| View Poll Results: Given the situation below, which parliamentarian is your representative? | |||
| The prime minister. |    | 0 | 0% |
| The leader of the opposition. |    | 0 | 0% |
| The leader of the party you voted for. |    | 0 | 0% |
| The member of parliament that won in your riding. |    | 9 | 50.00% |
| Another member of parliament in the party you voted for. |    | 0 | 0% |
| A different member of parliament. |    | 2 | 11.11% |
| Nobody. | | 7 | 38.89% |
| Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll | |||
A modern nomad
Posts: 1,118 
Location: Berlin, Germany
Location: Berlin, Germany
October 29th, 2007, 07:59 AM
Lets, say that the person you voted for in the election lost. Being a responsible citizen you are still concerned with the ongoings of parliament and would still like to have your voice heard. The question is, which parliamentarian represents your voice on parliament hill?
Lets, say that the person you voted for in the election lost. Being a responsible citizen you are still concerned with the ongoings of parliament and would still like to have your voice heard. The question is, which parliamentarian represents your voice on parliament hill?
A Mad Mulligan
Posts: 2,734
Videos: 3
Location: The Moonsine Cafe
Videos: 3
Location: The Moonsine Cafe
October 29th, 2007, 08:18 AM
If you choose as I did, a representative that is not elected, I don't think that it's automatically moved to the one person that was elected. So you go unrepresented unless you accept the idea that someone you have not chosen has claimed that they represent you. Accent through apathy?
If you choose as I did, a representative that is not elected, I don't think that it's automatically moved to the one person that was elected. So you go unrepresented unless you accept the idea that someone you have not chosen has claimed that they represent you. Accent through apathy?
Ponderous Intellect
Posts: 4,205
Location: Saint John N.B.
Location: Saint John N.B.
October 29th, 2007, 09:16 AM
The man I voted for federally won,so I'm not in that position, but he has the duty to represent every single voter in his district. And, if he does a good enough job for the voter,will pick up many more votes next time around.
The man I voted for federally won,so I'm not in that position, but he has the duty to represent every single voter in his district. And, if he does a good enough job for the voter,will pick up many more votes next time around.
October 29th, 2007, 09:17 AM
Bill Casey is my representative. Although I didn't vote for him, he performed his duties. He represented all of Nova Scotia. In my view, he's by far the best representative in Ottawa. He puts his constituents views ahead of his party, which should be the over-riding priority of any elected official.
Bill Casey is my representative. Although I didn't vote for him, he performed his duties. He represented all of Nova Scotia. In my view, he's by far the best representative in Ottawa. He puts his constituents views ahead of his party, which should be the over-riding priority of any elected official.
A modern nomad
Posts: 1,118
Location: Berlin, Germany
Location: Berlin, Germany
October 29th, 2007, 09:56 AM
Quoting missile
Its a hypothetical situation, of course. The question is really whether or not you would feel the member of parliament is your representative if you didn't vote for them.
The man I voted for federally won,so I'm not in that position, but he has the duty to represent every single voter in his district. And, if he does a good enough job for the voter,will pick up many more votes next time around.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Posts: 6,331
Videos: 5
Location: Newfoundland!
Videos: 5
Location: Newfoundland!
October 29th, 2007, 10:30 AM
i dont have a voice on parliament hill
I have no voice.
i dont have a voice on parliament hill
I have no voice.
Clever Clogs
Posts: 500
Location: Pointy Rocks
Location: Pointy Rocks
November 24th, 2007, 03:02 PM
Quoting hermanntrude
What? How so?
i dont have a voice on parliament hill I have no voice.
I have no voice.
Knows No Bounds
Posts: 3,311
Videos: 2
Location: 50° 30' N, 104° 38' W
Videos: 2
Location: 50° 30' N, 104° 38' W
November 24th, 2007, 09:50 PM
By definition, your representative in Parliament is the person who won in your riding. Most Canadians, thanks to our first past the post electoral system, are represented by people they didn't vote for. That doesn't bother me much, I still feel free to write to or phone the office of whoever it is with comments and questions and complaints and so on. Generally they've responded pretty decently over the years, except for the lady in my current (Conservative) MP's office who counseled me to break the law. My firearm registrations came up for renewal shortly after the last federal election and I called to ask about the timing of possible changes in firearms registration legislation and whether I really needed to do anything. She told me I could ignore the renewal notice, which wasn't true then and in fact still isn't, failure to register is still a crime. And since the people who run the gun registry already knew about me and my firearms and an expired registration would probably raise a flag somewhere--though that database system appears to have been so badly done maybe it wouldn't--I didn't take her advice.
