Richard Gwyn's "Why electoral reform won't work" argues the benefits of the proportional representation proposed for Ontario are minor at best (and countered by the fact that 30% of the legislators will be appointed not elected). What we really need, he says, is political reform: a way to get MPs to participate in politics instead of simply doing what their leaders direct.
This he says is cultural. We have the same mechanics as Britain, he says, but British MPs are much more vigorous in expressing and voting their opinions.
He's wrong about the mechanics. In Canada, leaders are selected by extra-parliamentary forums (leadership races). In other parliamentary systems, they are hired (and fired) by the caucus. It is precisely the accountability of leaders to caucuses that gives MPs real authority -- except in Canada (and recently in the British Labor Party -- hence Tony Blair's embarrassing 'when will I leave?' contortions).
It's the mechanics, Richard.
