[BCFSN] Fwd: Webinar: What's wrong with CETA? - Sept 19

[Abra Brynne]

*http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act?t=te
<http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act?t=te>*The Reform Act will give MPs more
freedom to stand up for us, the people they represent. The bill is designed
to challenge the growing centralization of power in the hands of party
leaders. MPs of all political stripes support it but we need your help to
make sure they work together to get it passed.

Interest in the “Reform Act” exploded across the political spectrum when it
was first introduced by Conservative MP Michael Chong1
<http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act/?t=te#note-499-1> , with pundits
expressing hope that the bill could “change Canada’s parliament forever”.2
<http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act/?t=te#note-499-2>  The bill would shift
the balance of power, giving individual MPs more freedom to do their jobs
and freely represent their constituents.

*The Reform Act contains 3 important changes to “business as usual” in
Ottawa:3 <http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act/?t=te#note-499-3> *

1. *It gives MPs, not the party leader, final say over who sits in their
caucus.* This would stop party leaders from unilaterally kicking MPs out of
their party if they vote in the best interests of their constituents
instead of toeing the party line.

2. *It give MPs from a party the power to trigger a leadership review vote
to remove an abusive party leader.* This would make the process for
reviewing the party leader explicit and the same across all parties instead
of hidden away in each party’s by-laws.

3. *It removes the ability of party leaders to block candidates from
running for their party.* This would ensure that MPs can speak freely,
without fear that the party leader will force them out before the next
election, and puts the power of candidate nominations back in the hands of
grassroots party members in local riding associations.

This bill won’t fix our democracy overnight, but it will start to change
the conversation. MPs have been forced to become the voice of party
operatives when speaking to their constituents; the Reform Act will give
them more freedom to represent the voices of their constituents to Ottawa.

We elect Members of Parliament to represent our interests and hold
government accountable, but too often, the reality of party discipline
means that individual MPs are not able to speak their minds and vote
according to their conscience. Whipped votes and pressure from unelected
insiders and the Leaders’ offices means that individual MPs risk harsh
consequences – from removal of privileges to expulsion – if they refuse to
toe the party line.4 <http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act/?t=te#note-499-4> , 5
<http://www.leadnow.ca/reform-act/?t=te#note-499-5>

Canadians support vital democratic reforms. Let’s empower our elected
officials to do their job and more freely represent their constituents.

*Send a message to your MP and all the party leaders right now to show your
support for what the Reform Act is setting out to achieve.*
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