:33:48 Lyme disease - PCR positive result from USA. Canadian testing is negative. How to fix Canadian testing so we test for multiple strains not just one? What about Canadian blood supply?

1:37:25 Coalition processes happening provincially, can be emulated federally?

1:39:45 By correcting democratic system, will native Canadian treaty rights be respected?

1:45:10 Advice for anyone interested in running for public office?

1:46:52 What is CETA's finalization looking like? What can municipal voters do?

1:53:06 End of Q&A. For more visit: http://truemajority.ca/