We think that political apathy is a rising problem – especially among young Canadians – and we believe that Canada25 is perfectly positioned to launch an intensive debate about political engagement and electoral reform.

As a result, we strongly encourage you to join the debate about reforming Canadian politics. We want to hear your opinions, your views and your beliefs – and we want you to help us write an opinion piece aimed at Canada’s top political leaders and its senior civil servants.

On July 1, 2003, Canada25 will publish an op-ed addressing political apathy and encouraging political engagement – but before we do, we need your help to answer a pivotal question:

Should Canada Adopt a System of Proportional Representation (PR)?

The Law Commission of Canada (LCC) is an independent federal agency currently exploring the issue of electoral reform. The LCC offers exceptional introduction to the issue [ English ][ French ] – as well as a detailed analysis of the strengths and weakness of our parliamentary system [ English ][ French ].

Fair Vote Canada is Canada's leading proponent of PR. To download an eloquent condemnation of the current system, click here.

In "Why Voters Don’t Count," Hugh Segal, president of the Institute for Research in Public Policy (IRPP) explores why Canada’s voter participation rate is plummeting.

In February 2001, IRPP also published "Strengthening the Canadian Electoral System" – an important work by Louis Massicotte.

But what do YOU think?

1. Should Canada adopt proportional representation? If yes, why? If no, how should we reform our current parliamentary system?
   
   
2. Under the parliamentary system, the leader of the party with the most seats becomes Prime Minister. Would Canadians be more likely to vote if they could instead directly elect the PM?
   
   
3. Canada’s electoral boundaries are have been drawn to create more rural ridings (with smaller populations) and fewer urban ridings (with larger populations). Should Canada’s ridings be re-drawn – or are their important reasons to leave them as is?
   
   
4. The current Liberal government has 169 seats – with fewer than 30 coming from outside Ontario and Quebec. Does the Canadian system lead to national governments that lack a truly national mandate? How does this affect relations between Ottawa and the Maritimes and Ottawa and the West?
   
   
5. The Charlottetown Accord was the last major political issue put to a national referendum. Do you believe governments should increase their use of referenda? For what kind of issues?
   
   
6. Are we missing the point by focusing on electoral reform when federal elections are only once every four years? What needs to happen for political engagement to flourish between elections?
   
   

Send your answers and insights to hottopics@canada25.com. For more background – and another look at our first set of discussion questions – click here.