[fvc-wat-disc] Discussion Night, 7pm Wed 27 Nov 2019 in the Civic Hub

[Bob Jonkman]

Hi again: Here are the notes I took at Wednesday's Discussion Night. 
Biggest turnout I've ever seen! And yet we got a lot done anyway!

Please let me know if there are any corrections, omissions, deletions, &c.

--Bob.

PS. Aden got the website back up!


=====
= Fair Vote Waterloo Region =

== Discussion Night ==

; Date: Wednesday, 27 November 2019

; Location: Civic Hub WR, 23 Water Street North, Kitchener

; Participants: Terry Henderson, Laurel Russwurm, Margaret Neigh, Jim 
Sannes, Ellen Papenberg, Evan Rosamond, Jon Cassels, Jay Judkowitz, 
Sharon Sommerville, Cathy Scott, Myron Steinman, Cathe Campbell, David 
Arthur, Owen Bradley, Stuart Chandler, David Lubell, Mary Jackes, 
Corliss Olsen, David Dirks, Bob Jonkman.

; Guests: Jim Hemphill and Duncan Spence from Fair Vote Halton, here to 
learn about setting up a Fair Vote chapter.


=== PR4PR ===
David Dirks led the discussion on PR4PR, Jay Judkowitz made the 
presentation on "Moral Framing".

* When presenting the ideas of Electoral Reform we should use a "moral 
framing" to avoid our intrinsic biases that shut out conversation.

* Also, we need to avoid "linguistic traps" that direct the conversation 
towards dead ends.

* See David's attached document that links to some other resources.

* These ideas seem to have worked for Bob Jonkman when staffing info tables.

* We need to use the tools that work -- different ways of connecting 
work for different people.

* Quebec's disproportionate Bloc presence is an example: Conservatives 
are not represented, yet there are Conservative voters in Quebec.

* It is difficult to connect with people's core values when they differ 
from our own. This presents as "Right vs. Left".

* Should we change our fundamental language to evoke emotions or moral 
framing?

* Change our approach at info tables to open converstations -- use a 
questionnaire? open thoughts?


How to approach this? Two or three people will meet and prepare 
something for our January Discussion Night (Wednesday, 29 January 2020).

* Jay Judkowitz, Corliss Olson, Cathy Scott, Owen Bradley (OK, so that's 
four people...)


=== Member of Parliament visit updates ===

* Corliss Olson, David Dirks, and Jay Judkowitz to meet with Marwan 
Tabbara (Liberal, Kitchener South--Hespeler)on 18 December 2019 to 
introduce him to the idea of a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, 
and to get his support.

* Owen Bradley and a team from the Mike Morrice Green Party campaign 
spoke with Raj Saini (Liberal, Kitchener Centre). Mr. Saini has not 
closed discussion on Proportional Representation, but his position in 
Parliament is not strong. He said he is "powerless"...  He received the 
Fair Vote Canada literature on Citizens' Assemblies, but said that we've 
already had the ERRE committee. He needs details on resources and the 
setup of a Citizens' Assembly. Owen and Anita Nickerson to follow up.
** Is there support for a Citizens' Assembly (or electoral reform) in 
the Liberal Cabinet?  Mr. Saini can't name anyone. There is skepticism 
about Citizens' Assemblies.
** Fair Vote Canada is not going to provide direction to the government. 
The government (and maybe consulting agencies) need to create the 
mechanisms for a Citizens' Assembly.

* Jim Hemphill shows us the 2004 Law Commission Report in book format. 
It lists 12 different proportional representation systems, but offers no 
summary or recommendations.

* In the Conservative caucus, Greg McLean (CPC, Calgary Centre) is 
sympathetic to electoral reform.

* Sharon Sommerville also met with Raj Saini, and tried to connect 
poverty with electoral reform. Mr. Saini said "There's nothing I can 
do"; Sharon will connect again in the spring.

