FFWD REW

Pirates for Independents

It’s easy to forget that Canada has its very own Pirate Party: the group ran 10 candidates in the 2011 federal election gaining less than one per cent of the vote in nine out of 10 ridings (the outlier scored 1.08 per cent). But that doesn’t mean its members — who advocate for increased rights for intellectual property privacy and government transparency — are giving up.

Pirate Party representatives showed up to an Elections Canada advisory committee meeting held in Gatineau Que. on December 4 and 5 to petition for independents and smaller registered parties. James Phillips the party’s secretary notes that he can’t speak too specifically about the meeting due to the committee’s terms of references. However he says he felt their concerns about non-affiliated candidates needing a bigger voice were listened to.

Members also delivered a letter to Marc Mayrand the chief electoral officer for Elections Canada reiterating the “systematic disadvantages” faced by independents. In March Maynard delivered a speech to MPs about Bill C-23 — dubbed the Fair Elections Act — where he expressed concern about a proposed increase in spending limits for registered parties. In the end that portion of the bill was abandoned.

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