Letter published in The Hill Times, August 15, 2011

Conservative Party communications director Fred DeLorey says “Canadians gave Stephen Harper and his Conservative government a strong mandate to protect and complete Canada’s economic recovery,” (The Spin Doctors, The Hill Times, Aug. 8). Every time this nonsense is repeated, it must be pointed out that the current “majority” government was endorsed by fewer than 40 per cent of the 60 per cent of voters who even bothered to vote, making this one of the least legitimate majority governments in Canadian history. Not the least legitimate, mind you—former prime minister Jean Chrétien, and Bob Rae as premier of Ontario, won “majority” governments with even smaller vote percentages. But until we have a fair, modern, proportional voting system, this government and all phony majorities must be reminded constantly that they have a duty to govern for all Canadians, that most Canadians do not approve of them or their policies, and that their “strong mandate” comes from the voting system itself, not from the voters.

Wayne Smith
Executive director, Fair Vote Canada
Toronto, Ont.