What does it mean to vote for an Independent candidate in Bruce-Grey?

This is the most common question asked of me since choosing to run as an independent candidate rather than a Green Party candidate.

The idea of voting Independent has become unfamiliar to many voters who have grown accustomed to the party system. It hasn’t always been this way. Our democratic system is built on the idea of Representative Democracy. The foundation of Representative Democracy is the privilege of electing a local representative to speak for you in the Ontario legislature. 

Unfortunately the party system has reversed this privilege. Now we find parties telling citizens what to think, rather than citizens telling government how to govern. Of course, a great many people in Bruce-Grey recognize this problem, which accounts for the low level of voter participation as well as the overwhelming positive response to my Independent candidacy.

So what can an independent representative do that a party representative can’t?

First, an independent candidate can make local issues and concerns foremost in a campaign. This is what I did in 2007, and this is what I am doing again in 2011. For a party candidate, the issues and message are controlled from the central party, which is located in Toronto and dominated by urban concerns.

Party issues are seldom the most important issues to local citizens. I learned this back in 2007 when I did my 700km townhall bicycle tour. In every community, the most important local issues were not the same as the high profile “party” issues. This is largely because the parties spend more time taking to marketers and consultants than they spend talking to citizens.

Voting Independent is your guarantee that your local issues have a voice.

Second, an Independent vote is not a gambled vote. Many people vote for a party candidate in an effort to prevent an opposing party from forming the government. Of course, there is no way to know if this gamble will work until election day. An Independent vote is a vote for a representative committed to being your voice regardless of what party forms the government - guaranteed - with no gamble.

Finally, once elected, an Independent candidate has the freedom to work on issues of importance to local citizens.

No doubt, many party candidates have good intentions in this regard, but when elected they quickly find out that they are told what to say, how to vote in the legislature, and what to present to constituents as the important issues. Again, this is a reversal of what Representative Democracy is supposed to be. Only an Independent representative is free to build consensus across party lines in the legislature, to achieve action on issues of local importance. 

When an Independent representative enters office, all other representatives are potential allies. When a party representative enters office, a large percentage of other representatives are automatically enemies based on party lines. 

An Independent representatives can be far more effective than party representatives at safeguarding the interests of local citizens. For example, when the government needs support for a piece of legislation, an Independent representative has a great amount of leverage to get concessions for the local riding.

The myth that a party representative is more effective because they may have government backing if your party of choice is elected, is only true if you agree one hundred percent with the actions of our urban based political parties. 

A wasted vote is a vote for a party “backbencher” with no voice.  A wise vote is a vote for someone who can put teeth into representing your local issues at Queen’s Park.

In Bruce-Grey we have had the rare exception in the person of Bill Murdoch, of a party representative who was often willing to risk party discipline to speak for local citizens. Mr. Murdoch found himself in hot water on a number occasions due to his vocal stand. In fact, the recent history of our provincial and federal parliaments is filled with examples of representatives being disciplined for daring to engage with citizens. It shouldn’t be this way.

Ask yourself if there is any party candidate in this election who would be willing to take the risks that Mr. Murdoch took. I think not.

I believe that Bruce-Grey can and should be the starting point for democratic reform. We must return to a system with less party control or our democracy will continue to suffer. What better place to start than here, and what better time than now?

You may also wish to listen to the audio podcast on this topic.