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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Dear Paul and Jenn:<br>
<br>
I know Jenn is good people, and I apologize if it came out
sounding harsh. That was not my intent. <br>
<br>
My understanding of Fair Vote's openly multipartisan stance is
that it is an acknowledgement that politics are partisan in
Canada, which has a very big impact on the goals of Fair Vote
WRC. Meaningful electoral reform is not a partisan issue, but as
we are all very much aware, there are many in both the alternating
governing parties who make it so, because PR will limit their
ability to wield 100% power. <br>
<br>
In the past I have been party to more than one conversation with
my Liberals for Fair Voting friends (including Jenn) about
strategies to get around partisan resistance to electoral reform.
<br>
<br>
My intent was to try to get across why I think this is a problem
to Jenn (and any other LPC folk on this list). If it is possible
for an LPC insider like Jenn to pass along how an electoral reform
Town Hall with a visiting Cabinet Minister in attendance is likely
to play out, or at least what it will look like to non-Liberals,
it might be helpful in bringing change. The biggest advantage we
have in the electoral reform issue is public opinion. We know LPC
(unlike CPC) cares about the optics. <br>
<br>
It doesn't matter that we have an LPC government that can force
change on Canada, the single most important thing that must happen
during this consultation is that some Conservative support must be
generated. This is why it is so important for the process to be
very public, and for Conservatives to feel included. An
unceasing unified unflinching CPC opposing change or demanding
referendum could sink this like a stone. It is in none of our
interests (including the LPC) to get a reasonable form of PR
implemented only to have a public backlash that results in
reinstating an CPC majority after the next election.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Laurel<br>
<br>
<br>
On 08/03/2016 08:16 PM, Paul Nijjar wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:20160804001615.GB4087@nb-heartburn.theworkingcentre.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
That's a bit harsh, Laurel. Jennifer is good people who has been loyal
to the FVC cause for years, and I do not think she is being
partisan in her comments.
There is, of course, one riding that did not go Liberal. Has there
been outreach to Harold Albrecht to get a town hall organized for
Kitchener-Conestoga? Other than Bob and Laurel, are there FVC members
who live in the riding and could make some noise?
Also: with respect to Nunavut, I do not dispute that the committee
should be gathering input from all parts of Canada, and I do not
dispute that it is expensive. I am glad that the committee is going to
Nunavut. I just wish they could have fit a few other stops into that
trip.
- Paul
On Wed, Aug 03, 2016 at 07:49:05PM -0400, Laurel L. Russwurm wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I can see why your party might not want the Committee to come before
an informed and engaged community. But Fair Vote WRC ought to be
fighting like mad to get the committee here.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">[...]
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Because the Committee *is* multipartisan. THAT is the point of them
taking the dog & pony show on the road: to reach out to *all*
citizens, not just those in the ruling party. I understand Liberal
"natural ruling party" conceit flows into thinking they represent
everybody but they don't, no more than the Conservatives did.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<a href="http://laurel.russwurm.org/blogs/">Laurel L. Russwurm,
Author</a> § <a href="http://about.me/laurelrusswurm">about.me</a>
§ <a href="http://libreleft.com">Libreleft Books</a>
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