On Tuesday I was interviewed by a Ryerson student journalist, and on Wednesday I attended a very nice hospitable event in the morning hosted by the Chinese media  in Scarborough.  Everyone had time to eat and a few minutes to speak and they could leave when they were finished.    There were candidates there from different ridings in Scarborough.  I asked Sheila White of the NDP about their position on the SPP (North American Union) and we both oppose it but of course it’s a federal issue  – there are different reasons but I think we agree on sovereignty.  Basically she helped convince me to vote for Mixed Member Proportional representation.   But other than that, …., here’s my speech more or less:

Thank-you to TorontoTV.net, Today Daily News, Global Chinese Press, Torcn.com.

I’m Alan Mercer of the Ontario Libertarian Party, running in Scarborough-Rouge River.  (Added a point about how I immigrated from Northern Ireland when I was little.)

Have you heard the word LIBERTARIAN?

Libertarian means LIBERTY and FREEDOM.

Like Ron Paul, who is running for president.

Have you heard of RON PAUL?

Libertarian stands for SELF-OWNERSHIP, PROPERTY RIGHTS, PERSONAL FREEDOM, ECONOMIC LIBERTIES, KEEPING YOUR MONEY.

The other parties represent the RULING CLASS – A BUREAUCRATIC AND POLITICAL RULING CLASS.

They stand for AUTHORITARIANISM, FOR MEDDLING IN OUR LIVES, FOR INTERFERENCE AND FORCED TRANSFER OF WEALTH.

Libertarian stands for REFORM of the justice system, RESTITUTION for VICTIMS of crimes.

For EDUCATIONAL choice and freedom.

For HEALTH CARE choice and freedom.

For a VOLUNTARY society.

For abolishing government monopolies that regulate and license professionals.

BUT the OTHER PARTIES stand for:

TAX SLAVERY

BIG GOVERNMENT

SOCIAL ENGINEERING

SMOKING BANS

INTERFERENCE WITH PROPERTY RIGHTS

DRUG WAR

GUN BANS

RESTRICTIONS ON HEALTH CARE

RESTRICTIONS ON EDUCATION

But the LIBERTARIAN PARTY STANDS FOR CHOICE AND FREEDOM.

If you care about FREEDOM, get involved with the GROWING LIBERTARIAN MOVEMENT.

THANK YOU.

September 30th, 2007

1 comment to TorontoTV Event at Starwalk International Buffet

• Wayne Smith

October 1st, 2007 at 2:26 am

Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting is about giving voters the power to hold political parties accountable, by giving every voter a party vote that actually helps to elect somebody, every time. Under our current system, most of us vote for people who do not get elected, so we end up with a government that most of us did not vote for.

Under our current system, usually one party gets about 40-45% of the votes, which gives them 60-70% of the seats, and 100% of the power. Why do we consider it normal that one political party gets unlimited power, even though most people voted against them?

MMP will mean the end of phony majority government, so government will truly not be able to rule without the confidence of Parliament. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.

MMP will also give smaller parties like the Libertarian Party a fair shot at electing somebody. Parties can win province-wide seats by getting at least 3% of the party votes, about 135,000 votes.

The Libertarian Party got 1,991 votes in 2003, so has a way to go. However, there are two things in your favour under MMP:

People will vote differently under a different voting system. There are undoubtedly people who would have liked to vote Libertarian in past elections, but did not because the candidate had no chance of winning. Under MMP, people can cast their party vote for the Libertarian Party and still vote strategically in their riding.

The Libertarian Party ran only five candidates in 2003. Under MMP, people all over the province can vote Libertarian, even where there is no local candidate.