Floor Crossing Makes a Mockery of Democracy

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Annamie Paul, Green Party of Canada leader.

What is democracy? I think my teachers called it the will of the people. Wonderful concept but, one individual can empty that will, and put his or her own in the bucket. Example.

COUNTRY: Canada

PROVINCE: New Brunswick

RIDING: Fredericton

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Jenica Atwin

HOW SHE WON THE RIDING: Green Party of Canada

In 2019, people in the riding voted for the Green Party of Canada. Voting is a serious matter so they had their reasons for not voting for Matt DeCourcey of the Liberal Party. That is how Jenica Atwin became a Member of Parliament.

June 10, 2021. Atwin announces she has defected to the Liberal Party. It’s all legal. It’s called crossing the floor, the great political tradition the Queen of England brought to Canada, her colony.

How about voters? Where does this tradition leave voters in Fredericton? Matt DeCourney had that seat for the Liberal Party. Under careful consideration, voters decided they don’t want him anymore and voted for Jenica Atwin, who was wearing Green Party colours.

If voters had known that she was going to end up being Liberal, they would have stayed with Matt DeCourney. Floor crossing is not democracy.

Another ‘written podcast’ by Nonqaba waka Msimang.

  

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