This is an open letter to Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

January 23rd, 2017

Dear Justin,

You seem like a cool guy.

We don’t have a lot of time, so I’ll get straight to the point.

In 2015, you made a very specific promise (which is still online – kudos for that). It reads:
“We will make every vote count.
We are committed to ensuring that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system.”
Time is ticking away, and so far you haven’t made very many positive steps towards moving to a PR (Proportional Representation) system that would truly satisfy this promise.

Late last year, you released a survey that seemed to be designed to confuse people rather than find out what they really think.

More and more, it looks like the Liberal government is preparing to renege on its promise to “make every vote count.“

I assure you, this would be a huge mistake.

If you decide to keep FPTP (or implement some mushy non-PR alternative like “Instant Runoff”) you will lose the 2019 election, and you will lose badly.

Not implementing PR will nearly guarantee victory for Mr. Kevin O’Leary, who just entered the Conservative leadership race, and (in my opinion) will almost certainly become your opponent.

All the Greens, NDPs, and disgruntled Conservatives that helped you win in 2015 will be nowhere to be found in 2019.

Your majority will be lost either way, but at least if you implement a solid PR election system, you might be able to lead a strong coalition of progressive parties, working together for a better Canada.

The alternative sees Canada descending further into a divisive, two-party system that flips between two sides of the same coin every few years.

You say that you love Canada, and I believe you.

If you’d like to see our country continue to shine as a beacon of hope in a darkening world, please do everything you can to implement Proportional Representation before it’s too late.

All the best,
A concerned citizen.