Elizabeth May and the Green Party of Canada have inspired people from across Canada to think about fairness, both in terms of having democratic debates and also on a related issue.

Had it not been for our first past the post system, which deprived Greens of Members in Parliament in 2006, there would have been no debate about the debates.

However, the attempts by Jack Layton, Steven Harper and to some extent Gilles Duceppe, to exclude May from the debates have helped make how voters elect their representatives a possible emerging election issue.

Indeed, electoral reform should be viewed as THE most pressing issue.Not the environment. Not poverty. Not the healthcare system. Not crime, gangs, or violence against women. Not abortion. Not the war in Afghanistan or the US invasion of Iraq and their imminent attack on Iran. Not the sabre rattling between the US and Russia.

While no one would claim that these issues aren’t important, no matter on which side you stand, the fact of the matter is they won’t get addressed by any party or politician. Not in any substantive, meaningful way.Not unless something fundamental changes in our eroding democracy.

I say this as a woman and activist whose employment income is limited to below poverty levels by disability and who is passionate about peace, the environment, food and housing security, a woman’s right to decide what happens to her body, and the development and sustainability of local economies.

The most pressing issue for the upcoming federal election and in next year’s BC election and all future elections until it has been addressed is democratic and electoral reform.

Without the proportional representation of the voters’ preference matched to the number of Members in Parliament and our provincial legislatures, democracy in Canada will continue to be a sham.Without true democratic representation, issues of importance to voters, rather than issues of importance to those in power and their corporate backers, will continue to be ignored.

Recovering our democracy is the most urgent issue facing the people of Canada.

So next time you nab a politician’s attention, ask him or her this question: ”Upon being elected, will you and your party take immediate steps to reform our electoral system?”

For complete information about electoral reform and what you can do to bring reform to the forefront of this election, visit FairVote Canada.