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Letter: Ontario and Quebec have too much political power

Having federal elections constantly decided by the GTA is both annoying and distressing
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Ontario and Quebec have too much political power

The recent federal election has exposed an uncomfortable truth. The Greater Toronto Area once again elected our government and prime minister. Like a lot of other Canadians, I have never been comfortable with proportional representation. In the long run it does not seem to be the best way to represent Canadians, and it is problematic.

But having federal elections constantly decided by the GTA is both annoying and distressing. Canada is a big country, both physically and in terms of regional variation. As it stands now, the Liberal Party of Canada can count on the GTA delivering election after election based solely on demographics and Ontario repeatedly voting Liberal. While some may consider this par for the course, it is clearly unfair, undemocratic and unrepresentative.

So what to do? Obviously, we need a solution. Something has to be done about the GTA’s stranglehold on our political life. Small wonder so many Canadians feel that their vote doesn’t count and, as it stands now, it may not. We should not be surprised that groups like the Maverick party, based on a western separatist sentiment, are springing up all over the place, and if this continues we can definitely expect even more division and separation in our nation.

The problem of the GTA, Ontario and Quebec deciding the outcome of every election must be solved. There isn’t a clear solution now, but if no solution presents itself the very idea of Canada may fade away. The moto of Canada is “Ad Mare Usque Ad Mare.” From sea to sea. We are Canada, not Torontonia, in the future that might be an important point for those concerned to bear in mind.

Perry Foster

Duncan