Canadian close calls

Canada’s 39th general election takes place on 23 January, 2006.  At times like this, stories circulate about the difference that a single vote can make, so I decided to make my contribution.

No less than 11 times in Canada’s history, someone has won by a single vote.  In fact, on 3 other occasions the vote has ended in a tie.  In Canada, the Returning Officer (a woman or man in charge of overseeing the election in a certain district) must cast the deciding vote if there’s a tie.

One of these ties happened in 1963, when Paul Martineau was elected in Pontiac-Témiscamingue, Quebec.  When he was elected his party was defeated, and so he became a member of the opposition.

One of the biggest debates of the day was the flag debate.  The government was looking for a new flag to represent the country.  When the maple leaf design was chosen (which incidentally almost wasn’t even in the contest with the 2600 other designs), the government in power wanted to adopt the new flag and end the debate.  At the time, however, the opposition party and some of the country was still adamantly opposed.  Paul Martineau broke with his party to support the new flag.  Not only did he vote for it, he also gave one of the most important speeches in favour of the new flag of Canada.  Though in the end the vote was not close, who can say what difference was made by Martineau’s words of support?  Martineau’s influence, an influence that almost never was, became part of our history.

Here’s a bit of what he had to say:
The new flag is the symbol of the future because it expresses unity, that unity to which so many of us have paid lip service during the course of this debate. I believe that in the maple leaf flag Canadians of whatever origin or background may find something in common. I believe this maple leaf flag will express for Canadians, in their own undemonstrative and taciturn way, the firm conviction that Canadians want to live together, work together, and build a worthwhile nation.

It’s always hard to say what a difference each vote makes, or what difference each action makes for that matter.  A few words, a vote, and opinion.  But sometimes you can make a difference when you least expect it.

Photo courtesy of druchoy