Duncan - It has been said that we deserve the government we get. When my federal government makes a new law retroactive in order to legalize the illegal activities of a federal agency, I feel compelled to review what I have done to deserve such a government.
I am a small "p", small "c" progressive conservative. I have been an active member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Party and the Conservative Party of Canada, serving on political committees, commissions and boards of directors. I have felt good about my participation in Canadian democracy.But when my government is put into power by only 24 per cent of the registered electorate and passes laws like the one above, it makes me realize that I have been deceiving myself. These factors show that Canada's "democracy" does not include government by and for a majority of Canadians.I feel compelled to refocus my efforts on creating a true Canadian democracy. I plan to work only for political parties that allow their MLAs and MPs to represent their constituents, instead of working for parties which make their representatives do what they are told to do by their party leaders. I plan to work toward having the premier of my province and the prime minister of my country elected by a majority of the publiclyelected representatives, instead of being selected from an elite group of the supporters of one political party. I plan to induce Canadians of all political persuasions (especially those who disdain politics) to help to make Canada a true democracy at all levels of government. "Try it! You'll like it!"Robert RadfordDuncan