Elections in Canada: PC Kingston and Islands candidate withdraws, citing “inadequate party system” – Kingston | The Canadian News

The progressive conservative candidate from Kingston and the Islands has officially pulled his name out of the running for the upcoming provincial elections.

In a letter posted on his Facebook page, Ryan Boehme said he no longer wanted to participate in what he called an “inappropriate party system.”

“It has become clear to me that, as a representative of the people at the provincial or federal level, we do not really become a voice for the people who elect us. Instead, we are expected, forced and even coerced to follow our party’s narrative over that of the people, ”Boehme said.

This occurs just one day after the federal elections in which the Liberals won another minority government, without winning the popular vote, which was won by the Conservative Party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned in 2015 to dismantle the first postal system, but then reneged on that promise after being elected. Still, Trudeau has expressed public interest in electoral reform in the form of a ranked voting system.

On Monday, Federal Liberal incumbent Mark Gerretsen of Kingston and the Islands won a third term, while Conservative candidate Gary Oosterhof came in third. Boehme and Oosterhof serve as Kingston city councilors.

In his letter published Tuesday, Boehme said he does not believe that the current party system allows elected officials to truly represent the needs and desires of their constituents.

“However, this is not a one-party problem, it is an all-party problem. It happens at any party that is ‘whipped’; either at the federal level where the orders come from the Prime Minister’s Office or at the provincial level where the orders come from the Prime Minister’s office, ”he said.

Boehme thanked his supporters, but said he could not conscientiously participate in a system he considers “broken.”

He then urged a change in Canada’s electoral system.

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“To really create change, a political party would have to voluntarily reduce its own power when elected to empower the people it represents. That seems unlikely to happen without immense public pressure, ”he said.

Boehme ended by saying that he intends to find a way to inspire change and hopes that his decision to quit the party system can help push others to push for some form of electoral reform.

Boehme was not immediately available for further comment on the matter.