Philosophers and political pundits may ask, what is the price of democracy? In Canada, it turns out to be something around two dollars.
Currently, our major political parties recieve some public money for their participation in elections. That money, from what I know, comes to a toonie (the Canadian two-dollar coin, which I drew above) for every vote that the party recieved in the previous election.
Let's say the Green Party recieved exactly one million Canadian votes, which is close to their actual performance. The Greens could then draw a cheque for two million dollars to be used for their next campaign. This is how I understand that the process works, but I could be wrong.
It's kind of a scummy system, because the party that gets the most votes also gets the most money. But it could be even scummier, if our politicians try hard enough.
For example, in late 2009 the Conservative Party tried to fast-track a law that would get rid of this fund. The big parties like the Conservatives and the Liberals would not feel too much of a pinch on account of their large, nationwide network of private financial patrons. Small parties, such as the NDP, the Bloc Quebecois, and the Greens, would certainly feel the hit, and possibly even be wiped off the map. Some observers feel that it's the small parties that are splitting votes which in turn has prevented the large parties from forming a majority government for the past five years.
When the Conservatives presented their bill, the smaller parties, sensing the impending threat, raised enough votes to call for a vote of non-confidence, which would have dissolved Parliament and forced an early round of elections. To avoid this, the Conservatives decided to prorogue government, which gave them the time they needed to quietly retract their legislation. For a cook's perspective of prorogation, please see JSVB post #58 by clicking here.
The Conservatives have promised to keep the current funding scheme intact as long as there is no Conservative majority government. If the Conservatives do form a majority, bet on them scrapping the funding for the other parties the moment they have enough reliable votes to do so. Nothing prevents the Liberals from doing the same if they form a majority, either.
Some folks who are rightfully unimpressed with the quality of their federal candidates suggest to simply not vote. Look at it this way: a vote for a non-incumbent party might get thrown away this election, but your vote gives them two bucks more that they did not have before to fight the next election.
Any questions?
Yes. Why is there a capybara on the Canadian two dollar coin you drew? Isn't it supposed to be a polar bear?
For the love of-- Yes. Your'e right. It's certainly the majestic polar bear, plying the frozen northern lands of ice and snow for hearty sustainance. I tried drawing him using a new "digital impasto" technique.
Are you sure, Jeff? It looks like a capybara to me. You know, the world's largest rodent?
Polar bear, all the way, I assure you.
Really?
Yes!
Really, really??
OK, you got me, it's a capybara. It's a capybara, and I love it. Say, did you know that it was at one time acceptable to eat capybara for fast days during Lent?
Ugh. Nobody knew that, Jeff, or ever wanted to.
Well, it's not like you're going to find capybara steaks in the butcher's window anytime soon...
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