LETTER TO THE EDITOR — Jackson petition misses the mark
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Re: “Jackson starts petition to end nuisance ballots” (The Brandon Sun, June 10)
“The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”
“Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein.”
— The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, sections 1 and 3, respectively
It’s clear to me that anyone under the age of 30 doesn’t have the life experience required to serve political office. I think we should change our electoral system to not allow super-minors to be candidates for office.
Mr. Jackson, if you just recoiled at the above idea, you’re in luck. Because if I seriously wanted to make the above happen, the burden of proof would be on me (as it should) to make my goal reconcile with the Charter sections noted above.
That battle would be uphill, and I would lose it. I would have to prove that my selected age of 30 is rationally connected to life experience, and I’d have to show how such a change impairs the freedom granted under Section 3 as little as possible. I can’t, because it’s arbitrary. As is your 0.1 per cent number.
The petition you are supporting fails in so many ways here it is not worth my time to address them all. What I will recommend, however, is for you to look up Szuchewycz v. Canada. A deposit to be a candidate for office is unconstitutional, as it should be.
You are failing at the thing you are criticizing the other side for. Yes, we are in need of electoral reform. Addressing our first-past-the-post system should be a priority, yet your approach is the exact wrong way to address it.
When you’re ready to seriously consider this matter, let us know. Until then, stop trolling us with weak policy. We have a surplus of both on this continent.
JAMES EPP
Brandon