* David Arthur and Terry Henderson will arrange a meeting with Bardish 
Chagger (Liberal, Waterloo)

* Bob Jonkman, Laurel Russwurm, Stu Chandler, and Angie (?) will arrange 
a meeting with Tim Louis (Liberal, Kitchener--Conestoga). We will ask 
Shannon Purves-Smith to accompany.

* Cambridge? Bob Jonkman will ask people from Cambridge Green Drinks 
next week about setting up a meeting with Brian May (Liberal, Cambridge).


* Perhaps we in Fair Vote have become jaded with politicians -- do we 
gain anything by disbelieving what MPs say?


=== Web server ===

* Bob Jonkman will meet with Aden Seaman to arrange for the migration of 
the FairvoteWRC website http://fairvotewrc.ca to a commercial server. 
Aden is also treasurer, and will make funds available to purchase 
services. Jay Judkowitz will research top-tier webhosts.


=== Kitchener Centre Provincial Liberal Association presentation ===

* David Dirks has been approached by Troy from the KCPLA to make a 
presentation on Fair Vote Waterloo (but not on the mechanics of 
proportional representation). David will visit the KCPLA on 5 February 
2020 or 4 March 2020 at the Stanley Park Library.  Owen Bradley, Cathy 
Scott and Byron Weber Becker may accompany him.


=== Ontario Liberal Leadership Race ===

* Kate Graham, a candidate in the Ontario Liberal Leadership race has 
come out in favour of electoral reform.  Alvin Tedjo has expressed an 
interest in learning more.

* Fair Vote members can get involved (purchase a membership) to vote in 
the Liberal leadership race.


* Peggy Satler (Provincial NDP, London West) has been appointed the NDP 
Critic for Democratic Reform.


=== Holidays! ===

* The Fair Vote Waterloo Holiday Party will be held at Cathy Scott's 
house on Thursday, 12 December 2019, starting at 7-ish.


* Cathy thanked Jim Hemphill and Duncan Spence for coming.  Jim 
distributed wallet cards with "Proportional representation math". Good 
to have as conversation starters!


Notes taken by Bob Jonkman.
=====

On 2019-11-24 10:43 p.m., Bob Jonkman wrote:
> Hi everyone: It's coming up on the last Wednesday of the month, and time 
> for the last Discussion Night of the year -- next month the last 
> Wednesday is Christmas Day, so I hope you'll be discussing fair voting 
> over Christmas dinner!
> 
> *What*: Fair Vote Waterloo Discussion Night
> *When*: Wednesday, 27 November 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
> *Where*: The Civic Hub, Waterloo Region
> *Location*: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, Ontario
> *Map*: https://osm.org/go/ZXnwWMMz--?m=
> 
> The Civic Hub is in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, which is on 
> the corner of Water Street and Duke Street (just up the road from the 
> LRT station). Enter through the doors on Duke Street (where the marker 
> on the map points); there's a buzzer for the Social Development Centre 
> if you arrive a bit late and there's no-one to let you in.
> 
> 
> Agenda for the meeting:
> 
> 1.  David Dirks and Jay Judkowitz will lead a discussion of the 
> information in the video 'PR4PR',  which can be viewed on YouTube at 
> https://youtu.be/kQU2IOGNQNk
> 
> 2.  Update on visiting MPs about support for creating a Citizens' 
> Assembly to design a reformed electoral system for Canada.
> 
> 3.   Update on restoring the website.
> 
> 4.   Introduce Jim Hempel, who will be a guest at our meeting.  Jim is 
> from the Halton region and is working on starting a Fair Vote Chapter 
> there.  He is interested in learning about what we do and any guidance 
> we can offer.
> 
> 4.  plans for our Christmas get-together.
> 
> Please let Cathy Scott <cathy.scottfree at gmail.com> know if you have any 
> other topics to add to the agenda.
> 
> 
> See you all on Wednesday!
> --Bob.
> 
> Secretary, Fair Vote Waterloo
> 
> 
> 

-- 
Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>          Phone: +1-519-635-9413
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