By definition, your representative in Parliament is the person who won in your riding. Most Canadians, thanks to our first past the post electoral system, are represented by people they didn't vote for. That doesn't bother me much, I still feel free to write to or phone the office of whoever it is with comments and questions and complaints and so on. Generally they've responded pretty decently over the years, except for the lady in my current (Conservative) MP's office who counseled me to break the law. My firearm registrations came up for renewal shortly after the last federal election and I called to ask about the timing of possible changes in firearms registration legislation and whether I really needed to do anything. She told me I could ignore the renewal notice, which wasn't true then and in fact still isn't, failure to register is still a crime. And since the people who run the gun registry already knew about me and my firearms and an expired registration would probably raise a flag somewhere--though that database system appears to have been so badly done maybe it wouldn't--I didn't take her advice.
Mighty Intellect
Posts: 1,961
November 25th, 2007, 08:33 AM
The person who won in your riding is to be your voice, your representative, your contact for help. An MP represents his riding, and part of his/her job is to be a contact point for his/her constituents. That's the way it works. MPs who have any sense whatsoever will work as hard for a constituent who didn't vote for them, as for one who did. It's actually a chance to show your stuff one on one, and hopefully win over a future voter by working for them individually.
The person who won in your riding is to be your voice, your representative, your contact for help. An MP represents his riding, and part of his/her job is to be a contact point for his/her constituents. That's the way it works. MPs who have any sense whatsoever will work as hard for a constituent who didn't vote for them, as for one who did. It's actually a chance to show your stuff one on one, and hopefully win over a future voter by working for them individually.
Clever Clogs
Posts: 500
Location: Pointy Rocks
Location: Pointy Rocks
November 28th, 2007, 10:35 AM
Remember Tom Wappel who refused to help and 81 year old bling war vet because he didn't vote for Wappel.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourspace/wappel%20support.html
Remember Tom Wappel who refused to help and 81 year old bling war vet because he didn't vote for Wappel.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourspace/wappel%20support.html
Time Out
Posts: 415 
Videos: 3
Videos: 3
November 28th, 2007, 11:32 AM
I actually don't care much for what parliament does. I'm sort of restrained in what opinions I can offer, and on what subjects I can offer said opinions. I dunno, something about me not being good enough to voice an opinion in this community. I dunno, I don't understand their logic either. Maybe a Judge will be able to make sense of it.
I actually don't care much for what parliament does. I'm sort of restrained in what opinions I can offer, and on what subjects I can offer said opinions. I dunno, something about me not being good enough to voice an opinion in this community. I dunno, I don't understand their logic either. Maybe a Judge will be able to make sense of it.
A modern nomad
Posts: 1,118
Location: Berlin, Germany
Location: Berlin, Germany
November 28th, 2007, 11:51 AM
Now that this poll has resurfaced, I suppose I should post the accompanying question I had intended.
If the member of parliament that won in your riding is still your representative, shouldn't members of parliament be able to vote more freely than they currently are and dissent with their party if that is what their constituents so desire?
Now that this poll has resurfaced, I suppose I should post the accompanying question I had intended.
If the member of parliament that won in your riding is still your representative, shouldn't members of parliament be able to vote more freely than they currently are and dissent with their party if that is what their constituents so desire?
Clever Clogs
Posts: 500
Location: Pointy Rocks
Location: Pointy Rocks
November 28th, 2007, 12:28 PM
Absolutely. This should be a major issue for all party politics. If everyone belonged to one partry or no parties that would solve this one problem but cause other problems such as people not being sure about a particular person's political ideal. I see this often in municipal politics where you can see what a politician thinks on specific issues but not on general politics. I don't know what the solution is.
Quoting Niflmir
Now that this poll has resurfaced, I suppose I should post the accompanying question I had intended.
If the member of parliament that won in your riding is still your representative, shouldn't members of parliament be able to vote more freely than they currently are and dissent with their party if that is what their constituents so desire?
If the member of parliament that won in your riding is still your representative, shouldn't members of parliament be able to vote more freely than they currently are and dissent with their party if that is what their constituents so desire?
Absolutely. This should be a major issue for all party politics. If everyone belonged to one partry or no parties that would solve this one problem but cause other problems such as people not being sure about a particular person's political ideal. I see this often in municipal politics where you can see what a politician thinks on specific issues but not on general politics. I don't know what the solution is.
Member
Posts: 102
May 3rd, 2008, 01:10 PM
The person elected votes as he/she are told by the party. They do not represent you. If they did Canada would have withdrawn its forces from Afghanistan on the due date rather than extending it. But it is nice to see that so many of you are such good little BAH BAHS
The person elected votes as he/she are told by the party. They do not represent you. If they did Canada would have withdrawn its forces from Afghanistan on the due date rather than extending it. But it is nice to see that so many of you are such good little BAH BAHS
