What do you think of perpetual elections?

Shannon Bundock
Cochair, Mobilization Against War and Occupation

“The foundation of those ideas—whether perpetual elections or other ideas where people’s voices are heard—is extremely important.”¦If the majority of the people had a view on an issue like Canada’s participation in Afghanistan, for example, I believe things would change quite a bit.”

Frankie Kirby
Vancouver member, Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform (2003-04)

“I like the STV [single transferable vote] system because it does make people more accountable. I’m not sure this makes people accountable. I think people would be running scared for their life, trying to please this lobby group and this splinter group, just to stay in office.”

David Wong
Architect and blogger

“The problem is, the citizens of our city and our country are too lazy to find out about issues, and they’re too trigger-happy. So when they get bent out of shape for whatever reason there would be a recall action or democracy in action–type reaction, and it could never end. I would like to see a probation period.”

Kennedy Stewart
SFU assistant professor

“Are there any examples of this being used anywhere else? We are at a disadvantage, because we don’t have any other example to look at and see how it works. So it’s just theoretical, but once you talk to your lawyers and political scientists about how that actually happens [it can change]. And if this is related to recall, we do already have that [Recall and Initiative Act] here.”