Hi, Disconcerted.  Well, your reasons for "staying the course" are more reasoned and pragmatic than the reasons given to us (second-hand) by the man who made the original election promise (see Gould's letter.)  You mean Trudeau DIDN'T realize "the realities concerning this proposal" when he was on the campaign trail?  Gimme a break.  If true, he didn't deserve my vote. 

The Swiss managed to hold 13 referendums in 2016 alone, including a critical one on basic income. Only 4 passed.  Win, lose, isn't the point.  Participation in Direct Democracy is the point. Government must work "on behalf of us all" not for itself. 

Re: the opposition parties. If they made a habit of "working together [with the government] on behalf of all," they wouldn't be doing their jobs.  They DO work on behalf of us all--every day. Critical, not only when the world "facing other very serious challenges,"  but our own country, too. A leader who abandons this promise is just the latest "challenge" we face.