The Economist also said that the referendum, far from representing an affirmation of Canadian unity, does not resolve anything. The real issues undermining the current federal system remain unanswered. That is why The Economist , like the members of the Bloc, predict that English Canada will be unable to accommodate Quebec's aspirations. Rather than insult my voters by only asking them what they think once every four or five years, this ongoing project in participatory democracy will register voters in my riding enabling them to vote electronically on various issues. From November 27 to December 10, voters in my riding will be asked whether a binding national referendum on capital punishment should be held.
Members opposite appear to shun direct democracy in favour of top down party directed policy.
We in Reform want to listen to what the public has to say. We believe that the average voter wants to have a say more often than every four or five years. With the televoting system, the people of Nanaimo-Cowichan will be helping to lead the way into the future. I participated in a remembrance ceremony a few Sundays ago, a day before the Quebec referendum. I thought of those Canadians who fought and died for our freedom and of what they might be thinking of Canada today, how they would still be very proud to be Canadians and how distressed they would feel at the plight of our unity given all that they had fought and died for.