Submission DAVIDOFF-0539 (Online)

I propose a system where a certain percentage of ridings have a vote every three months; with elections occuring every three months somewhere in the province, the excesses of government can be controlled. [2 pages]

One idea I've been playing with for a while would eliminate the general election system we currently use and move to a system where a certain percentage of ridings have a vote every three months.

Under our present system majority governments come into power and make wholesale changes to laws, ministries, policies and programs. The tax dollars consumed, even for minor things like changing letterhead when a ministry changes its name, are huge. There is a great deal of disruption, and often the changes are made without fully considering long-term concequenses.

The system I envision would be a continual evaluation of the government's performance. If the government does well by the people they will win the election in the majority of the ridings up for election. Three months later, in a different set of ridings, the voters may decided to elect the government in fewer ridings.

The government would have to earn the right to keep a majority. They may even be rewarded with a stronger majority.

I like the idea of proportional representation. I also like the voting method where candidates are ranked by the voter as first, second third, etc.

However, with elections occuring every three months somewhere in the province, the excesses of government can be controlled. Our current government has made massive changes already, and still has a year to go before the electorate has a chance to judge them. It just does not seem fair or right.

I don't beleive any similar system, to the one I'm proposing, is in use anywhere. One big problem I see is the possibility that the governing party may change every three months. But there may be a way of designing the system to limit the chance of that happening. Maybe by combining it with PR, there will be a number of smaller parties which could choose to support the government for three months until the next election confirms the voter displeasure.