<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div></div><div>Hi, Jay, Just thought I'd make the suggestion that I believe the way to address a cabinet minister in a federal or provincial cabinet is "minister. " eg Dear Minister Chagger. Backbenchers are mr, ms, mrs or dr. I used to be an assistant researcher for an MP. Staff members notice details like that and ascribe credibility to the correspondent accordingly. Regards, Cathe</div><div><br>On Oct 2, 2017, at 8:50 AM, Jay Judkowitz <<a href="mailto:judkowitz@gmail.com">judkowitz@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div dir="ltr">I <a href="https://twitter.com/Jay_Judkowitz/status/914830332385480704">tweeted</a> at him about #ERRE this morning (RT's appreciated :-)<div><br></div><div>I also sent his office this letter:</div><div><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Dear Minister,<div><br></div><div> I would like to congratulate you on your historic and inspiring victory in the race for the NDP leadership. </div><div><br></div><div> As someone who recently moved to Canada from the United States so that my family could live under a saner political and economic system, I am very glad that there is a strong NDP party. Having a strong NDP is not important only for the NDP's policy ideas. It's important generally to avoid the vicious, winner take all, anti-voter, two party duopoly we experience in the United States.</div><div><br></div><div> I am writing to implore you to vigorously support proportional representation generally and specifically to make it a precondition to any political alliance should there fail to be a majority in Parliament next election.</div><div><br></div><div> I fear <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverger%27s_law">Duverger's Law</a> and that real multi-party democracy in Canada will not survive another decade of first past the post elections. As someone who has lived under two party democracy, I can assure you that it's not a fate you should want for Canada.</div><div><br></div><div> Congratulations again. I wish you the greatest of success in your new role. As you work, please consider the long term health of Canada's democracy and not just near term issues.</div><div><br></div><div>Best regards,</div><div>Jay Judkowitz</div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Hoping we can have some effect on him as he take on his new role. </div></div>
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